Fall's Best Outdoor Spaces

As the air turns crisp, take it outside for a setting that is sure to wow. Fall's Best Outdoor Rooms features a roundup of decorating and entertaining ideas that will be the hit of the season.

A rustic barn makes the perfect dining room for a fall meal. Here, feed sacks topped with an indigo linen runner and a mix of blue-and-white china establish the table's vintage, rustic feel and complement the rich russet hues of the barn, fall leaves, and piles of fresh apples.

Create a festive retreat for guests with lots of plush seating and a mantel swathed in a foliage garland made from a combination of oak and magnolia leaves. Swag only one side of the fireplace for a modern feel. Complete the look with simple and weighty pottery crocks filled with autumn leaves, hydrangeas, and berries.  

Tip: Dry your summertime hydrangeas to use in fall arrangements. 

This springhouse at Moore Farms in South Carolina is a beautiful spot to gaze through the large wattle-woven doors and take in the picturesque fall color surrounding the pond. Casually placed pumpkins give a subtle, seasonal touch.

An entry arbor at Christ Church on St. Simons Island inspired the design of this pool house. It makes for a cozy gathering place for cool fall evenings.

This covered outdoor fireplace is a great place to relax on chilly fall evenings. The pavilion also gains importance by being raised three steps above grade. Low, wide stone steps run its entire width.

This dining courtyard is adjacent to the interior dining room and features a wood-burning fireplace to warm up outside dinner parties, especially in cool fall months.

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This garden terrace is given fall flair with white and gray pumpkins. If you can't find these varieties locally, try spray paint. We like using Design Master Colortool sprays (dmcolor.com)

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For year-round lounging, there’s an enclosed sitting area that boasts candle chandeliers and a fireplace. Filling the fireplace with candles instead of firewood gives this small seating area a very romantic feel.

Humble materials can pull off a high-end look. This backyard transformation began by installing a 10-foot-wide by 30-foot-long iron pergola. Then, wisteria was planted, which in time turned into a leafy canopy overhead. To anchor the space, an outdoor fireplace was constructed from cinder blocks lined with fireproof brick and covered in stucco. And all the furniture and accessories that decorate the space were chosen to withstand the elements but age gracefully, resulting in an inviting spot for alfresco entertaining.

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A wood-burning fireplace is the center of attention in this porch, and dozing, reading, and chatting are the orders of the day. An indoor-outdoor rug softens and defines the gathering space. The seating arrangement includes a upholstered swing that the homeowner had custom made based on an antique bench she saw at a Paris flea market.

The brick in this courtyard came from old buildings that were torn down. The biggest issue with antique brick is there are several different sizes and it tends to get mixed up. So these homeowners set the brick in sand, rather than concrete, to give a relaxed and aged look. Plus, the sand helped level odd-size bricks.

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Composed of a brick chimney, mantel, and firebox, this exterior fireplace is covered with stucco as well. This touch not only distinguishes it from the surrounding brick walls, but it also makes a focal point. The hearth is raised for additional seating. Plus, by centering the fireplace between a brick opening and the exterior living room wall, it provided a nook for firewood.

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Randomly placed stepping-stones crafted from local granite lead to the front porch’s wide steps. Hand-hewn posts and railings, along with graceful brackets, are crafted from regionally harvested locustwood to further enhance this cottage’s connection to the land. Local fieldstone clads the porch walls.

A Sunbrella-covered sectional and ottoman, plus a nearby dining table that seats eight, make this covered porch ideal for outdoor entertaining. The high coffee table is also perfect for al fresco dining.

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Measuring 20 feet square, this pavilion provides shade during the summer and a warming fireplace when the air turns cool. Kitchen conveniences run along a sidewall. Set back beneath a lean-to roof are a bath and areas for prep and storage.

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This outdoor dining area is situated near the fireplace so guests can enjoy its warmth on cool fall nights.

Besides several seating areas, this courtyard offers a fully functional outdoor kitchen with a gas grill, mini-fridge, and ice-maker. On axis with the pool and stone wall is a fireplace. Tucked beneath a second-floor balcony that overlooks the courtyard, chairs snuggle near the fire with a bit of overhead protection to increase seasonal versatility. 

Short on space doesn’t mean short on use. This area is barely 25 feet deep and 50 feet wide, but it includes a place to have a drink and watch the game, a location to dine, and a spot to relax by the fire.

The large fireplace and hearth in this retreat can serve as an outdoor oven for cooking over an open fire.

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Stylish, weather-resistant pieces make this dining porch an easy way to take the party outside. The white finish of the long trestle table maintains a minimal look. The hanging lantern adds a touch of elegance.

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