How to Design the Perfect Outdoor Space

Outdoor living has been in high demand for several years, but not like today. In order to successfully create a functional outdoor space for a client, that function needs to be defined, says The New York Times. An all-encompassing area may have too many duties to successfully accomplish them all. And although the space is outside, it is a good rule of thumb to take inspiration from inside and extend it out, according to Landscape Designer Scott Shrader. Learn about five tips for designing outdoor spaces from fellow professionals below.

If you are fortunate enough to have a terrace, a porch or some backyard space, spending a lot of time at home can be a much nicer experience. But how you design that space makes all the difference.

“A lot of times, you’ll see a beautiful garden with very organized furniture, which looks pretty, but when you actually go and sit, it’s out in the blazing sun,” said Scott Shrader, a landscape designer in West Hollywood, Calif., and the author of “The Art of Outdoor Living.”

If you want an outdoor space where you’ll be comfortable lingering for hours, he said, you need to address some basic questions: “Can you be protected from the sun? Can you put a drink down? Can you put your feet up?”

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