10 Best Outdoor Room Trends of 2024, According to Designers

“My husband and I reinvented a screened-in porch at our home we rarely used by adding a tub and naming it the ‘spa porch,’” says designer Megan Molten. “It is filled with plants we’ve collected and is truly magical at night.” Molten has since received many requests from clients desiring a similar setup. “Adding plumbing outdoors is typically very doable, making this an easy and very satisfying addition for any bath lovers,” she explains.

Related: 15 Screened Porch Ideas for a Perfect Outdoor Retreat

“The fireplace terrace is the focal point of the rear yard and has a lovely view of the house,” Joseph Richardson, founder of Richardson & Associates Landscape Architecture, says of this backyard setup. Richardson appreciates how the limewashed fireplace, which is lined with luxe herringbone brick, will “will take on a nice patina over time.”

Related: How to Limewash Brick

Embrace simpler times by weaving favorite elements of your childhood backyard into your current space. “My client told me about her fond memories of swinging on a big tree swing when she was a kid; it brought a calming effect and made her feel safe, which resulted in a daybed swing being one of the first items on our must-have list for her home,” explains Viki Chupik, the founder of Chupik Design. “A backyard should be an escape to relax and find immense happiness in everyday life, so seeing more clients moving toward this is exciting.”

Related: 12 Best Porch Swings for Every Style and Budget

Gone are the days of matching furniture sets in the backyard. “Curating a mix of textures and materials such as wood, woven, and metal pieces will result in a unique space that doesn’t look like a ‘set’ of furnishings, and pillows with pattern and color bring another opportunity to highlight your personality,” says Roz Murphy, founder of Roz Murphy Design. Clara Jung, the founder of Banner Day Interiors, which designed this space, expresses similar sentiments. “Using outdoor furniture pieces from different makers is a way of thinking we’ve embraced,” she says.

Related: The Best Outdoor Furniture and Where to Shop for It

Sabah Mansoor, founder of Sabah Mansoor Design, curated a multifunctional cabana featuring all of the outdoor lounging essentials, which one can enjoy whether relaxing solo or hosting a crowd. “It includes a sitting area, wall-mounted TV, marble counter bar, built-in grill, sink, and other kitchen amenities,” she says. “Ambient lighting allows for the ease of transitioning from day to evening.”

Related: 37 Fun Pool House Ideas to Try This Summer

By opting for an inset hot tub on this balcony, Marnie Oursler, founder of Marnie Custom Homes, made sure that her clients could more easily enter and exit the tub and fully appreciate the surrounding scenery (the lower placement of the tub ensures that it doesn’t interfere with the view of the beach).

Related: 20 Best Hot Tub Accessories to Buy

Don’t hesitate to add a bar cart to your outdoor space if you have the room for one. “Styling a bar cart is not only great for entertaining, but can create an eye-catching vignette to add interest by layering trays, ice buckets, plants, and vintage pieces,” Murphy says.

Related: Is the Bar Cart Over? HB Editors Weigh In