Design a Contemporary Modern Outdoor Living Space with these Stylish Tips

Your backyard can be so much more than a flat, empty lawn – with the increasing appeal of outdoor living and greater options in contemporary outdoor design, you can easily turn the area into a stylish extension of your modern entertaining spaces.

In this article, we’ll explore a range of practical design tips to take your outdoor living space from clunky to contemporary, from creating the initial sense of structure and flow, to the use of textures, colours and shapes, lighting, low maintenance materials and modern outdoor furniture settings to complete the look.

Create a sense of structure and flow

If you’ve got the room for it, you’ll want to clearly define your outdoor living space into different zones using elements that align with the contemporary modern style. If you have a pool, using glass pool fencing can provide that clear division to the space, while also offering an aesthetically pleasing and sophisticated solution for the safety of your family and guests. Glass pool fencing is also one of th emost safe styles of pool fencing, because it offers total transparancey to keep watch of kids playing in the water, and then when the pools not eing used, it boosts cohesion in your outdoor design.

If you plan on entertaining outdoors, consider grouping furniture and changing up decking levels to create different zones for different uses (such as defining spaces for cooking, dining and lounging). Think about how you’ll be using the space most often, and structure it accordingly. Ensure there’s a sense of flow between the spaces – after all, most contemporary modern design is based around clean lines and streamlined aesthetics.

Make an impression with colour, textures and shapes

Playing with different colours, textures and geometric patterns can make all the difference in determining the overall vibe of your outdoor space. For a contemporary modern look, try mixing sleek finishes like concrete or metal with pops of greenery like bamboo.

Remember to blend form and function wherever possible – you could cultivate a green wall that offers both visual appeal and increased privacy for your outdoor living spaces, or you could use concrete pavers to build a stylish path connecting the different zones in your outdoor areas.

In contemporary design, colour choices tend to be both neutral yet bold: picture the high contrast appeal of black exteriors against metal, greenery or even the warm natural tones of wood and other materials. This choice of colours creates an intrinsic sense of visual interest – very useful if you’re considering a more minimalist approach to modern exterior design. The neutrality of these colours also leaves the decor to shine, using bold colour furniture, shade sails or cushions to pop within the space.

Try smart lighting options to combine form and function

Make the most of modern technology by using smart lighting systems in your outdoor spaces. Between the ability to automate changes in lighting based on triggers like the time of day, to controlling these systems from your phone or compatible voice assistants, it’s easier than ever to make your outdoor living spaces equally beautiful and functional.

By placing lighting in strategic places, you can highlight key focal points in your outdoor living area, illuminate a path between different spaces, and create the vibe of your choice when entertaining outdoors after hours.

Smart lighting can also be a fantastic security feature for your outdoor spaces. Set them to activate when they detect movement, and they help you navigate the dark when necessary, as well as ward off any potential intruders. Finally, smart lighting is usually energy efficient, so it’s good for your bank account and the planet, too.

Embrace easy outdoor living with low-maintenance materials

When it comes to choosing materials for your outdoor spaces, there is a wide variety of low-maintenance options to make your contemporary outdoor living as easy as possible: think easy-to-install Trex decking, or concrete or metal finishes made to weather the elements.

Composite decking also doesn’t decay or discolour like wood does when it’s exposed to the Aussie elements, and cleaning it is as simple as wiping it down with a broom and soapy water, not sanding it back or refinishing it as you might have to with timber. They also allow you to spend less time on upkeep and more time enjoying the space you’ve created with your loved ones.

As previously mentioned, using a mix of these materials will also satisfy the need to create visual interest, so you could consider a timber table left under shelter, with a metal outdoor kitchen and composite decking, for example.

Choose modern outdoor furniture settings

If it wasn’t obvious by now, when making design choices for your contemporary outdoor living spaces, the key consideration is doubling up on style and utility. When choosing outdoor furniture, consider modular pieces that offer storage as well as ergonomic comfort and a sense of modern visual appeal. Bonus points if you can find pieces that are slightly boxy or geometric profiles with an almost architectural finish.

You might also want to consider building furniture into your outdoor design: think seating, or benches around a BBQ for outdoor cooking or even a built-in fire pit for entertaining into the night (particularly in the colder months). Whatever you choose, keep it in line with the colours and textures of your exterior design for consistency and visual appeal.

Balancing function, style and durability for a long-lasting putdoor space

When designing your contemporary outdoor space, start by creating a sense of structure and flow by defining your key zones for outdoor activities like cooking, dining or lounging. Use textures, colours and shapes to create a visual impression, and incorporate smart lighting for the dual benefits of visual appeal and convenience for use.

Opt for pool fencing that offers high visibility and transparency to enhance the flow of the space and low-maintenance materials like composite decking and corrosion-resistant metals to minimise upkeep and maximise your enjoyment of the space. Finally, choose thoughtful outdoor furniture settings to contribute to the modern aesthetic and provide some form of utility (such as storage).