Designing the Perfect Patio: Outdoor Living Tips for the Northeast
In New England, we savor warm weather — because let’s be honest, the season can feel all too short. Whether you're relaxing on a city balcony in Boston or hosting dinner in a backyard on the North Shore, outdoor living spaces deserve thoughtful attention.
Here’s how to design a patio or outdoor area that feels beautiful, functional, and worth every moment — even with a fleeting season.
Start with How You Want to Use the Space
Before choosing furniture or finishes, start with function. How do you want to live outdoors?
Dining al fresco with friends?
Morning coffee and reading in the sun?
Cozy evenings with a fire pit and cocktails?
A mix of zones for different times of day?
In city spaces, multi-purpose furniture is key. In larger suburban backyards, create “outdoor rooms” — like a dining area under a pergola and a separate lounge spot for evening relaxing.
Choose Materials That Withstand the Northeast Weather
Our outdoor furniture works hard here. From summer humidity to salty coastal air, choose wisely:
Teak, powder-coated aluminum, or resin wicker stand up to the elements
Performance fabrics (like Sunbrella) resist mold, mildew, and fading
Composite decking or natural stone offers long-term durability
Pro tip: A little extra investment up front means less replacing and more enjoying.
Layer Like You Would Indoors
Great outdoor design is all about layering:
Add pillows and cushions for softness and style
Use outdoor rugs to define spaces
Include planters, lanterns, and accent tables for a styled yet livable look
In tighter spaces, opt for slim-profile or modular furniture that won’t crowd the area.
Stretch the Season with Heat and Light
Why limit your space to summer? A few smart additions can help you enjoy it from early spring into late fall:
String lights, sconces, or solar lanterns for warmth and ambiance
Portable heaters or fire pits to take the chill off
Throw blankets in a basket for guests
Umbrellas or shade sails to help on hot days
These elements bring comfort and create atmosphere.
Infuse Your Personality
Just like your interiors, your outdoor space should reflect your style:
Add vintage planters or garden stools for charm
Choose pops of color in cushions or umbrellas
Layer in wovens, ceramics, and stone for texture and tone
It doesn’t take much — even a pair of great chairs and a potted olive tree can feel elevated.
Boston vs. the Burbs: What Changes?
Every neighborhood has its own patio possibilities:
In the City:
Use vertical space (trellises, wall planters)
Choose compact, stackable pieces
Maximize square footage with smart storage
In the Suburbs:
Design multiple zones for dining, lounging, or fireside chats
Consider permanent features like built-in stonework or pergolas
Think ahead about lighting, irrigation, and privacy
In the Northeast, a great outdoor space is an investment in how you live — right now. When designed well, your patio becomes more than just a “nice-to-have.” It becomes part of your home’s story. Whether you're outfitting a rooftop terrace, refreshing a tired deck, or starting from scratch, we’re here to help you make the most of it.
Let’s Design Your Perfect Outdoor Space
Need help planning your patio? We create custom outdoor living designs that bring comfort, beauty, and longevity to every season.
Image from our 2024 South End Townhouse Refresh. The tiny patio and placement of existing features (staircase, support column, storage shed), made finding the right scale furniture a challenge to be able to meet all of our client needs for the space. We ended up sourcing a modular outdoor collection that we were able to break apart to create the dining seating area, and the extra sofa peice and ottoman to create a seating area in front of the outdoor TV. Our focus on layout and scale allowed us to create a space for all the activities our client required of the space: Grilling, Dining, Lounging, TV space, and entertaining.
Image from our 2024 South End Townhouse Refresh. We brought in an extra set of outdoor dining chairs to supplement the dining and living spaces, and to add some extra character to what otherwise might feel like a cookie-cutter outdoor set. We layered in a modern rug in blue tones and coordinating textiles in our same color palette as inside to give this space a sense of cohesivness with the rest of the home and ultimate give the property a greater sense of spacious. Plants were layer in to add a pop of color.