The Most Popular Outdoor Rooms of 2017
Step out onto these favorite porches, decks, patios and balconies
The most popular photos of porches, decks, patios and balconies uploaded in 2017 showed Houzzers saving a wide variety of spaces and styles to their ideabooks. But some elements were clearly sought-after again and again, like inviting al fresco eating spots, toasty fireplaces and fire pits, outdoor kitchens (several with pizza ovens), great lighting, stately bluestone pavers and homey porch swings. Surprises popped up too, like a delightful claw-foot tub on a balcony. As you brace yourself for the long winter, enjoy browsing these photos and see if any spark inspiration for your spring and summer plans. Here they are in descending order, based on the number of Houzz users who added them to their ideabooks.
19. Cooking, Eating, Toasting and Soaking
The designers fit a lot into this 1,000-square-foot yard in San Francisco, including a dining platform, an outdoor kitchen, a fire pit and a sunken hot tub with an ipe deck surround that matches the main deck.
Notable detail: The steps on the deck double as stadium-style seating.
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The designers fit a lot into this 1,000-square-foot yard in San Francisco, including a dining platform, an outdoor kitchen, a fire pit and a sunken hot tub with an ipe deck surround that matches the main deck.
Notable detail: The steps on the deck double as stadium-style seating.
Learn more about this backyard design
18. Screens Optional
Located right off the most popular dining space of 2017, this comfortable porch is a great spot to begin the evening with a cocktail and to retire to for dessert and after-dinner drinks. And the porch was designed so optional screens can be installed between the columns for the buggy months.
Notable detail: The dark-stained knotty wood on the ceiling.
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Located right off the most popular dining space of 2017, this comfortable porch is a great spot to begin the evening with a cocktail and to retire to for dessert and after-dinner drinks. And the porch was designed so optional screens can be installed between the columns for the buggy months.
Notable detail: The dark-stained knotty wood on the ceiling.
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17. Lakeside Luxury
Overlooking Lake Keowee in South Carolina, this porch is the perfect setup for a football weekend. A stately stone fireplace, a giant TV and comfortable seating make it just the spot to watch the game, or conversely, to turn off the noise and appreciate the beautiful surroundings.
Notable detail: The beautiful wide-plank flooring.
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Overlooking Lake Keowee in South Carolina, this porch is the perfect setup for a football weekend. A stately stone fireplace, a giant TV and comfortable seating make it just the spot to watch the game, or conversely, to turn off the noise and appreciate the beautiful surroundings.
Notable detail: The beautiful wide-plank flooring.
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16. Al Fresco Dining
This pergola-covered outdoor dining room overlooks a lake in Massachusetts. The classical proportions of the architecture and lovely furniture and lighting make it a wonderful spot for meals from casual picnics to formal dinner parties.
Notable detail: The patio surface is composed of a grid of pavers and grass.
Check out the pool and outdoor kitchen
This pergola-covered outdoor dining room overlooks a lake in Massachusetts. The classical proportions of the architecture and lovely furniture and lighting make it a wonderful spot for meals from casual picnics to formal dinner parties.
Notable detail: The patio surface is composed of a grid of pavers and grass.
Check out the pool and outdoor kitchen
15. Island Dreaming
This sleeping porch on Amelia Island in Florida has room for two to enjoy the fresh breezes and sounds of the sea while drifting off for the night or grabbing a catnap during the day.
Notable detail: Ropes holding up the beds add a nautical touch.
This sleeping porch on Amelia Island in Florida has room for two to enjoy the fresh breezes and sounds of the sea while drifting off for the night or grabbing a catnap during the day.
Notable detail: Ropes holding up the beds add a nautical touch.
14. Mediterranean Ambiance
This covered patio in Arizona is a dreamy spot for a dinner party, complete with an outdoor kitchen, a natural fiber canopy and a fountain.
Notable detail: The way the outdoor kitchen (complete with a pizza oven) serves as an attractive partial wall.
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This covered patio in Arizona is a dreamy spot for a dinner party, complete with an outdoor kitchen, a natural fiber canopy and a fountain.
Notable detail: The way the outdoor kitchen (complete with a pizza oven) serves as an attractive partial wall.
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13. A Shady Option
This outdoor space on Lake Minnetonka in Minnesota includes this covered patio to provide shade and shelter as well as an open-air patio nearer to the lake. The same stone continues from one space to the next, providing cohesiveness between the two.
Notable detail: A fireplace hearth with room for seating on those chilly Minnesota evenings.
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This outdoor space on Lake Minnetonka in Minnesota includes this covered patio to provide shade and shelter as well as an open-air patio nearer to the lake. The same stone continues from one space to the next, providing cohesiveness between the two.
Notable detail: A fireplace hearth with room for seating on those chilly Minnesota evenings.
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12. Classically Covered
This substantial pergola plays off the architecture of this San Diego home. And Houzzers were definitely saving photos of bluestone patios like crazy this year.
Notable detail: The pavers that extend out across the lawn break free from the rectilinear shapes of the patio pavers. It’s a nice transition into the rest of the yard.
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This substantial pergola plays off the architecture of this San Diego home. And Houzzers were definitely saving photos of bluestone patios like crazy this year.
Notable detail: The pavers that extend out across the lawn break free from the rectilinear shapes of the patio pavers. It’s a nice transition into the rest of the yard.
See more of this remodel
11. Pleasing Proportions
Most suburbanites would consider a 16-by-20-foot outdoor space to be quite compact, but in Manhattan it practically makes a homeowner a land baron. The proportions of the planting beds, trees and pedestal table are just right for the space, making it feel more expansive.
Notable detail: The nods to classical design in the pedestal table, Klismos chairs and clipped symmetrical plantings.
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Most suburbanites would consider a 16-by-20-foot outdoor space to be quite compact, but in Manhattan it practically makes a homeowner a land baron. The proportions of the planting beds, trees and pedestal table are just right for the space, making it feel more expansive.
Notable detail: The nods to classical design in the pedestal table, Klismos chairs and clipped symmetrical plantings.
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10. Outdoor Claw-Foot Tub
Well, this Houzz writer contributed to the popularity of this photo when I added it to my own ideabook Would You Take a Soak in an Outdoor Bathtub? The couple who live here brought West Coast flair to their Nashville digs, including the popular California indoor-outdoor-living lifestyle. Lots of us loved their unique take on the outdoor shower.
Notable detail: The wall is made of pressure-treated one-by-fours painted with exterior paint that matches the siding on the house.
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Well, this Houzz writer contributed to the popularity of this photo when I added it to my own ideabook Would You Take a Soak in an Outdoor Bathtub? The couple who live here brought West Coast flair to their Nashville digs, including the popular California indoor-outdoor-living lifestyle. Lots of us loved their unique take on the outdoor shower.
Notable detail: The wall is made of pressure-treated one-by-fours painted with exterior paint that matches the siding on the house.
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9. Covered Outdoor Kitchen
This stunning California wine country home is made up of materials that blend in nicely with the landscape, including stone walls, wood cabinetry, concrete waterfall countertops and a woven willow canopy.
Notable detail: Integrating a bar into the outdoor kitchen so friends can keep the grillmeister company.
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This stunning California wine country home is made up of materials that blend in nicely with the landscape, including stone walls, wood cabinetry, concrete waterfall countertops and a woven willow canopy.
Notable detail: Integrating a bar into the outdoor kitchen so friends can keep the grillmeister company.
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8. Party Deck
This photo doesn’t even show the incredible lake views from this Texas deck; the design itself was cool enough to catch the eye of many Houzzers. Complete with a bar, hightop dining table, built-in sofas and a cocktail table with a recess for drink-chilling ice, it’s the ultimate weekend party spot. Make sure you click on the link below to check out the lake views and the chill cocktail table.
Notable detail: The table lamp-like lighting brings indoor style outdoors.
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This photo doesn’t even show the incredible lake views from this Texas deck; the design itself was cool enough to catch the eye of many Houzzers. Complete with a bar, hightop dining table, built-in sofas and a cocktail table with a recess for drink-chilling ice, it’s the ultimate weekend party spot. Make sure you click on the link below to check out the lake views and the chill cocktail table.
Notable detail: The table lamp-like lighting brings indoor style outdoors.
See more of this property
7. Southern Charm
This grand porch in South Carolina’s low country is a paragon of Southern comfort. Deep upholstery, plenty of throw pillows, well-placed tables for drinks and a well-appointed porch swing made it a spot where many Houzzers could see themselves enjoying some sweet tea.
Notable detail: The haint blue ceiling — this trick is indigenous to South Carolina — was originally used to keep haints (ghosts) from entering the house.
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This grand porch in South Carolina’s low country is a paragon of Southern comfort. Deep upholstery, plenty of throw pillows, well-placed tables for drinks and a well-appointed porch swing made it a spot where many Houzzers could see themselves enjoying some sweet tea.
Notable detail: The haint blue ceiling — this trick is indigenous to South Carolina — was originally used to keep haints (ghosts) from entering the house.
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6. A Secret Garden
This London courtyard has appeal straight out of The Secret Garden. And a palette that’s mostly green with white blooms thrown in makes you appreciate all of the different forms and textures of the plants, which range from carefully clipped shrubs on the ground to wild vines that climb the walls and extend overhead.
Notable detail: That’s a lily pond in the foreground.
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This London courtyard has appeal straight out of The Secret Garden. And a palette that’s mostly green with white blooms thrown in makes you appreciate all of the different forms and textures of the plants, which range from carefully clipped shrubs on the ground to wild vines that climb the walls and extend overhead.
Notable detail: That’s a lily pond in the foreground.
See the rest of this home
5. Conversation Under the Pergola
This is the upper portion of a multi-tiered deck in San Francisco. A pergola provides shade and definition for the inviting conversation spot, while a fire pit keeps things toasty on cool nights.
Notable detail: Lighting built into the pergola and posts.
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This is the upper portion of a multi-tiered deck in San Francisco. A pergola provides shade and definition for the inviting conversation spot, while a fire pit keeps things toasty on cool nights.
Notable detail: Lighting built into the pergola and posts.
See more of this deck
4. A Soak and a Sway
The hammock, the hot tub, the bamboo screen, the lushness of the tropical trees — Houzzers loved everything about this multilevel deck in Sydney.
Notable detail: The way the deck was built around the existing palm trees, which now serve as support posts for the hammock.
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The hammock, the hot tub, the bamboo screen, the lushness of the tropical trees — Houzzers loved everything about this multilevel deck in Sydney.
Notable detail: The way the deck was built around the existing palm trees, which now serve as support posts for the hammock.
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3. California Living
This Palo Alto, California, renovation included extensive changes to the exterior and the yard, giving a young family a cool, updated look and plenty of space to enjoy different activities. The modern lines of the plan are softened by olive trees, crisscrossing string lights overhead and sunny Acapulco chairs. There’s plenty of room to grill, chat, toast marshmallows and gather for meals.
Notable detail: The pleasing relationship between the concrete fire pit and the outdoor kitchen worktop.
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This Palo Alto, California, renovation included extensive changes to the exterior and the yard, giving a young family a cool, updated look and plenty of space to enjoy different activities. The modern lines of the plan are softened by olive trees, crisscrossing string lights overhead and sunny Acapulco chairs. There’s plenty of room to grill, chat, toast marshmallows and gather for meals.
Notable detail: The pleasing relationship between the concrete fire pit and the outdoor kitchen worktop.
See the rest of this yard
2. Moroccan-Style Courtyard
The patterns on the rug, screen and faceted lights give this English courtyard some exotic Moroccan style. Vines add a lush feeling while the fire pit and cushy chairs add comfort.
Notable detail: The house is open to this courtyard on all sides, so the homeowners can enjoy it whether they are indoors or out.
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The patterns on the rug, screen and faceted lights give this English courtyard some exotic Moroccan style. Vines add a lush feeling while the fire pit and cushy chairs add comfort.
Notable detail: The house is open to this courtyard on all sides, so the homeowners can enjoy it whether they are indoors or out.
See more of this home
1. A Classic Swing Spot
And the No. 1 outdoor room of 2017 has a prominent trait that’s an oldie but a goodie: a porch swing. Of course, the beautiful architecture and bluestone patio are draws as well. But it’s that lovely swing covered in Sunbrella fabric that won our hearts. It’s the ultimate spot to swing away and watch the fireflies.
Notable detail: The extra depth to the swing — there’s plenty of room to curl your legs up underneath.
And the No. 1 outdoor room of 2017 has a prominent trait that’s an oldie but a goodie: a porch swing. Of course, the beautiful architecture and bluestone patio are draws as well. But it’s that lovely swing covered in Sunbrella fabric that won our hearts. It’s the ultimate spot to swing away and watch the fireflies.
Notable detail: The extra depth to the swing — there’s plenty of room to curl your legs up underneath.
Honorable Mention
This lanai makes me happy and jealous at the same time, so I thought I’d use it for the “share” part of this story. (It was No. 8 on the “Most Popular Porches” list, so it just missed landing in the top 20 among porches, decks, patios and balconies).
Share: Houzzers, what kinds of things are on your outdoor wish list? What would you grab first, a porch swing or a hot tub? Would you want a TV in your outdoor space, or do you prefer the sounds of nature? Are you a patio person or a deck person? Do you have any plans to renovate or otherwise improve a fresh-air space in the coming year? Let’s talk about it all in the Comments.
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Find patio furniture
This lanai makes me happy and jealous at the same time, so I thought I’d use it for the “share” part of this story. (It was No. 8 on the “Most Popular Porches” list, so it just missed landing in the top 20 among porches, decks, patios and balconies).
Share: Houzzers, what kinds of things are on your outdoor wish list? What would you grab first, a porch swing or a hot tub? Would you want a TV in your outdoor space, or do you prefer the sounds of nature? Are you a patio person or a deck person? Do you have any plans to renovate or otherwise improve a fresh-air space in the coming year? Let’s talk about it all in the Comments.
More
Read more about landscape design
Find patio furniture
This balcony in the beach town of Guarujá, Brazil, provides treehouse-like views into the lush forest. The architects chose Accoya wood for the decking and a minimalist style that complements and puts the focus upon the view.
Notable detail: Clear glass railings maintain the most open view possible.
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