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Presented by MarvinMuch like the new and expanded expectations for their homes interiors, clients are calling on their outdoor spaces to perform more functions than ever before, from a second living room to a party pad to a hydrotherapy spa. In response, designers are eagerly taking up the challenge, crafting backyards, gardens, terraces, and pool decks that can satisfy diverse needs without sacrificing aesthetics. At the same time, as natural disasters have put climate-resilient design at the forefront of industry discourse, our at-home landscapes can play another critical role: a first line of defense.AD PROs first member-exclusive trend report of 2025 is a definitive guide to beautiful, elevated outdoor design that is also future-proof, fireproof, and beneficial to both humans and the environment. Supported by trend analysis, expert reporting, and insights from ADs extensive network of designers from around the globeincluding AD100 talents, AD PRO Directory members, and landscape specialistsit offers advice, investigation, and predictions about the outdoor living topics that matter today, and will be even more important tomorrow. From designing for the outdoor sauna craze to exploring a rewilded garden to the trending furniture, lighting, and accessories Directory members recommend sourcing now, this report is essential to an informed designers next outdoor project. We advise you dive right in.Table of ContentsFire Risk Isnt Going Anywhere, But Landscape Can Help Prevent the Worst. Heres HowDesigners reveal how to optimize a gardens hardscape, plantings, and layout as a beautiful defense4 Designers Tips for a Longer-Living, More Resilient GardenAcross the country, landscape professionals (and their clients) are opting for native plants, repurposing existing features, and planning for a shifting climate5 Design Experts Reveal Their Top Outdoor ProductsWe asked five AD PRO Directory talents to help us wade through the best in new and vintage outdoor decor.Pros weigh in on making green spaces of all varieties both beautiful and flexibleWhat Every Designer Needs to Know About Building an Indoor-Outdoor Color PaletteExperts share their tips for seamless alfresco design, and the hues that support itOutdoor Wellness Is on the Rise. Heres How to Design for ItDesigners reveal how to extend physical wellness to the garden, and their clients top requestsPlus, AD PRO Asks:Shop the Outdoor Trend Report 2025AD PRO Directory experts curate collections of their go-to outdoor productsArrowAD PROs Outdoor Design Forecast 2025Register Now for the AD PRO LIVE EventADs Alison Levasseur will sit down with AD100 talents Sara Zewde and Oliver Freundlich for a deep-dive into their recent design projects and the ecological decision-making shaping their practices nowFire Risk Isnt Going Anywhere, But Landscape Can Help Prevent the Worst. Heres HowExperts reveal how to optimize a gardens hardscape, plantings, and layout as a beautiful defenseAs climate change transforms our environment, North Americas fire seasontraditionally beginning in the spring and peaking in early fallmay well become a daily condition. After all, some three wintry months into 2025, fires have already devastated communities throughout California, Texas, New Mexico, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Kansas, South Carolina, Mississippi, Missouri, Maryland, Tennessee, Colorado, and currently New York. Aging energy infrastructure, invasive grasses, and our propensity to develop land in fire-prone regions are literally adding fuel to these flames.A recent survey estimated that 84% of those fires currently costing tens of thousands of North Americans their homesand all of us billions of tax dollars to support the firefightingare caused by humans. This is not a drill: The reality and risk of fires must be taken seriously and mitigating them can and should be part of design practice. But how? AD PRO spoke to landscape experts across the United States for recommendations that start in the garden.A steel footbridge at the entrance to this California Bay Area home by AD100 talents Olson Kundig and Nicole Hollis creates a safe distance between this board-formed concrete home and its fire-resistant front garden by Andrea Cochran Landscape Architects.Photo: Douglas FriedmanGive your outdoor space a clean sweepFirst, reduce existing risks. We have clients attracted to properties in rural locations because theyre beautifully set in nature, says Mike Albert, principal of Design Workshop in Aspen, Colorado. But that beauty isnt always safe. One of the most important steps in a landscape design is eliminating fire hazards, says Max Martin of AD100 firm Geoponika, particularly by removing fire laddersdense vegetation that can carry flames toward a structure. Overgrown or parched shrubs, for example, can quickly combust and transfer blazes to neighboring trees. So, too, can a wood deck. Its important that you clear the vegetation around the base of a deck, Albert says. You can imagine properties on hillsides where the fire is coming up the hill, the brush is on fire, and it goes right up the deck.Thus, risk mitigation is all about location. [Plantings] can transmit fire very quickly if theyre spaced too close to structures, planted in large groupings without breaks, or without at least six feet between the bottom of the tree canopy and the top of the shrubs underneath, explains Adam Kober, president and creative director of Newport Beach, Californiabased landscape studio Kober Design Group. Whenever possible, tree groupings should be kept at three to five per grouping and with at least twenty inches between them, he says. Additionally, six feet spacing should be kept between large shrub beds. Thinking critically about modifying existing landscape design, or conceiving new plantings, to meet these standards is a good way to potentially fell those fire ladders.As weve learned the hard way, fire knows no borders, and neither should fire prevention. Fires can be slowed down considerably from making their way onto a property if zones outside the property are cleared or thinned of dead and/or dying plant material, tree litter, and other debris, Kober says. Working with your neighbors and local authorities to clean up these zones can greatly reduce fire risk. For everyone.Focus on native and perennial plantingsCreating distance between tree groupings and a home can help mitigate fire risk, like at this upstate New York abode by AD100 Yellow House Architects and AD PRO Directory member Robin Henry.Photo: Steve Gross + Susan Daley / Styling: Jimmie HensleeWhat you plant can be as important as how you maintain it, and local is always better. I think the idea of cultivating something that shouldnt be where it is and requires overwatering or heating in the middle of winter is so ridiculous, says AD100 landscape designer Grace Fuller Marroquin. These species, often imported from other environments to satisfy clients lush aesthetics, can be dangerous in a fire. Plants that are susceptible to burning due to rough or peeling bark, or that contain oils, wax, or resin, should be avoided, Kober advises.Instead, Albert says, you might explore simple plantings that, in wintertime, die back all the way to the ground. Such options reduce the chance of brush fireor at least decelerate it. Native, drought-tolerant plants that retain moisture, like succulents and certain broadleaf species, can also help slow the spread, notes Martin.Its the designers job to paint a beautiful picture of what could be.Grace Fuller MarroquinDesigners agree that this is the right path towards risk mitigation. But its also just a good idea period. Its important to think about endemic species and what would naturally occur, Fuller Marroquin says. What takes the least from the landscape and provides the mostin terms of shelter, or pollinator food, or habitat for wildlife? Plantings that seek to address these questions dont have to privilege protection over beauty. It may take a minute to retrain your eye for it, she adds. But when a client says, I want to keep my property safe from fire and be mindful about water and energy, but I want something green and lush and colorfulits just [about] different textures, foliage, and plant varieties.Tap into the shielding power of hardscapesIn Palm Springs, California, AD PRO Directory designer Sheldon Harte of Harte Brownlee & Associates designed a home garden that focuses on hardscapes, xeriscaping, and specimens in planters.Photo: Douglas Friedman / Styling: Anita SarsidiA strategic garden scheme can be a first line of defense against fire. The most critical aspect of fire risk management is establishing a strong, defensible space around the home, says Martin, so if the fire does threaten the property, the design of the landscape itself can help. Fuller Marroquin says shes seen clients build large, steel firewalls around perimeters. Pathways, driveways, and other hardscape surfaces are a great way to break up shrub beds, Kober says. Such strategies dont necessitate great expanses of blank metal or concrete, however. Were seeing property owners create a kind of gravel border around their home, and that can be a struggle because it doesnt often conjure up images of something very beautiful, Albert says. But if you select a dark gravel, the tone can basically disappear.In a garden by Design Workshop, defined beds of ornamental grasses set away from the Aspen, Colorado, home not only reduce fire fuels, but aesthetically dissolves the house by Backen Gillam Architects into its pastoral context.Photo: D.A. Horchner/Design Workshop, Inc.Anecdotally, some designers are seeing a shift from flammable status symbol materials like teak. Wood isnt necessarily a should-not, thoughmass timber, for example, can be surprisingly resistant to fire. And traditional techniques like xeriscaping have never been more timely. Weve been working with it for a long time, due to our love and expertise in cacti and succulents, as well as California native plants, says Martin. As usual in landscape design, its all about the balance. Theres a fine line between ensuring proper plant spacing for fire safety, maintaining sufficient irrigation, and providing enough shade to mitigate the heat island effect, while keeping the space comfortable and private, he continues. And then there are municipal and insurance requirements. You should have an open dialog with your insurance carrier to review plans, and maybe invite them to come to the property, says Albert, because the last thing you want is for them to show up after the design is done and tell you to remove all sorts of vegetation.Clearly there are competing concerns when it comes to fire mitigation and landscape design. It can seem overwhelming, but thats where designers can best serve their clients. The profession is part therapist, right? Albert asks with a laugh. We view these complexities as opportunities rather than limitations, says Martin, striving to create landscapes that are both fire-wise and surprisingly lush. That, says Fuller Marroquin, is the whole point: Its the designers job to paint a beautiful picture of what could be. Jesse DorrisAD PRO Asks: Whats the outdoor wellness amenity all your clients want in 2025? A festive fire pitEntertaining friends and family by an outdoor fireplace or fire pit after dinner is a great way to unwind and connect, adding to the sense of belonging and community. Kathryn Herman, Kathryn Herman Design An onsen of ones ownThe at-home spa is moving outside and into the backyard as more and more clients are requesting sauna and cold plunge circuits in their gardens. These sanctuaries not only enhance wellness and fitness routines but also encourage people to spend time immersed in nature. Aista Sobouti, Marmol Radziner A glassed-in viewAll our clients want exterior glass courtyards and covered terraces to be in higher harmony with nature. Within the courtyards and terraces, they always ask for our bespoke wood furniture. And within the houses, they ask for the Ojami and Zabuton pillows, which are handmade in Japan. Andrew Heid, No Architecture A rewilded lawnThree of our recent projects include meadows as a primary part of the landscape design. In these tumultuous times, weve enthusiastically noted a shift in our clients requests for unmanicured, less formal landscapes that require little maintenance. Oliver Freundlich, Oliver Freundlich Design A path less takenWe are working on a special project that backs up to almost 200,000 acres of Mojave Desert managed by the Bureau of Land Management. Our client, a nature and sports enthusiast, asked that we install a private bike and hiking path around the property's perimeter, connecting it with the seemingly endless expanse of land beyond. A path to boundless nature in your backyard seems like the ultimate in wellness amenities to us. Brett Woods, Founding Partner, Woods + DangaranAnnabel Keenan4 Designers Tips for a Longer-Living, More Resilient GardenAcross the country, landscape professionals (and their clients) are opting for native plants, repurposing existing features, and planning for a shifting climateA wildly layered garden greets visitors outside the poolhouse of a home in the Bavarian forest by AD100 Studio Peregalli.Photo: Robert Rieger / Styling by Thomas RookFrom coast to coast, new gardens are looking increasingly wildalmost as though they naturally grew that way. For a recent home in New England, AD100 landscape firm Reed Hilderbrand used Mother Nature as muse, planting native sugar maple, dogwood, hawthorn, and beech trees, plus over 20 species of ground cover. Once the half-acre garden is established, it will change with the seasons and blend in with the surrounding tree canopy. The approach is part of a larger culture shift in landscape, says Meg Griscom, a Boston-based senior associate at the firm. People are starting to see that thinking about resources is important, and they are open to designs that reflect it.To create long-lasting, visually exciting, and easy-to-maintain gardens, pros increasingly rely on a philosophy of climate-resilient design. In practice, this means choosing drought-tolerant native plants, welcoming more biodiversity on site, and expressing seasonal change. While proposing an environmentally sensitive garden was radical a decade ago, its becoming par for the course today. Were seeing this become something that's important relative to climate change, but its also just proving to be wise based on performance, says Griscom, referencing the higher success rate of new plantings.Landscape designer Tania Comptons garden of largely native Mediterranean plants is visible from the terrace of Emma Roig Askaris Ibiza home, designed by Rolf Blakstad of Blakstad Design Consultants.Photo: Miguel Flores-ViannaNick Spain, founder of Brooklyn-based interiors and landscape practice Studio Nick Spain, agrees that resilient design is simply practical. When you have six inches of standing water flooding your basement every spring, its easier to understand the importance of a good drainage plan and bioswales, he says. Alternatively, after six weeks of no rain in mid-summer, you can physically see why a certain rose you loved might need to be reconsidered as it begins to wither and die.Californian AD100 landscape firm Terremoto has always emphasized drought-tolerant and waterwise plantings. But through the years, it has redefined its low-impact designs to encompass the full life cycle of a project, from design to construction and maintenance. Instead of demolishing a site and building anew, we are more interested in a layering approach and the reuse and reimagining of existing materials, which reduces a projects carbon footprint, says Story Wiggins, a partner in Terremotos San Francisco office. It's offering more than just a lower water bill; its also a connection to place and site and the wildlife of your area.In 2016, the Pulitzer Prizewinning author and biologist E.O. Wilson wrote a book called Half Earth: Our Planets Fight for Life, which outlines the need to preserve more natural landscapes for the purpose of maintaining biodiversity. This call for balance inspires Terremotos client recommendations. If you think of every little project as that in miniature, you can make space for other kinds of life, Wiggins says.In Big Sur, California, the historic Mickey Muennigdesigned home of Electric Bowery architect Cayley Lambur features its original eco-friendly landscape from 1993.Photo: Chris MottaliniFor a recent residential project on a three-acre site in California, Terremoto created what Wiggins calls a jewel box, a small fenced-in area with a swimming pool, outdoor kitchen, projector for movie nights, and concentrated plantings. The studio is passively restoring the rest of the site into grassland. Seasonally, a maintenance company removes invasive plants so that the native seeds, latent in the soil, have room to thrive. Its work that will take decades to fully realize, but because of the greater sense of ecological responsibility and less required maintenance over time, the client agreed. Its a win-win, Wiggins explains. If you make some beautiful, hospitable space for humans, most people are game to let the rest go back to nature.Finding the right ratio of wilder, biodiverse, and conventional landscape for each client is key, says Denver-based landscape architecture practice Superbloom. For a family with young children in Denver suburb Golden, the studio designed a drought-tolerant yard that bursts with purple Russian sage and switchgrass and integrates existing rock features. Small lawns in the front and back yards offer areas for the kids to play, but the majority resembles a wild meadow a few blocks away from the house. Children are going to be 18 sooner than you think says Diane Lipovsky, who cofounded the firm with Stacy Passmore and encourages thinking about gardens in the long term.Fashion designer Kim Jones spends his weekends at this 18th-century estate in Sussex, England, which features exuberant, wild, colorful gardens.Photo: Simon UptonIn many cases, the conversation about climate-resilient garden design is actually about change and adaptationand making clients comfortable with these concepts. Native or water-wise landscapes are dynamic, Lipovsky says. Every season is different. It's probably never going to look the same. To help set expectations, Superbloom creates painterly sketches that illustrate the array of plants and pollinators clients can expect to see in dry and wet years.The definition of resilient landscape design is also continually being reevaluated. Because we have really started to live with the impacts of climate change, its about how we absorb the shock, Passmore says. In addition to selecting native plants and trees, they think critically about where they place them to avoid exposing homes or people to increased risk.Within this approach, there is significant room for aesthetic interpretation. Spain notes that its not just meadows and shaggy lawns. Things start to get really exciting when you begin to consider how some of these ideas can be executed within the constructs of, say, a traditional paradise garden, or to imagine a formal parterre scheme inspired by Russell Page that only uses native annuals, he says. So many different kinds of ecologically minded beauty are possible, you just have to go out there and create yours.AD PRO Asks: Is rewilding right for you?Were really rigorous in initial conversations about what the client wants, says Lipovsky. Often it comes down to cost. Well ask, what are you spending on your water bill right now, and what do you want it to be?Terremoto, which generally works with clients interested in gardens with a wilder aesthetic, inquires about the relationship clients want with their site.Everyone has their own comfort level with nature and we tailor our designs to that, says principal Wiggins. Its funnysome people will say, I love a pollinator garden, but I dont like bees. To address this, the team sets aside space that is safe and enclosed, Wiggins adds. Usually near the house it'll be a bit more resource intensive.But in the end, resilient landscapes just make sense. At the risk of sounding like a proselytizer, everyone should be considering this, says interior and garden designer Spain. There is no situation where this isnt applicable or where it shouldnt be consideredfrom rooftops to backyards to big estates. Diana Budds5 Design Experts Reveal Their Top Outdoor ProductsWe asked five AD PRO Directory talents (Rydhima Brar of R/terior Studio, Sasha Adler, Melanie Raines, Damon Liss, and Ashley Ross of Muse Noire Interiors) to help us wade through the best in new and vintage outdoor decor. Whether youre seeking a sculptural fireplace, candy-hued servingware, or good-looking furniture that can withstand the elements, youre sure to find something that will elevate any outdoor oasis.Rydhima Brars PicksRydhima Brar of R/terior Studio grounds Californian cool with her Middle Eastern and Indian roots, resulting in spaces equal parts chill and chic.Sasha Adlers PicksSasha Adler specializes in historical restorations, delicate details, and sumptuous materials out of Chicago.Melanie Rainess PicksLos Angeles and Austin-based Melanie Raines cut her teeth at Soho House, and accordingly has a keen eye for luxurious design details.Damon Lisss PicksAfter more than 20 years in Tribeca, Damon Liss draws creative inspiration from his New York City neighborhoods raw materiality.Ashley Rosss PicksIn North Carolina and Texas, Ashley Ross of Muse Noire Interiors curates authenticity in outdoor spaces and design nooks alike.How to Maximize Any Outdoor SpaceFrom a Poolside to a Sky-High PatioPros weigh in on making green spaces of all varieties both beautiful and flexibleRestored by designer Brad Dunning, this 1960 Donald Polsky home in Los Angeles has views to both its landscaped entry courtyard as well as its garden by Madison Cox.Photo: Yoshihiro Makino / Styling: Anita SarsidiNo matter the size of a clients garden, making use of every inch feels more important than ever, supported by the proven wellness benefits of spending time outside. Following prevailing interior trends, flexibility is key in outdoor spaces, which are often called upon to do double or triple duty to support relaxation, gathering, dining, and more. Whether a home has the square footage to host a compact urban backyard or a sprawling landscape, there are ways to artfully and organically integrate a clients outdoor needs. Here, design and construction experts explain how.City gardensTo maximize this 570-square-foot backyard at a home in San Francisco, landscape studio Orca sunk a fire pit into an elevated brick patio and planted native flora to define different sitting areas.Photo: Cass CleaveInstead of trying to impose a long list of functions onto small green spaces, prioritize what is most important, says Molly Sedlacek, founder of Los Angelesbased landscape studio and AD PRO Directory member Orca. She recommends cataloguing your clients wants and then mapping out the square footage needed to help decide what should take precedence.When you are working with limited space, introducing a change in elevation can make petite gardens feel larger, says Sedlacek. For a 570-square-foot backyard in San Francisco, Orca sunk a fire pit into a raised area where steps double as seating. Plantings can also help organize different zones. Creating garden rooms gives the desirable experience of being enveloped by nature, she adds.Its a sentiment shared by Michal Kapitulnik, principal atSan Franciscobased landscape architecture firm and AD PRO Directory member Surfacedesign. Layering plants with dramatic structural form creates a sense of enclosure for smaller program areas, she says. Playing with materials and textures, too, can create the illusion of depth in a compact space.Terraces and rooftopsLush planters help define different areas of this Manhattan rooftop garden designed by RKLA Studio Landscape Architecture, including its outdoor kitchen.Photo: Ty ColeIf much of an outdoor space is exposed to the elements, integrating shadingand heaters increases the flexibility for when it can be used, explains Gareth Mahon, partner at New Yorkbased RKLA Studio Landscape Architecture. On terraces and rooftops, Mahon has also seen an increased demand for wellness amenities, including hot tubs, saunas, and cold plunges, which can help conjure the feeling of an oasis within a small footprint.Strategic planting and furniture selection are vital for optimizing such spaces. Know what plants will grow large and do the most work in terms of screening, providing shade, and adding beautyall while limiting the size of the planters that they live in, says Mahon. Scale is an important consideration for furnishings too. Oversized pieces, or too many of them, can negatively affect the feel and flow of a small space, he adds.EstatesRedesigned by AD100 legend Jacques Grange, this 1930 Palm Beach, Florida, estate features a lush walled garden by Nievera Williams whose subtropical design centers around a banyan tree.Photo: Ngoc Minh Ngo / Styling: Mieke ten HaveWhen acreage is not an issue, careful design is still paramount. Larger projects require the creative delineation of different outdoor areas, says Kapitulnik, whether through soft planted thresholds or architectural devices. This method helps define a sequence of varied spacesforming a journey through the garden and creating moments of discovery, privacy, and sociability.For a more than five-acre project in Sonoma, California, Surfacedesign integrated a feeling of cinematic procession through the garden, describes Kapitulnik. That sense of variation and adventure as you're moving through the garden keeps it exciting, but also gives you the opportunity to have the garden flex to accommodate different numbers of peopleso it never feels empty.PoolsideThanks to landscape studio SMI Landscape Architecture, a lush carpet of lawn surrounds the swimming pool at a historic Palm Beach, Florida, house, decorated by AD100 talent Frank de Biasi.Photo: Kris Tamburello / Styling: Lazaro AriasA swimming pool presents both opportunities and challenges for its surrounding space, where safety and aesthetics must be considered. To maximize its use, design firms are increasingly folding a variety of functions into the poolside area, from outdoor kitchens to fire pits.In Arizona, pools are an absolute must because of the hot summers, says Brad Leavitt, president of Scottsdale-based company A Finer Touch Construction. For a recent home project in the state in collaboration with CW Architecture, TheLifestyledCo, and CF Design, the builder constructed a sleek infinity pool surrounded by plantings, seating, a fire pit, outdoor kitchen, and a sheltered outdoor entertainment area. The latter connects seamlessly to an indoor lounge through large, glazed retractable doors, blurring the inside-outside boundary. Similarly designed windows allow the indoor bar to open to the poolside area, functioning for both spaces. Large corner multisliders and pass-through windows are a must on almost every project, says Leavitt.In smaller gardens, the pool itself can be a space-saving trick. If you need entertaining space but dont have tons of room, you can raise the pool up 14 inches and widen the edge, says AD100 architect Barbara Bestor. Then you have a great seating area for 50 people or so. A well-designed outdoor space can even extend the party. Francesca PerryWhat Every Designer Needs to Know About Building an Indoor-Outdoor Color PalettePros share their tips for seamless alfresco design and the hues that support itDecorated by AD PRO Directory member Michael Hilal, a stone wall that extends through the interior and exterior of a San Diego home helps set its color palette.Photo: Shade DeggesFirst impressions matterat least as far as a homes color palette goesand designers should be just as concerned with the hues outside as with those inside. A home should tell a cohesive story, and the story begins from the moment you arrive, explains Casey Keasler of AD PRO Directory studio Casework Interiors. With spring unfolding, homeowners will have outdoor entertaining and lounging more and more top of mind. How well do their interior and exterior spaces interact? If the connection could be stronger, the easiest solution is to turn to color.Living in California, a homes exterior is like additional square footage, says designer and AD PRO Directory member Michael Hilal. When working with a landscape designer, we will often present the interiors to them so they have a strong grasp on the tones and the color palette we are aiming for.To create a thoughtful design that continues as soon as you step onto the terrace, patio, or pool deck, we asked three experts share their tips for planning a backyard color scheme, and the four shades to use now for the best inside-out results.Pay attention to locationWhen considering an exterior spaces look and feel, never start from scratch. The existing natural landscape should be your primary guide. I always take into context where the home is, Keasler says. This includes existing plant life and anything that may be added.AD PRO Directory firm DISC Interiors gave this poolside structure at a Los Angeles home a more understated, Mediterranean-inspired look through its natural color scheme.Photo: Sam FrostIn Todos Santos, Mexico, designer Faith Blakeney added electric color to this homes rooftop lounge with cushions covered in striped fabrics from Sunbrella.Photo: Cris NolascoTo complement the tree canopy of Portland, Oregon, or the arid landscape of Tucson, Arizona, Keasler adjusts her palette accordingly, pulling environmental colors and textures into an alfresco dining or living space. I love using rich browns, inky blues, or olive greens as a foundation. Then I like to bring lighter and darker values as a contrast for balance, she says. Remember black and white, like for cars, are the highest maintenance colors to bring outdoors because they will show dust and dirt the fastest.Another way to build cohesion is to swatch interior hues that can be spotted from the garden. If you have a navy room thats visible from the outside, you can think of the window as a frame into it, Hilal explains. In this case, Id think about whether or not there are hardscapes, plants, or furnishings to complement it.Make statements strategicallyAD PRO Directory designer Summer Thornton used pops of pink to decorate the playful poolside area of a home in Naples, Florida.Photo: Annie SchlechterTo honor the surrounding landscape, keep your overarching color scheme simple and leave experimentation to the accessories. I definitely want to bring the feel from the indoors to the outside, but I generally tend to keep it a bit more one-note so that the natural surroundings aren't drowned out, says Summer Thornton, president and creative director of AD PRO Directory firm Summer Thornton Design. All three experts recommend starting with a nature-inspired base and keeping bolder pops limited to details.I love a bright pink outside as an unexpected and playful note, Thornton continues. I also love to play with an umbrella in a beautiful shape and color. It can be the main statement of an outdoor space.She adds that more personality can be found in vintage pieces, just as long as youre comfortable leaving them outside. [New] outdoor furniture can look so sterile and suffer from sameness, she says. A salvaged piece, like a faux-bois side table or even old cast-iron planters, can really help.Bring paint into the processBackyard furnitureset in a landscape by Fiore Landscape Designis in aesthetic harmony with the exterior palette of this Beverly Hills home by architect and artist Suchi Reddy.Photo: Ye Rin MokPainting the entire exterior of a home to coordinate with its interior isnt always necessary. But if you are going for a fresh coat to better define the backyards design, Hilal advises picking shades that will effortlessly coordinate with whats already under the sun.Right now, I like Farrow and Balls Dove Tale or Backdrops Interior Motives; theyre still neutral and a departure from gray with taupe undertones, Hilal says. Alternatively, Backdrops Harvest Moon is a warm white that has just a hint of yellow, and Farrow and Balls Salt is crisp with gray and brown undertones.Hilal suggests painting large swatches on the side of the home beside any outdoor living spaces to see how each option interacts with the environmentand noting the differences throughout the day, and even at night. Whatever you dont love can be painted over, the designer says.Alternatively, a pergola, reclaimed furnishings, and even pots for plants can be painted to reinforce a backyard palette. Whatever the design plans may hold, be sure they encourage your clients to get outside. Outdoor space is such a premium, says Hilal, so make sure you are taking full advantage of it. Kelly DawsonChaise by Shore StudiosLumbar Throw PillowGlobi Wall LampSalt by Farrow & BallResort Market UmbrellaInterior Motives by Backdrop
