Creating an Outdoor Room

An outdoor room is a defined area of the garden designed around a particular use.

It might be somewhere to:

• Sit

• Dine

• Cook

• Entertain

• Relax

• Gather around a fire

• Enjoy the garden in the evening.

The most successful outdoor rooms feel sufficiently enclosed to have their own character, while remaining connected to the wider landscape.

At Kirman Design, we design outdoor rooms throughout North West England, including Lancashire, Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside and the Ribble Valley.

The aim is not simply to put furniture on a patio.

It is to create a space with:

purpose + enclosure + proportion + planting + atmosphere.

What Is an Outdoor Room?

An outdoor room is an external space that functions in a similar way to a room inside the house.

Instead of walls and ceilings, its boundaries might be created by:

• Planting

• Hedging

• Trees

• Pergolas

• Screens

• Walls

• Changes in level.

The "floor" might be:

• Paving

• Gravel

• Decking

• Lawn.

The important principle is that the space feels intentionally defined.

Why Create Outdoor Rooms in a Garden?

Dividing a garden into distinct spaces can make it feel:

• Larger

• More interesting

• More private

• More useful.

Rather than seeing the entire garden at once, outdoor rooms can create:

• Destinations

• Reveals

• Changes of atmosphere.

This can be especially effective in medium and large gardens.

An Outdoor Room Needs a Purpose

Before deciding how it should look, decide what it is for.

An outdoor room might be primarily designed for:

• Dining

• Lounging

• Cooking

• Entertaining

• Reading

• Fire-pit seating

• Hot-tub use.

A space designed around a real activity is far more likely to be used.

Outdoor Room Garden Design

The design process should consider:

• Position

• Sunlight

• Views

• Privacy

• Shelter

• Furniture

• Circulation

• Relationship with the house.

Our Outdoor Living Garden Design page explores how these spaces can form part of the wider landscape.

Creating an Outdoor Living Space

An outdoor room is one way of creating a functional garden living area.

Our Creating an Outdoor Living Space page explores the broader principles of:

• Outdoor dining

• Seating

• Cooking

• Shelter

• Lighting.

Luxury Outdoor Rooms

For higher-specification projects, outdoor rooms may incorporate:

• Bespoke pergolas

• Outdoor kitchens

• Fire features

• Integrated lighting

• Premium furniture

• Specialist finishes.

Our Luxury Outdoor Living page explores this type of garden in greater detail.

Outdoor Rooms Should Be Part of the Garden

One of the biggest risks is creating an outdoor room that feels like a standalone structure inserted into the garden.

The strongest spaces are connected through:

• Planting

• Materials

• Views

• Paths

• Repeated details.

The room should belong to the landscape around it.

Start With the Location

The position of an outdoor room can be more important than its specification.

Consider:

• Where the sun falls

• Where prevailing winds come from

• What the space overlooks

• What overlooks it

• How far it is from the house.

The most convenient position is not always immediately outside the back door.

Outdoor Rooms Near the House

Spaces close to the house are particularly suitable for:

• Dining

• Outdoor kitchens

• Everyday seating.

They benefit from easier access to:

• Kitchen

• Drinks

• Crockery

• Utilities.

Outdoor Rooms Away From the House

A more distant space can create a genuine destination.

It might become:

• Evening seating area

• Fire-pit garden

• Quiet retreat.

The journey through the garden then becomes part of the experience.

Create a Reason to Walk Into the Garden

If every useful function is immediately outside the house, there may be little reason to explore the rest of the garden.

A well-positioned outdoor room can draw people further into the landscape.

This can make a larger garden feel much more engaging.

Outdoor Rooms and Indoor Outdoor Living

Outdoor rooms often work particularly well where the house and garden already have a strong relationship.

Our Indoor Outdoor Garden Design page explores how:

• Internal spaces

• Glazing

• Terraces

• Views

• Garden rooms

can be coordinated.

Seamless House-to-Garden Living

Where the main outdoor room sits directly outside the house, the transition becomes particularly important.

Our Seamless Transition House to Garden page explores:

• Thresholds

• Levels

• Paving

• Drainage.

Garden Rooms Outside Bifold Doors

Large bifold doors often make the immediate terrace feel like an extension of the interior.

Our Garden Design Around Bifold Doors page explores how outdoor spaces can respond to this relationship.

Outdoor Rooms Outside Sliding Doors

For properties with large sliding doors, see Garden Design Around Sliding Doors.

The uninterrupted glazing can create especially strong views into the outdoor room.

Patio Design Outside Bifold Doors

If the room is based around a paved terrace, see Patio Design Outside Bifold Doors.

The space should be designed around:

• Furniture

• Circulation

• Levels

• Drainage.

Using Pergolas to Create Outdoor Rooms

Pergolas are one of the most effective ways of creating enclosure.

They can introduce:

• Overhead structure

• Shade

• Shelter

• Privacy

• Lighting.

Our Pergola Ideas page explores different styles and applications.

Does an Outdoor Room Need a Pergola?

No.

A room can be created entirely through:

• Planting

• Trees

• Hedging

• Walls

• Changes in level.

A pergola should only be added where it provides a genuine function or strengthens the composition.

Pergolas for Privacy

Pergolas can be especially useful when privacy is needed from upper-storey windows.

Our Pergolas for Privacy page explores how overhead and side screening can help.

Timber Pergolas

Timber structures can create a softer, more traditional or naturalistic character.

They can work particularly well in:

• Country gardens

• Family gardens

• Planting-led landscapes.

Aluminium Pergolas

Aluminium pergolas can provide a more architectural appearance.

Some systems incorporate:

• Louvred roofs

• Screens

• Lighting

• Heating.

These can work particularly well in contemporary outdoor-living schemes.

Outdoor Room Walls

Garden walls can create strong enclosure.

They may also provide:

• Retention

• Seating

• Privacy

• Backdrops for planting.

Our Garden Wall Ideas page explores different ways walls can be used.

Screens as Outdoor Room Walls

Decorative screens can create enclosure without the visual weight of masonry.

They can be used to:

• Hide views

• Divide spaces

• Create privacy

• Form backdrops.

Our Garden Screening Ideas page explores screening options.

Planting as Walls

Planting can define outdoor rooms more softly.

Possible structural plants include:

• Hedging

• Shrubs

• Multi-stem trees

• Ornamental grasses.

The result can feel more integrated into the landscape than a fully built enclosure.

Outdoor Rooms and Privacy

Privacy is often what makes an outdoor room feel comfortable.

Our Garden Privacy page explores how:

• Layout

• Trees

• Screens

• Planting

• Structures

can work together.

Creating an Outdoor Room in an Overlooked Garden

Where neighbouring houses overlook the garden, the outdoor room can be deliberately positioned and orientated to minimise exposure.

Our Overlooked Garden page explores this problem more broadly.

Screening a Specific Window

If one neighbouring window is particularly intrusive, see How to Screen an Overlooking Window.

A targeted solution can often be more effective than making every boundary higher.

Outdoor Dining Rooms

An outdoor dining room should be sized around:

• Table

• Chairs

• Movement around the table

• Serving routes.

Our Garden Design for Outdoor Dining page explores the subject in greater detail.

Outdoor Rooms for Entertaining

Where entertaining is important, the space may need to accommodate:

• Larger groups

• Movement between seating areas

• Drinks

• Food

• Evening use.

Our Garden Design for Entertaining page explores how the wider garden can support guests.

Outdoor Rooms for Evening Entertaining

Evening use requires a different atmosphere from daytime use.

Our Garden Design for Evening Entertaining page explores how:

• Lighting

• Fire

• Shelter

• Seating

can work together.

Outdoor Kitchens

An outdoor kitchen can turn a simple terrace into a more complete outdoor room.

Our Garden Design Around an Outdoor Kitchen page explores how:

• Cooking

• Dining

• Circulation

• Services

can be coordinated.

Outdoor Kitchen and Dining Room

Where cooking and dining are combined, enough space should be provided between:

• Kitchen units

• Table

• Chairs.

Trying to fit both into an undersized patio can make the space awkward to use.

Should the Outdoor Kitchen Face the Garden?

Often it can be advantageous.

Positioning the kitchen so the cook faces:

• Garden

• Guests

• View

can make the space more sociable.

But practical issues such as services and circulation also matter.

Fire-Pit Outdoor Rooms

A fire pit can become the central feature of a dedicated outdoor room.

Our Garden Design Around a Fire Pit page explores:

• Seating layouts

• Paving

• Planting

• Circulation.

Fire as a Destination

Fire-pit areas can work particularly well further away from the house.

The glow of the fire can draw people through the garden and create a very different atmosphere from the main terrace.

Hot-Tub Outdoor Rooms

Hot tubs often benefit from a stronger sense of enclosure.

Our Garden Design Around a Hot Tub page explores:

• Privacy

• Screening

• Access

• Lighting.

Poolside Outdoor Rooms

Where a garden contains a swimming pool, outdoor rooms can provide:

• Dining

• Shade

• Lounge seating

• Poolside relaxation.

Our Garden Design Around a Swimming Pool page explores the wider landscape.

Outdoor Rooms With Water Features

Water can add:

• Sound

• Movement

• Reflection

• Atmosphere.

Our Garden Water Feature Ideas page explores how water can be integrated.

Water as a Backdrop

A water feature positioned beyond a seating area can create a particularly strong focal point.

It does not need to dominate the room.

Sometimes the best effect comes from glimpsing or hearing water from the seating area.

Outdoor Room Lighting

Lighting can completely change an outdoor room after dark.

Our Garden Lighting Ideas page explores different techniques.

Rather than relying on one bright fitting, consider layers of light.

Task Lighting

Task lighting may be required around:

• Outdoor kitchens

• Steps

• Routes.

It should provide enough visibility without dominating the atmosphere.

Ambient Lighting

Ambient lighting might include:

• Pergola lighting

• Wall lights

• Low-level fittings.

This helps define the room.

Landscape Lighting Beyond the Room

One of the most effective techniques is to illuminate features beyond the seating area.

For example:

• Tree

• Sculpture

• Planting

• Water.

This prevents the outdoor room from feeling like an isolated illuminated box.

Outdoor Rooms and Planting

Planting is what makes an outdoor room feel like part of a garden.

Our Planting Design page explores how planting creates:

• Structure

• Enclosure

• Seasonal interest

• Movement.

Planting Around Seating

Plants immediately around seating areas should be selected carefully.

Consider:

• Mature size

• Fragrance

• Movement

• Maintenance

• Seasonal interest.

The planting should soften the space without overwhelming it.

Fragrant Planting

Outdoor rooms can be particularly good places for scented plants.

Fragrance can make a space more immersive, especially on warm evenings.

Structural Planting

Evergreen shrubs and architectural planting can ensure the room still has definition during winter.

This is especially important in North West England, where the garden may be viewed from inside for much of the year.

Trees Around Outdoor Rooms

Trees can create:

• Shade

• Privacy

• Scale

• Overhead enclosure.

They can sometimes perform the role that a roof or pergola might otherwise provide.

Specimen Trees as Focal Points

A specimen tree positioned beyond an outdoor room can create a strong view.

It can also become a focal point when illuminated at night.

Outdoor Room Flooring

The floor might be:

• Porcelain paving

• Natural stone

• Gravel

• Decking.

The choice should respond to:

• Property

• Style

• Furniture

• Drainage

• Maintenance.

Porcelain Outdoor Rooms

Porcelain can work particularly well in:

• Contemporary gardens

• Modern gardens

• Indoor-outdoor schemes.

Its clean finish can provide a strong architectural base for furniture and planting.

Natural Stone Outdoor Rooms

Natural stone can be particularly effective around:

• Period properties

• Country houses

• Rural gardens.

The exact material and detailing should respond to the architecture.

Gravel Outdoor Rooms

Gravel can create a softer, more informal character.

It can work well for:

• Secondary seating

• Country gardens

• Distant garden rooms.

Decked Outdoor Rooms

Decking can be useful where:

• Levels need bridging

• A warmer material is desired

• The structure is raised.

Its suitability depends on the individual site and intended use.

Outdoor Room Size

The room should be based on what must fit inside it.

For example, a dining area needs enough space for:

table + chairs + occupied chairs + circulation.

A lounge area needs enough for:

sofas + tables + movement.

Guessing the dimensions without considering furniture can result in a room that looks large enough on plan but is awkward in use.

Do Not Make Every Outdoor Room the Same Size

Different uses require different proportions.

A small intimate fire-pit area may feel more successful than a huge one.

A main dining space may need more generous dimensions.

Hierarchy is important.

Outdoor Rooms and Garden Paths

Routes between spaces are part of the experience.

Our Garden Path Ideas page explores different approaches.

Paths can be:

• Direct

• Curved

• Partially hidden

• Framed with planting.

Use Views to Connect Outdoor Rooms

A garden room should not necessarily be visually isolated.

Opening a controlled view towards:

• Another seating area

• Tree

• Water

• Sculpture

can connect it to the wider garden.

Outdoor Rooms in Small Gardens

Small gardens can still be designed as outdoor rooms.

Our Small Garden Design page explores compact layouts.

In fact, the whole garden might function as one highly detailed outdoor room.

Outdoor Rooms in Medium-Sized Gardens

A medium garden may support:

• Main terrace

• Secondary seating

• Lawn

• Planting.

Our Medium-Sized Garden Design page explores this scale.

Outdoor Rooms in Large Gardens

Large gardens can support multiple distinct spaces.

Our Large Garden Design page explores how to establish:

• Hierarchy

• Routes

• Views

• Garden rooms.

Outdoor Rooms in Very Large Gardens

In very large gardens, rooms become part of a larger masterplan.

See Very Large Garden Design.

Without strong structure, multiple outdoor rooms can feel like unrelated islands.

Half-Acre Gardens

Our Garden Design for Half an Acre page explores how garden rooms can be used to structure larger domestic plots.

Acre Gardens

For more substantial sites, see Garden Design for an Acre.

Contemporary Outdoor Rooms

Contemporary outdoor rooms often use:

• Clean paving

• Architectural pergolas

• Strong lines

• Controlled planting.

Our Contemporary Garden Design page explores this style.

Modern Outdoor Rooms

Modern gardens may use a particularly strong geometric approach.

Our Modern Garden Design page explores how outdoor rooms can be integrated into a wider modern composition.

Country Garden Outdoor Rooms

Outdoor rooms do not need to feel architectural.

In country gardens they might be defined by:

• Hedging

• Trees

• Gravel

• Generous borders.

Our Country Garden Design page explores this softer approach.

Formal Garden Rooms

Formal gardens lend themselves naturally to room-like divisions.

Our Formal Gardens page explores the use of:

• Hedges

• Axes

• Symmetry

• Enclosure.

Naturalistic Outdoor Rooms

Naturalistic planting can also create very effective spaces.

Our Naturalistic Gardens page explores softer, planting-led landscapes.

Outdoor Rooms for Period Properties

Period properties often benefit from outdoor rooms that respond to the scale and materials of the house.

Our Garden Design for Period Properties page explores this relationship.

Outdoor Rooms for Contemporary Houses

For newer architectural homes, see Garden Design for Contemporary Houses.

Large glazing can make outdoor rooms particularly visible from inside.

Outdoor Rooms for Barn Conversions

Barn conversions frequently provide strong opportunities for combining:

• Traditional architecture

• Contemporary terraces

• Generous planting.

Our Garden Design for Barn Conversions page explores this relationship.

Outdoor Rooms After a House Extension

Extensions can completely change the position and scale of the principal garden spaces.

Our Garden Design After House Extension page explores how the garden can respond.

Outdoor Rooms for New-Build Gardens

New-build gardens often begin with little spatial structure.

Our New-Build Gardens page explores how planting, screens and outdoor rooms can transform these spaces.

North-Facing Outdoor Rooms

In a north-facing garden, the best seating position may be further away from the house.

Our North-Facing Gardens page explores sunlight and shade in greater detail.

Outdoor Rooms on Sloping Sites

Slopes can create natural opportunities for distinct spaces on different levels.

Our Sloping Gardens page explores how:

• Terraces

• Steps

• Retaining

• Planting

can work together.

Garden Terracing

Where levels are significant, see Garden Terracing.

Each terrace can potentially become a different outdoor room.

Outdoor Rooms and Accessibility

Outdoor rooms should be accessible to the people who need to use them.

Our Accessible Garden Design page explores:

• Routes

• Levels

• Seating

• Surfaces.

Wheelchair Accessible Outdoor Rooms

For wheelchair users, see Wheelchair Accessible Garden Design.

Important considerations can include:

• Approach width

• Turning space

• Surface quality

• Furniture positioning.

Level Access From the House

If the principal outdoor room is adjacent to the building, see Level Access from House to Garden.

Family Outdoor Rooms

Family gardens may benefit from outdoor rooms that allow adults and children to use the landscape simultaneously.

Our Family Garden Design page explores how family requirements can be integrated.

Outdoor Rooms and Trampolines

Where a trampoline is required, it can often be positioned away from the principal adult outdoor rooms.

Our Garden Design with a Trampoline page explores this issue.

For more specific solutions, see How to Hide a Trampoline in a Garden.

Dog-Friendly Outdoor Rooms

Where dogs use the garden regularly, surfaces and planting need to be practical.

Our Dog-Friendly Garden Design page explores the wider considerations.

Outdoor Rooms and Drainage

Any paved or covered outdoor room requires proper drainage.

Our Garden Drainage page explores the wider principles.

Where the outdoor room is immediately adjacent to an extension, see Drainage Around Patios and Extensions.

Outdoor Rooms on Clay Soil

Heavy clay is common across North West England and can influence:

• Drainage

• Foundations

• Planting.

Our Clay Soil Gardens page explores these conditions.

How Much Does an Outdoor Room Cost?

There is no single cost because an outdoor room may be as simple as:

• Gravel

• Planting

• Seating

or as sophisticated as:

• Premium paving

• Pergola

• Outdoor kitchen

• Lighting

• Bespoke screening.

The cost needs to be considered as part of the wider landscape.

Pergola Costs

Where a pergola is central to the room, see How Much Does a Pergola Cost?.

Outdoor Kitchen Costs

For kitchens, see How Much Does an Outdoor Kitchen Cost?.

Garden Lighting Costs

See How Much Does Garden Lighting Cost?.

Patio Costs

Where paving makes up a large proportion of the space, see How Much Does a Patio Cost?.

Landscaping Costs

For the wider construction budget, see How Much Does Landscaping Cost?.

Garden Transformation Costs

Where the outdoor room forms part of a complete garden redesign, see Garden Transformation Cost.

Luxury Garden Costs

For more substantial high-end projects, see How Much Does a Luxury Garden Cost?.

Design the Whole Garden First

Even if the outdoor room is the main priority, it should ideally be designed as part of the whole garden.

Otherwise, it may:

• Block an important view

• Interrupt circulation

• Compromise future landscaping

• Feel disconnected.

A masterplan allows the outdoor room to become one part of a larger composition.

Garden Design and Build

For projects moving from design through to construction, see Garden Design & Build.

Complete Garden Design and Build

Where the entire garden is being redesigned around outdoor living, see Complete Garden Design and Build.

Landscape Construction

Outdoor rooms may involve:

• Groundworks

• Paving

• Walls

• Foundations

• Pergola installation

• Planting.

Our Landscape Construction page explores the physical build stage.

Garden Project Management

More complex outdoor rooms can involve:

• Landscapers

• Electricians

• Pergola suppliers

• Outdoor-kitchen installers.

Our Garden Project Management page explores the coordination of specialist trades and suppliers.

Creating an Outdoor Room in North West England

Outdoor rooms in North West England should respond to the regional climate.

Important considerations can include:

• Rain

• Wind

• Drainage

• Shelter

• Evening temperature

• Winter appearance.

The design should not depend entirely on perfect summer weather.

Shelter Matters

An outdoor room positioned in a sunny but exposed area may be less comfortable than a slightly less sunny but sheltered space.

Wind protection can come from:

• Walls

• Screens

• Hedging

• Pergolas

• Trees.

Covered Outdoor Rooms

A covered area can extend the amount of time the garden can be used during changeable weather.

This can be particularly valuable in North West England.

Year-Round Views

Even when the room itself is not being used, it may remain visible from inside the house.

Consider:

• Evergreen structure

• Tree forms

• Lighting

• Winter planting.

A good outdoor room should contribute visually throughout the year.

Outdoor Room Garden Design in Lancashire

Lancashire gardens can range from urban plots to substantial rural properties.

Outdoor rooms may need to respond to:

• Exposure

• Rainfall

• Heavy soils

• Existing trees.

Outdoor Room Garden Design in Cheshire

Larger Cheshire properties can offer opportunities to combine:

• Outdoor kitchens

• Pergolas

• Dining

• Fire features

• Lighting.

The design should ensure these elements work as one landscape.

Outdoor Room Garden Design in Greater Manchester

Greater Manchester gardens may have greater privacy challenges.

Outdoor rooms can use:

• Screens

• Trees

• Pergolas

• Careful orientation

to create more protected spaces.

Outdoor Room Garden Design in Merseyside

Merseyside gardens can include:

• Urban plots

• Period properties

• Larger family gardens

• Coastal sites.

Shelter and exposure should be considered carefully on more exposed sites.

Outdoor Room Garden Design in the Ribble Valley

Ribble Valley properties can provide particularly strong opportunities for garden rooms that frame the wider countryside.

Instead of completely enclosing the room, it may be preferable to create:

shelter behind

planting to the sides

and:

an open view forwards.

This allows the wider landscape to become part of the outdoor room.

Frequently Asked Questions About Creating an Outdoor Room

What is an outdoor room?

An outdoor room is a defined area of the garden designed for a particular activity such as dining, relaxing, cooking or entertaining.

Does an outdoor room need walls?

No. Boundaries can be created through planting, screens, hedging, trees or changes in level.

Does an outdoor room need a roof?

No. A pergola or covered structure can be useful, but it is not essential.

Does an outdoor room need a pergola?

No. Pergolas are one of several ways to create structure and enclosure.

Can planting create an outdoor room?

Yes. Hedging, shrubs and trees can create very effective natural boundaries.

Can an outdoor room include an outdoor kitchen?

Yes. See Garden Design Around an Outdoor Kitchen.

Can an outdoor room include a fire pit?

Yes. See Garden Design Around a Fire Pit.

Can an outdoor room include a hot tub?

Yes. See Garden Design Around a Hot Tub.

How do I make an outdoor room private?

Use a combination of layout, planting, trees, screens and structures. See Garden Privacy.

Can a pergola make an outdoor room more private?

Yes. See Pergolas for Privacy.

Where should an outdoor room go?

The position should respond to its use, sunlight, shelter, privacy, views and relationship with the house.

Should an outdoor room be next to the house?

Not necessarily. Dining and cooking areas often benefit from proximity, while quieter seating or fire-pit spaces may work further away.

Can a small garden have an outdoor room?

Yes. A small garden may effectively function as one carefully designed outdoor room.

Can a large garden have several outdoor rooms?

Yes, provided each has a genuine purpose and they form part of a coherent masterplan.

How big should an outdoor room be?

It should be designed around the furniture, activities and circulation required rather than an arbitrary dimension.

How much does an outdoor room cost?

The cost depends on paving, structures, planting, lighting, furniture and specialist features. See How Much Does Landscaping Cost? for broader guidance.

Can an outdoor room be used all year?

Shelter, lighting and appropriate planting can extend its usefulness, although the UK climate will always influence outdoor use.

Should I design my outdoor room before buying a pergola?

Ideally, yes. The structure should fit the landscape design rather than determine it.

Can Kirman Design design and build outdoor rooms?

For suitable projects, outdoor rooms can form part of a complete Garden Design & Build project.

An Outdoor Room Should Feel Like Somewhere You Want to Stay

Creating an outdoor room is not simply about enclosing part of the garden.

Nor is it about buying:

a pergola

an outdoor sofa

and:

a fire pit.

A successful outdoor room is defined by the way the space feels.

The:

proportions are comfortable.

The:

view is worth looking at.

The:

planting creates enclosure.

The:

furniture fits properly.

The:

lighting changes the atmosphere after dark.

And there is a clear reason for the space to exist.

That is what transforms:

an area containing outdoor furniture

into:

a genuine outdoor room.

At Kirman Design, we approach outdoor-room garden design by combining:

location + proportion + planting + privacy + shelter + furniture + lighting + landscape construction.

If you are considering creating an outdoor room in Lancashire, Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside, the Ribble Valley or elsewhere across North West England, the strongest result usually comes from designing it as part of the complete garden rather than treating it as an isolated feature.