6 Easy Outdoor Living Space Ideas with a Pool

Create a beautiful outdoor space to enjoy through the warm season.

When you have a limited amount of space in your home it's important to take advantage of your backyard home design. With warm weather coming in the next few months, make the most of your outdoor living area this year. Use these outdoor living space ideas with a pool to create the perfect space to enjoy all summer long.

Your backyard is essentially your outdoor living room during warmer weather. Why not make it into usable and enjoyable space where you can entertain friends and family members?

Video Tutorial

Enjoy this YouTube video showing how I made the most of our outdoor living spaces.

6 Ideas for Creating the Perfect Outdoor Living Space

• Use a gazebo
• Bring in stylish furniture
• Use pillows to accent
• Add plants
• Add a rug
• Don't forget lights

Use a Gazebo

Adding a gazebo to your backyard is a great option for an additional seating area that provides extra shade on sunny days. It also acts as a patio cover if you lack trees and sufficient shade like many new subdivisions do.

A gazebo can also help to define your intended space as designated entertainment areas, hopefully keeping a gathering contained to one spot of your yard.

There are many types of gazebos you can add, whether that is DIY built or installed by a professional. We purchased a large gazebo from Costco.  You can check out my review on this gazebo below to see if it is something you want to consider at your own home.

Bring in Stylish and Usable Furniture

Outdoor furniture will also help to define the space as well. I wanted this area to be left open towards the swimming pool for easy access because it is the main focal point. (Read more about choosing the best pool designs here.) To create a more open space to the pool area I arranged the sectional and chairs from Article into a horseshoe shape. 

Article's couch is nice and oversized, making it the perfect place for comfortable seating as well as sleeping. The chairs are a great addition for texture and bringing in natural materials, while still complimenting the sectional.  I have had these chairs for 3 years and you can see how awesome they look.

Accent with Pillows 

Decorating with pillows can take a blank slate and help to bring a cozy warmth to the space as well as an added texture. I used 2 different pillows to fill in this corner and then these fun lumbar style pillows on either side. To help bring the whole outdoor area together I used the same lumbar ones on the chairs. 

Pillows are also a great way to tie in your color scheme. You can also consider adding in a throw or two for added comfort. I got these pillows at Target, I will link all the items below.

Add Plants

Plants are ideal for bringing in natural elements to indoor-outdoor living spaces. They also help to add color and textures without taking up limited space outside. You can use faux branches, faux plants or real ones.

I love the look of the lavender tree next to this pot full of lots of flowers.  The pots also add a fun texture to the space. I went with a black woven pot to match the furniture. This tree is faux and the perfect addition for behind the sofa to help bring your eye up.

Accent with an Outdoor Rug

Another outdoor room idea is to bring the entire space together with a rug. I love Ruggable rugs because they are washable and can easily be spot cleaned. Washable rugs are the best thing ever. Use them in your seating area and dining area outside.

Another great thing about a rug is the ability to bring in color. I love the colors in this rug and to bring the colors out of the rug I coordinated it with my pillows.

Use Lights

Don’t forget to install lights. Natural light is great for the day but putting up lights is important for night time parties.  Add some solar lights, so they flip on every night and then charge during the day.

Our hanging lights are also a fun design element even when they are off.  They don’t give off tons of light so I also added these string lights around the gazebo. Look how awesome they look reflecting off the outdoor pool at night!  

Other Designs for Outdoor Living Space Ideas

• Add a fire pit or outdoor fireplace
• Add water features to your pool or yard
• Install a hot tub
• Put in an outdoor kitchen area
• Bar area for drinks
• Outdoor tv under a covered area
• Area for outdoor activities or games
• Sports court

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I hope these 6 easy ideas help you to create a fun outdoor living space you and your family can enjoy. Having a functional yard that is stylish as well as usable is the best way to make the most of your home space.

Don't have a pool? Check out these other ideas here

Happy Decorating!

Brooke