Hottest Outdoor Living Designs for 2017 (Updated 2023)

Summer was designed to be enjoyed. Make the most of it by turning your outdoor living area into a personal outdoor sanctuary – a place where you can invite your friends and family to share lingering afternoons and brilliant summer nights.

If your outdoor living area needs revamping and you’re out of ideas, then get ready to be inspired. Here are the hottest outdoor living design ideas for 2017.

Deck it out, but keep it low-maintenance

Timber decking, especially in the popular modern shades of grey (like the image above) is the height of Instagrammable chic this year. If you’re hesitant to install timber decking because of the maintenance required to preserve its beauty, there is a solution. More and more homeowners are using composite timber materials to make their outdoor patio dreams a care-free reality.

Composite timber decking is just as beautiful as natural wood, but it can also stand up to the dramatic Australian climate (it’s UV and rot resistant) and is fully resistant to termites and other pests. The greatest advantage is you won’t need to sand, oil, stain or paint your composite timber patio or deck – ever.  Now you really can spend those lazy summer days relaxing and entertaining instead of sweating over home maintenance!

Vertical Gardens: Enjoy the greenery but save on space

The size of housing lots is shrinking, especially for urban and suburban dwellers. The little space you do get in your backyard is prime real estate. You need this for enjoying the outdoors and entertaining, not to languish beneath sprawling flower beds that cost you time and money to upkeep.  And spare a thought for apartment dwellers with no backyard, just a small balcony. Vertical gardens have become one of the most popular outdoor decorating trends this year, which is good news if you enjoy having some greenery and flora in your outdoor environment.

A living green wall creates a relaxing, serene atmosphere, while also offering natural seclusion and a fresh, eco-conscious design element. And with easy-to-install wall kits, you can easily DIY and have your vertical garden set up in a weekend!

Practical and Versatile LED Lighting

With LED lights, you can really take your outdoor lighting to a whole new level of creativity, while still being practical and energy efficient. Use LEDs to highlight focal points in your garden, illuminate pathways, or simply to add a warm glow around your patio space.

Inviting Fire Pit Tables

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No need to let cooler nights keep you inside. When you go for this year’s hottest outdoor trend – fire pit tables – you can sit around the fire with a glass of Shiraz while the stars come out. You’ll be able to enjoy this feature throughout this season and into the next, making your outdoor space warm and inviting. Choose from different metals or stone for your fire pit, which can also serve as your table for wine and cheese, brekkie and coffee, or your barbeque and brownies.

Statement Wall Cladding

External wall cladding is becoming a popular choice for statement walls, creating a long-lasting, maintenance-free outdoor feature. With wall cladding made from composite timber, you can choose the perfect colour and style to match your existing exterior, giving you total control over how your outdoor space should look. Your cladding will last for decades without appearing weathered or worn by the harsh Australian climate. Cladding is an easy upgrade that makes a huge impact.

Refurbished and Recycled Furniture

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To get a look that is totally unique, try thinking out-of-the-box when it comes to your outdoor furnishings. Reclaimed wood, repurposed metals like crates and pallets, and other salvaged materials can be used to create original pieces with a rustic charm that you can’t find in new furniture. This trend is eco-friendly and adds a beautiful warmth to your outdoor space. Shop around at second-hand stores, furniture stores that specialise in salvaged materials, and even verge-side collections to discover the next treasure to make your outdoor space look perfect.

These simple design trends will help create the look you’ve always wanted and enable you to really enjoy the “great outdoors”, soaking up all those sun-filled days and gorgeous Australian nights with very little effort.

To get started on your outdoor renovation right away, check out our outdoor living products on NewTechWood Australia and Urban Direct Wholesale!