8 × outdoor living room—would a sofa chest, a sunken terrace, or an elegant furniture set fit your yard?

You can create a living-room-style setup on a patio with just a couple of comfortable chairs or a cushioned sofa, a small table, and a few potted plants. Wood, metal, and rattan remain popular choices for outdoor furniture. If you are a DIY enthusiast, you can build an outdoor sofa from planks, sized to fit standard seat cushions.

If you want your outdoor living room to feel especially cozy, furnish it like an indoor room: a patio wall, trellis, or hedge can create a room-like effect. The ”floor” could be a deck, gravel, or lawn, and the “ceiling” could be anything stretching above the seating area, such as string lights, lanterns, or a tree canopy. A sufficiently large rug unifies the furniture. Pillows, blankets, and plants provide the final cozy touch.

1. An oasis on dry land

Essi and Jussi built a spacious deck under the shade of beautiful old apple trees and placed a simple sofa chest with a backrest in one corner. Lightweight cushions and pillows add softness and are easy to bring indoors when it rains.

2. Just like a living room

A light, modern corner sofa and coffee table create a clear, structured lounge area. A lush hedge serves as a great backdrop. A rug, textiles, and atmospheric paper lanterns complete the indoor-like vibe.

3. A rug unifies the set

A lightweight lattice wall built on the deck creates a cozy, nest-like feel without fully blocking the view. Rattan chairs, a small table, potted plants, and a sufficiently large rug form a compact seating group that’s easy to move. Because rattan furniture is light, it’s easy to carry under cover when it rains.

4. Pair green with black

In the matte black–oiled deck in front of the sauna, there's a sunken seating area that also serves as a fire pit. Plush pillows complete the relaxed look.

5. Light furniture

In this 12-square-meter pergola, a panel of protective plexiglass is disguised by a willow fence as the back wall. A tailored awning attached to the pergola’s edge shelters the sofa set. The outdoor furniture is sized to suit the space, and its colors are picked from the surrounding environment. Thanks to their light, slender design, the pieces leave plenty of room for lounging and adapt easily to different locations.

6. Relaxing by refreshing waters

A dock can quickly transform into a summer living room by adding tables, lanterns, and comfortable beanbag chairs. At this cottage, the lake view is fully embraced. More than a hundred square meters of patio space extend in front of the sauna and small cottage, topped off by a large dock. With movable beanbag chairs, you can relax on the dock while keeping an eye on children playing in the water.

7. Easy to move

A once-barren gravel area has turned into a garden that sparks the imagination. A deck is set to be built in front of the outbuilding, but a cozy seating area can also be arranged right on the lawn. All you need is a patio umbrella, folding chairs with pillows, and a small table.

8. A few steps to relaxation

Sheltered by an atrium house, there's a courtyard deck with a perfect nook for outdoor lounging. The deck doubles as steps and seating, turning the yard into its own little amphitheater. Cushions, pillows, potted plants, and string lights enhance the cozy feel.