Top Outdoor Design Trends and Tips for Creating a Stylish and Functional Space

As spring approaches, it’s the perfect time to relax in the garden and enjoy a morning coffee on the balcony. Sandra Gøthler, an interior designer at IKEA, shares the latest outdoor design trends and tips for creating a beautiful and functional space.

After a long, cold winter, people in Denmark are eager to spend time outdoors, and their outdoor spaces often become an extension of their homes. According to Gøthler, it’s important to make sure the outdoor area fits with the overall design of the home, so the space feels like a natural part of the house.

“A good tip when decorating an outdoor space is to think about style, colors, and materials,” she says. You can add personal touches with items like lamps, cushions, and plants to make the space feel unique.

Different materials can help create different styles. For example, IKEA’s TALLSKÄR and RISHOLMEN braided chairs have a light, airy look, while the metal SKOGSÖN armchair, available in a soft green color, has a more modern vibe.

While style is important, Gøthler also points out that it’s essential to remember the purpose of the space.

“People often focus too much on design and forget to leave room for the activities they want to do outside,” she explains. This might include areas for playing, having a campfire, outdoor workouts, or even drying laundry.

The NÄMMARÖ garden furniture set from IKEA is a great option for creating an outdoor space that works for different activities without losing its stylish look. It includes lounge furniture, sun loungers, dining tables, chairs, storage, and room dividers that help organize the space into different zones.

Decorating small outdoor spaces, like balconies, can be challenging. For smaller areas, Gøthler recommends choosing furniture that can be folded and stored away when not in use. The SUNDSÖ series, for example, includes foldable furniture in several colors, making it easy to set up and pack away when needed.

As summer arrives, many Danes love to cook and eat outside, and this trend has made outdoor kitchens more popular.

“Outdoor kitchens open up new possibilities for outdoor living while helping maintain the same design style as the rest of the home,” says Gøthler.

A well-designed outdoor kitchen also needs a dining area. The VÄSMAN dining table, with its pull-out leaves, makes it easy to host both everyday meals and larger dinner parties. Pairing it with chairs from the TALLSKÄR series, which are made from durable materials like steel and plastic, creates a stylish and practical outdoor dining setup.