June 24, 2020 | Updated: July 1, 2020

How to get a designer outdoor lounge

Terraces are becoming one of the most-used spaces in the home - especially in summer - thanks to their position and spaciousness. Make the most of your home with our terrace decor tips.

With the COVID-19 health crisis and subsequent lockdown, larger homes with outside space are now more valuable than ever. According to the latest study by property portal Fotocasa, searches for homes with balconies, terraces and gardens have shot up 40% since April, with searches for ones that tick the garden box going up 128%.

Idealista noted the same in their latest report, which showed that searches for homes in province capitals had dropped 38.8% since the state of emergency was declared, with people looking for larger homes with terraces away from urban centres. This last room offers a host of aesthetic options, and could be converted into an outdoor living room to while away the summer evenings.

Key considerations for your outdoor lounge

Choose the coolest space. When you're designing an outdoor lounge, our first piece of advice is to locate the space in the coolest area possible, and not fill the whole space with decorative elements.
Find comfortable furniture. To decorate your outdoor lounge, you could opt for comfy wooden or rattan sofas and armchairs, and include lightweight cotton or linen cushions and textiles.
Enliven the space with some auxiliary furniture. Adding an iron or aluminium side table or extending table will make it easier to organise your outside space, giving your more space for alfresco gatherings and making the most of every inch you've got.
Use ceiling lights or portable lamps. To give your outdoor lounge an intimate feel, we recommend you use woven wicker ceiling lights, garland lighting or paper lanterns. You could also place portable LED lights or bulbs at ground level to further enhance the ambience of your space.
Add greenery. To give your lounge an exotic feel,you could arrange large plants around the area, choosing those hardy enough for outdoor conditions. Bougainvillea, thyme, dahlias and geraniums will bring colour and vitality to the whole space.

6 ideas for outdoor lounge areas

A lounge next to the pool

A key element to think about is outdoor lounge, flooring. HIGHKER® large format premium ceramic tiles from Porcelanosa will give you greater continuity, connecting the indoor and outdoor lounge spaces.

The Bottega and Bután collections are ideal for terraces thanks to their restrained appearance and resistance to extreme temperatures, shocks and wear due to heavy use.

Inspired by the colour balance and texture of natural stone, Bután ceramic floor tiles come in a non-slip version to make spaces safer. A collection that can be combined with natural stone tiles by L'Antic Colonial. Two of the collections that marry perfectly together in spaces like these are Amsterdam Beige o Vast Desert Classico, with ecru tones lightening the space and making it a unique refuge. If you'd like to get more of a stone look, Moka Anticato in travertine will turn your lounge into a natural temple.

Other PORCELANOSA Group solutions for terraces include the Deep and Krono series by Urbatektechnical imitation ceramicgives you the option to design larger, safer spaces, and it can be installed outdoors and poolside thanks to its non-slip finish.

This same line runs through the Oxide Brown collection by XTONE, with a surface reminiscent of oxidised ancient rocks, giving exteriors a more rustic, original feel.

Covered terraces

If your terrace is covered, you could opt for the Newport * collection by Venis. This floor tile enhances the luminosity and durability of the space, uniting the interior and exterior with a common design. If you'd prefer to create more of an American style veranda, we'd advise you to install Tanzania Nut by Starwood (PORCELANOSA Group), available in various formats, all echoing the grain and textures of mature wood.

These collections can all be installed on Butech's raised floor systems,which enable you to design a flat, slope free outdoor lounge, making it perfectly level with the interior of the property.