8 Toasty Outdoor Seating Areas Have Us Ready for Fall
Fire pits, outdoor heaters, blankets and pillows warm up outdoor spaces for a cooler season
Lauren Dunec Hoang
October 19, 2021
Houzz Editor; landscape designer and former garden editor for Sunset Magazine and in-house designer for Sunset's Editorial Test Garden. Her garden designs have been featured in the Sunset Western Garden Book of Landscaping, Sunset Western Garden Book of Easy-Care Plantings (cover), Inhabitat, and POPSUGAR.
Houzz Editor; landscape designer and former garden editor for Sunset Magazine and... More
It’s easy to want to pack it up and move inside when the weather turns cooler. But with a few added comforts, outdoor seating areas can feel extra cozy this time of year.
Take a look at eight patios, porches and rooftop decks that warm up with soft blankets, patio heaters, fire features and other elements that help extend the outdoor living season.
Take a look at eight patios, porches and rooftop decks that warm up with soft blankets, patio heaters, fire features and other elements that help extend the outdoor living season.
1. Covered Indoor-Outdoor Living Area
Enclosing a porch or patio can be a great way to extend the use of an outdoor room in cold-winter climates.
This enclosed lounge area in Dallas feels like an outdoor room — it’s one step down from the house and is furnished like a luxe patio — but it can be used year round. What could be more cozy than sitting by the roaring fire and watching the rain fall outside?
Find a contractor near you on Houzz
Enclosing a porch or patio can be a great way to extend the use of an outdoor room in cold-winter climates.
This enclosed lounge area in Dallas feels like an outdoor room — it’s one step down from the house and is furnished like a luxe patio — but it can be used year round. What could be more cozy than sitting by the roaring fire and watching the rain fall outside?
Find a contractor near you on Houzz
2. Blankets at the Ready
Adding warmth to your outdoor seating area can be as easy as bringing out blankets from the house.
For this house in Jackson, Wyoming, plaid blankets draped over the backs of outdoor dining chairs bring a hit of color and warmth, tempting guests to linger past sunset.
Adding warmth to your outdoor seating area can be as easy as bringing out blankets from the house.
For this house in Jackson, Wyoming, plaid blankets draped over the backs of outdoor dining chairs bring a hit of color and warmth, tempting guests to linger past sunset.
3. Heated Roof Deck
This Seattle rooftop is designed to be extra inviting at twilight, as glowing lanterns dot the perimeter and an outdoor heater casts radiant warmth. Guests enjoy the view of the sunset behind the Space Needle.
Freestanding patio heaters can warm up a patio area of 115 square feet. One heater is enough for a smaller patio; two heaters would cover a larger outdoor lounge.
Shop for patio heaters on Houzz
This Seattle rooftop is designed to be extra inviting at twilight, as glowing lanterns dot the perimeter and an outdoor heater casts radiant warmth. Guests enjoy the view of the sunset behind the Space Needle.
Freestanding patio heaters can warm up a patio area of 115 square feet. One heater is enough for a smaller patio; two heaters would cover a larger outdoor lounge.
Shop for patio heaters on Houzz
4. Warmed-Up Common Space
This cozy fire pit and bench seating area sits in a shared outdoor space for residents of a bungalow complex. One could only imagine that the inviting area would help foster community among residents.
If you live in an apartment building with a shared outdoor area, or in a home that is governed by a homeowners association, it could be worth suggesting a communal outdoor heating element.
This cozy fire pit and bench seating area sits in a shared outdoor space for residents of a bungalow complex. One could only imagine that the inviting area would help foster community among residents.
If you live in an apartment building with a shared outdoor area, or in a home that is governed by a homeowners association, it could be worth suggesting a communal outdoor heating element.
Portable fire pits, like this one by Modfire, are often less-expensive than large fire features and can be less-contentious additions to shared spaces, as they can easily be removed. Choose a model that’s gas-burning for a nonpolluting option.
Place the fire feature in an area that is fire-safe, on a spark-proof floor material and away from structures or any potentially flammable plants.
Place the fire feature in an area that is fire-safe, on a spark-proof floor material and away from structures or any potentially flammable plants.
5. Suntrap
A southwest-facing terrace is not just a great spot for watching the sunset, it’s also oriented to provide maximum evening light and warmth.
This Spanish-style courtyard acts as a shady spot during the heat of the day and a suntrap in the evening. With rich-colored pillows and the flicker of nearby fire, the seating area invites you to spend an evening appreciating the last rays of sunshine and cooler temperatures of fall.
A southwest-facing terrace is not just a great spot for watching the sunset, it’s also oriented to provide maximum evening light and warmth.
This Spanish-style courtyard acts as a shady spot during the heat of the day and a suntrap in the evening. With rich-colored pillows and the flicker of nearby fire, the seating area invites you to spend an evening appreciating the last rays of sunshine and cooler temperatures of fall.
6. Outdoor Fire Lounge
A fire feature adds a focal point to an outdoor seating area and when lit, it increases evening coziness as the weather cools down. Look for smoke-free models that run on natural gas for a cleaner alternative to wood.
If you’re using a fire feature as a piece of furniture as well as for warmth, choose one with a rim that’s 6 inches or wider and can double as a place to rest a glass, a small plate or a narrow tray.
10 Things to Know About Buying a Fire Pit for Your Yard
A fire feature adds a focal point to an outdoor seating area and when lit, it increases evening coziness as the weather cools down. Look for smoke-free models that run on natural gas for a cleaner alternative to wood.
If you’re using a fire feature as a piece of furniture as well as for warmth, choose one with a rim that’s 6 inches or wider and can double as a place to rest a glass, a small plate or a narrow tray.
10 Things to Know About Buying a Fire Pit for Your Yard
7. Heated Seating
It turns out that “being in the hot seat” is the prime spot for this San Francisco patio. The cast stone and steel bench plugs into an outdoor outlet and offers gentle radiant heat to anyone sitting on it. The heated bench helps extend time spent outdoors on a cool fall evening or when the fog rolls in.
Bench: Helios Lounge, Galanter and Jones
It turns out that “being in the hot seat” is the prime spot for this San Francisco patio. The cast stone and steel bench plugs into an outdoor outlet and offers gentle radiant heat to anyone sitting on it. The heated bench helps extend time spent outdoors on a cool fall evening or when the fog rolls in.
Bench: Helios Lounge, Galanter and Jones
8. Cozy Courtyard
Cushy seats, warm throws and soft lighting help this courtyard in North London feel like a cozy retreat. The metal paneling behind the seating area can be lit from behind, with light casting a patchwork glow along the exterior brick wall that encloses the courtyard.
Cushy seats, warm throws and soft lighting help this courtyard in North London feel like a cozy retreat. The metal paneling behind the seating area can be lit from behind, with light casting a patchwork glow along the exterior brick wall that encloses the courtyard.
Tell us: What have you done to make your outdoor seating area more cozy this fall? Share your ideas and photos in the Comments.
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Fall is my favorite time to use our porch. I switched the fireplace from woodburning to gas so I when I only want to spend a few minutes out there I don't have to make a 3-4 hour fire. My furniture stays out all year round. In the winter I push it a little closer to the middle so it doesn't get snowed on. Table and Eames chairs aren't even outdoor furniture and they have held up great for the last 6+ years. Sofa and chairs have removable slip covers, but honestly just a quick swiffer duster every now and then to remove any debris or bugs that might get through the screens is all that has been required with a yearly vacuum after spring pollen season. My absolute favorite are the infrared heaters in the cieiling. This allows us to use it for 3 seasons for lounging and 4 seasons for grilling. Also great for drying the dog off after time in the rain/snow. Just put his bed right under the infrared heaters for an hour and he loves it and gets toasty dry.
Love the use of our heaters here! Perfect inspiration for fall outdoor living.
LOVING!!!! #1!! 😍🤗😍🤗 SO cozy!