How to Design an Outdoor Living Space with Free Design Services

Room & Board provided this person with furniture in exchange for promotion. We partner with people who are already fans of our brand for the most meaningful connections. All opinions expressed are their own.

As the weather gets warmer, it’s more important than ever to create an outdoor space you want to spend time in. From hosting to everyday lounging, we’ve got what you need to create an outdoor oasis you love. Learn how Cosette Posko of Cosette’s Kitchen in Portland, OR, utilized our free design services to create a space for easy outdoor entertaining.

The outdoor design challenge

Create a multifunctional outdoor space for casual entertaining that doubles as a spot for casual dinner parties.

The design process

Cosette scheduled a free design appointment with Design Associate Michael at Room & Board Portland. Before the appointment, Cosette sent photos and dimensions of her deck area to Michael so he could plan ahead and brainstorm the best furniture and layout for casual entertaining.

During the appointment, to help Cosette visualize the space, Michael created a 3D rendering of the deck space with furniture options that would comfortably seat Cosette’s entire family, plus guests. After talking through various color and fabric options, they landed on a neutral and classic palette for the furniture with the intention of adding in color with outdoor decor.

Shop this space: Rayo outdoor sofa, Parsons outdoor coffee table, Breeze outdoor lounge chairs

Once the layout and color palette was decided on, Michael helped Cosette narrow down her furniture options. Because of the small deck space, the seating area needed to have a small footprint, but also needed to be big enough to comfortably seat her family of five. After seeing a few options, they eventually selected a pair of Rayo sofas with dark grey frames. To contrast, she chose the Mist grey fabric, which is a machine washable cover making it perfect for outdoor use. To balance out the space and add a flexible seating option, they landed on a pair of Breeze chairs in contrasting white HDPE and Mist charcoal fabric.

Shop this space: Breeze outdoor lounge chairs, Slim round outdoor end table, Rayo outdoor sofa

To complete the deck and allow for optimal surface area to entertain, Michael and Cosette decided on the Parsons outdoor coffee table with a granite top and Slim outdoor round side table. Once the bright decor was added, the space was ready for outdoor entertaining and lounging!

Work with a Design Associate to receive personalized help with:

Furniture selection
Floor planning, including 3D renderings
Guided shopping
Color, paint and material options
Home decor ideas
Outdoor furniture selection and space planning

“Working with a design associate helped me to define the space, find the most functional furniture and determine the best layout for the space.” Cosette

Get started today with a free design services appointment in store, virtually or by phone. Learn more about Cosette’s experience on her blog.

Room & Board provided Cosette Posko with the furniture pictured, in exchange for social promotion.