Create a cosy outdoor seating area with these tips (plus some patio accessory ideas)

Someone recently told me think of your garden as another room of your home. That really stuck with me. After all it is another room, even if you can’t use it all year round. That got me thinking about sprucing up my own garden outdoor seating area ready for the warmer months.

Last year, we spent a fair bit of time outside but not as much as I would have liked. I know this is because my outdoor seating area isn’t as cosy and inviting as I’d like it to be. Every year I plan to do something about this but I leave it too late and always end up saying next year! So this time I’m determined to plan ahead and create a cosy outdoor seating area before it’s too late!

I’ve put together some tips and ideas that I’ve been thinking of for my own garden seating. I want to create a space that I can spend longer in (whether that’s hours or months) and a space where I can have friends over for long evenings. Most importantly I want it to be warm, cosy and welcoming. I’ve also suggested some outdoor / patio accessories that I’m loving at the moment.

Tips for a cosy outdoor seating area

1. heat it up

It sounds obvious but so many of us don’t have any kind of heating in our outdoor spaces. Adding some heating outside will of course cosy up your space but it will also allow you to use your outdoor space for longer – whether that’s a few extra hours or a few more months. You’ll often be able to use it through spring and autumn.

You could opt for an outdoor heater, a portable fire pit or you could build a permanent fireplace. If you’re lucky enough to have a garden room, heating the room is still a good idea as you can use it all year round. There are many ways to heat up your seating area so choose something that works for your budget and space. Or if none of these are possible, even a bunch of warm, woolly blankets will help.

2. comfy seating

This is so important because if you’re not comfy, you won’t feel cosy and relaxed. No matter what the weather, you’re not likely to spend much time outside if your seating isn’t comfortable. There are lots of options for seating outside from luxury rattan furniture to simple DIY benches. If you’ve got no seating outside, then your choices are endless so you can really plan ahead and make a super cosy space.

If you’ve already got seating out there that isn’t quite as comfy as you want, it doesn’t mean that you have to change it all. You can find simple ways to make it more comfortable. We built a concrete bench outside which looks great but is hard to sit on, especially for long periods of time. So I’m looking out for things like seat pads, cushions and throws to make it all more comfortable.

Similarly, if you have chairs or even sun loungers that aren’t as comfortable as you’d like, it’s worth investing in the best sun lounger cushions you can find or the best seat cushions for your chairs.

3. textures and accessories

Even though the outdoors has plenty of natural texture, you can’t go wrong with adding more to your seating area to make the space really cosy. Natural textures like wool, linen, sheepskin, rattan, jute, concrete, wood and more will really make your outdoor space look so inviting. Keep the colours neutral and use subtle patterns to prevent the space from looking too busy.

I love the idea of having lots of throws and cushions that will not only keep you warm and comfy but will look great too. Another idea is to create a linen canopy if you can. Use plant pots made from natural materials or pop them in seagrass or rattan baskets. Combine old wood with metal or stone. It’s these little textural details that will really make your space come together.

4. lighting

Lighting is so important in every part of your home and the outdoors is no different. I especially love a combination of string lights and lots of candles. With the candles you can mix it up with different sizes and you can have some in large lanterns on the floor, others on the table and even some hanging ones. String lights create a magical feel and can be strung around large plants or hung on a wall or placed around the trunk of a tree. You could also go for paper lanterns and of course there are loads of portable lights out there too — perfect for using inside and outside. Together these lights will make your outdoor space feel so cosy and snug.

5. potted plants

Placing some potted plants in your outdoor seating area adds so much. A mix of large and small plants dotted around the floor and on tables will not only look great but it adds so much especially to a neutral toned garden seating area. Many plants look sculptural so this adds extra visual interest too. And it’s not just the plants but the pots too which contribute to adding texture that I mentioned in tip 3.

No matter what kind of outdoor seating you already have, you can take a few of these tips and cosy up your space without making any big changes.