The Ultimate Guide to Creating the Perfect Outdoor Space
Design experts reveal the best strategies for conjuring ideal conditions for alfresco entertaining
The most enchanting summer homes have a way of stretching beyond their walls onto verandas, pool surrounds, and garden pergolas. They set the perfect backdrop for the languid lifestyle a married couple envisioned when they approached Bryan O’Sullivan to transform a modest house nestled on Greece’s Peloponnese peninsula into a glamorous yet leisurely retreat that sidesteps blue-and-white clichés.
The clients entertain frequently, so conversations quickly gravitated toward the cadence of Mediterranean life, where alfresco lunches drift into starlit dinners and guests meander on windswept terraces. O’Sullivan embraced that ethos across multiple settings on the 15-acre property, including an intimate covered area oriented toward a postcard panorama of Spetses. “It frames that view while creating a sense of enclosure. You feel sheltered but never disconnected from the landscape,” he says, noting his preference for flexible entertaining areas with an architectural vibe. “That sense of structure gives the space presence and makes it feel like a true room outdoors.”
The roof provides crucial shade from the intense Greek sun, which washes across crisp white surfaces and pink bougainvillea. As night falls, the ambience seamlessly shifts to a gentle glow, thanks to subtle fixtures and candlelight. “The space should feel relaxed and bright during the day,” he says, “but take on a more intimate, atmospheric quality as the evening unfolds.”
Pool Party
Flexibility was paramount when Cortney Bishop crafted a series of poolside entertaining areas for a young family on Kiawah Island, South Carolina, who regularly hosts large gatherings. “There’s a lot of indoor-outdoor living here,” says Bishop, who grew up in the Low Country. “We have wonderful weather in the spring and fall months. Often, we can hang out outside even in January.” Four sets of French doors and expansive kitchen windows open to an ipe-clad deck, waterfall pool, and boardwalk leading to oceanfront dunes.
Multiple dining areas accommodate intimate groups, but larger parties flow out onto the pool surround, which can host a 20-person linear dining table. When not set for entertaining, the space is outfitted with plush Kettal chaises positioned for easygoing afternoons by the water.
Bishop recommends investing in durable outdoor furnishings with quality construction and protective technology that can withstand unpredictable climates and wet swimsuits. “My motto is ‘Buy once, cry once,’” she says, noting that designers should consider how people will actually live in the spaces, approach exterior pieces with the same care as interiors, and introduce color and pattern. “If you design it well, they’re really going to use it well.”
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Natural Order
Many times, the most important moves are the subtlest. That applies to a scenic backyard devised by Hoerr Schaudt to accompany a desertmodern-inspired house by Jill Lewis Architecture at the base of the Chino Canyon cliffs near Palm Springs, California. The brief called for a landscape guided by the site’s natural conditions and boulder-strewn terrain, prompting associate principal John Hreno to organize outdoor areas with a measured approach informed by Japanese garden principles.
Rather than impose an overtly decorative scheme, he established clearly defined zones using concrete pavers, positioning a grill and monolithic dining area beside a jet-black marbleized tile pool. To make sure his clients got the most out of the entertaining areas, he sited them close to the home’s kitchen, ensuring a natural flow between inside and out. The setup allows the backyard to support a full day of use, from meals and swimming to evening gatherings. “Everything was arranged based on function over form,” Hreno says. “If it doesn’t work, who cares what it looks like?
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Hot Seat
A strong connection to nature also guided Peter Dunham as he orchestrated a shaded seating area anchored by a firepit for a modern farmhouse by Cornerstone Architects in Ojai, California.
Dunham advises designers to account for climate and comfort when planning outdoor gathering spaces. This seating arrangement could have centered on a table, but a fire feature proved essential given the region’s pronounced temperature swings. “The firepit does double duty as an architectural element to ground the seating area and keeps you warm while creating a campfire feel,” he says.
To maintain the focus on the landscape, Dunham selected unfussy furnishings that support repose and conversation, pairing a clean-lined teak sofa with matching chairs from his Hollywood at Home line. “Someone could lie down and read a book or have a proper entertaining destination,” he says. Dunham also looked to a natural and earthy palette, opting for finishes that sit comfortably within the bucolic setting. “When choosing materials, don’t compete with Mother Nature,” he suggests. “Embrace the landscape.”
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A version of this article first appeared in print in our 2026 Summer Issue under the headline “Open House.” Subscribe to the magazine.