Home Home Decor Ideas 27 Beautiful Outdoor Room Ideas for Fall and Beyond By Southern Living Editors Updated on September 26, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Helen Norman In the South, we love fall. The season is for football, cozy casseroles and Halloween. It is also a time of real togetherness for most Southerners. In the heat of the summer, few people want to leave the comfort of their air conditioned homes. Once autumn rolls around, the weather in most Southern states is just right for grilling and gathering in the outdoors. If you've avoided your backyard all summer long, your outdoor living space might be in need a bit of a makeover. We've looked through some of our favorite outdoor living arrangements to help give you a bit of inspiration on this front. So, call up your friends and neighbors, dust off your outdoor cushions and look through this guide for more outdoor room inspiration. 01 of 27 A Hosting Bar Hector Manuel Sanchez Decorated with fall foliage, pops of color that embody the season and a pitcher of your favorite cocktail for a crowd, be smart this fall season and place a bar on your porch or outdoor living space. "Encourage your guests to grab their own drinks so you won't be playing bartender," Mary Hollis Huddleston of Please Be Seated, the elevated event-rental company, advises. 02 of 27 A Barn As The Backdrop Photo: Helen Norman 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 feel and complement the rich russet hues of the barn, fall leaves, and piles of fresh apples. 03 of 27 Cozy Outdoor Fireplace Helen Norman 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. 04 of 27 Screened-In Classics PHOTOGRAPHY BY LAUREY W. GLENN; STYLING BY KENDRA SURFACE This space "feels like the epitome of a Southern porch with all the wicker," according to Charlotte Harris Lucas, the interior designer of our 2022 Idea House. With warm, inviting touches of fun colored throw pillows and the navy and white ticking stripe on the furniture, this room feels slightly costal while having the ability to transform for every season. Tour our Costal Carolina Idea House 05 of 27 Botanical Garden Springhouse Photo: Ralph Lee Anderson 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. 06 of 27 Natural Woodland Porch Photos by Jean Allsopp An outdoor space does not always need to be grand. Accented with an up-cycled rug made of old jeans, a Tiffany lamp and beautiful wooden accents. This porch is the perfect place to curl up with a good book. 07 of 27 Church-Inspired Pool House Photo: Laurey W. Glenn; Styling: Anne Turner Caroll An entry arbor at Christ Church on St. Simons Island inspired the design of this pool house. The wood fireplace makes for a cozy gathering place for cool fall evenings. 08 of 27 Old-World Dining Courtyard Photo by: Laurey W. Glenn, Styling by: Matthew Gleason 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. Tour Our Texas Escondido Idea House 09 of 27 Fall Garden Terrace Helen Norman This garden terrace gets fall flair from white and gray pumpkins. If you can't find these varieties locally, try spray painting your own. See more Pumpkin Decorating Ideas 10 of 27 Romantic Outdoor Fireplace Photo: Laurey W. Glenn 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 romantic feel. 11 of 27 Inviting Patio Makeover Tria Giovan 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. 12 of 27 Cozy Screened Fall Porch Photo: Tria Giovan 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. 13 of 27 Vintage Brick Patio Photo by Laurey W. Glenn 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. 14 of 27 Comfortable Outdoor Porch Jean Allsopp / Styling: Buffy Hargett 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. 15 of 27 Stepping-Stone Entry Photo: Laurey W. Glenn; Styling: Scott Martin 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 locust wood to further enhance this cottage's connection to the land. Local fieldstone clads the porch walls. 16 of 27 Calm, Classic Outdoor Living Room Photo: Melanie Acevedo 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. See more of this Classic Southern Home 17 of 27 Poolside Pavilion Photo: Ralph Anderson; Styling: Leigh Anne Montgomery 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. 18 of 27 Outdoor Dining and Fireplace While the great outdoors are naturally beautiful, do not be afraid to accentuate your space with a pop off color. In this outdoor dining room, orange is brought in through the tablecloth, seat cushions, throw blankets and pillows. The color accentuates the natural stone as well as the lush green of the trees surrounding the space. 19 of 27 Party Courtyard Photo: Charles Walton IV 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. 20 of 27 Small Space Outdoor Room Photo: Ralph Anderson; Styling: Rose Nguyen 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. 21 of 27 Autumnal Fireplace An outdoor fireplace makes it comfortable to sit outside on cool fall evenings. Touches of the season around the mantle and the hearth feature arrangements of pumpkins, gourds, and fall leaves. 22 of 27 Lights Over A Large Outdoor Living Space Lighting is key to entertaining in a large outdoor space. Strands of light strung overhead create a nice glow for stand-and-snack gatherings. Comfortable outdoor sofas, a blazing fireplace, and a convenient bar set the scene for the most popular fall party spot. 23 of 27 Chic Outdoor Dining Room Photo: Howard Lee Puckett 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. 24 of 27 Garage Addition This seating area and fireplace blend seamlessly with the garage behind it. The vaulted pitch of the arbor mimics the lines of the garage roof and makes the garage more background than feature. The brick chimney helps to draw the eye up, creating height and keeping the attention on the fireplace, which features a mix of fieldstone and brick for added interest. The entire seating area is elevated, improving views of the pool and surrounding property. 25 of 27 A Light-Filled Free Standing Fireplace Building a freestanding outdoor fireplace creates an instant cozy gathering place for fall. Decorate the mantle with a row of tea lights for extra sparkle when the sun goes down. 26 of 27 Autumn's Living Room Southern Living You do not need walls to make an outdoor living space. A stone fireplace creates the perfect area for fall gatherings in this backyard. A cluster of pumpkins and mums warms up the sitting wall. 27 of 27 Weather-Proof Pergola Photo: Laurey W. Glenn; Styling: Matthew Gleason Enjoy the outdoors in any type of weather by adding a pergola. Whicker furniture and the elegant fireplace are made to withstand the elements of a rainy day. Tour the Covington, Louisiana, Idea House Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit