Bring The Indoors Out With These Garden Living Room Ideas

29th July 2024 | By Astrid Carter

From sofas layered with statement cushions to coffee tables piled with chilled rosé and books, outdoor mirrors to rugs that stand up to the elements, the garden living room is one of our favourite exterior living trends if you want to bring some warmth and personality to your space. Here’s how to make it work.

After years of bringing the outdoors in – think houseplants, Beverly Hills Hotel-inspired palm print wallpapers, succulents and cacti – we’re ready to flip the trend on its head. The want to make outdoor spaces feel like a cosy, al fresco version of a living room has never been greater, with coffee table set-ups in the garden to terraces that look plucked from the White Isle itself. And with summer holidays, Bank Hols and *here’s hoping* warmer weather, now’s the time to get your balconies, gardens and patios for lazy lunches in the sun and endless jugs of Pimm’s.

We’ve scrolled and saved some of the best examples from our Instagram favourites and searched the web to bring you the pieces (on all budgets) you need to put a little slice of heaven into your outdoor space, no matter how sprawling or modest it may be.

Here’s how to make your garden feel like a living room…

Even urban spaces can get the garden living room treatment and we have fallen hard for what Nathalie from The Home of a City Mom has done with her outdoor space.

From the soft furnishings to the rattan accessories and statement ‘60s swinging chair, this modest city space is giving us all the boho vibes. Take a look at her full Insta feed and you’ll see the garden in all its glory – it’s basically an extension of her actual house – all soft, muted colour palettes, textured fabrics and bohemian pieces that could easily pass for a corner of a cool Ibizan beach club.

Even if your outdoor area is tiny, the same can be achieved with a handful of tactile, bohemian-style accessories. Look to Anthropologie, Oliver Bonas and H&M home departments for trays, floor cushions, throws and pouffes at a modest price point.

 
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A post shared by DEBORAH BRETT (@deborahbrett)

 
View this post on Instagram
 

A post shared by DEBORAH BRETT (@deborahbrett)

To actual Ibiza now, and this outdoor space is serious goals. Fashion editor and co-founder of Wardrobe Icons, Deborah Brett, started her career in fashion but her Instagram feed is full to bursting with interiors ideas too.

Her home in Ibiza is quintessentially White Isle chic. Think rustic, artisan accessories, natural stripped-back woods and the prettiest of tablescapes, all put together with vintage-inspired rattan furniture and the coolest blue and white tiling below feet.

Get the look by mixing rattan with hanging lights, pampas grass with faux furs, to create a look that sits somewhere between Scandi cool and ‘70s retro.

Look to brands such as OKA and Furn for pieces that look like one-of-a-kind vintage finds and fill in the gaps with affordable options from the high street. This look works just as well in tiny city spaces too, even if you’ve got a modest balcony to dress.

The products on this page have been selected by our editorial team, however, The Handbook may make a small commission on some products purchased through affiliate links.


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