An outdoor lounge area or pavilion gives a space for relaxation after a long day at work, a space to sunbathe in the hot summer months, and a cosy area for family gatherings.

Outdoor seating areas enhance the coziness and calmness of your garden space, providing comfort for the whole family. Plus, if you’re considering selling your property soon, an outdoor lounge area will increase your home’s value and appeal to potential buyers.

As great as outdoor lounge areas are, they’re not always easy to create. It takes time, patience, and money to revamp your garden seating area, but that’s not to say it’s possible!

To make things as simple as possible, we’ve put together a step-by-step guide for building the perfect outdoor lounge area.

Consider Your ‘Why’

The first step to building a gorgeous and functional outdoor lounge area is to consider why you want to create this space in the first place. Defining your ‘why’ will make the process easier, as it enables you to plan what furniture items, accessories, and materials are best to use.

Do you want to build a peaceful and tranquil area that enables you to wind down and de-stress? Maybe you want to create a space that serves as the perfect spot for outdoor get-togethers with your friends and family.

Understanding and narrowing down your purpose will streamline the process of building your outdoor lounging area, prevent you from buying unnecessary items, and minimize your stress as much as possible. It also ensures your garden is useable throughout the entire year.

Choose a Location in Your Garden

The next step is to figure out where you want to build your outdoor lounge area in your garden. If you have a larger garden, you might have more choices, but those of you with smaller gardens might prefer to choose a small corner of your outdoor space.

Consider things like the amount of sunlight different areas in your garden receive and at which times of the day the sunlight hits these areas. If you plan on using your lounge area for morning reading, choose the part of your garden that receives sunlight in the early hours and vice versa.

Another factor to consider is privacy and proximity to your home. If you want a cozy and tranquil area for social events, it might be best to choose an area of your garden that is enclosed but still close enough to your home for easy access.

Choose the Ideal Furniture for Your Needs

With the number of options available nowadays, choosing the perfect garden furniture can be tough. However, taking the time to choose the right items for your outdoor lounge space is important to ensure maximum functionality. Visiting somewhere like Hamilton Spring Home and Garden Show can provide you with a wide variety of choices and inspiration, allowing you to see and compare different styles and quality in person. 

Consider your needs and preferences for outdoor furniture. If you’re creating a solo relaxation space, you might only need one or two seats. If you want an outdoor area for family and friends to enjoy as well as yourself, you’ll need to accommodate this with several seats.

Think about the style of furniture you’d like to purchase, too. Do you want poolside chaise lounge chairs, rattan chairs, or a garden table with matching chairs? Each option offers a unique style and function, so don’t rush your decision.

Make sure that whatever furniture you choose is produced using durable, weather-resistant materials. You’ll want low-maintenance options that aren’t prone to wear and tear so you can maintain your lounge area’s appearance with minimal effort.

If you live in a hot, sunny area of the world, don’t forget to invest in a large umbrella or gazebo to protect yourself and your guests from the harmful UV rays of the sun when you’re spending time outdoors.

Plan the Layout of Your Outdoor Lounge Area

Once you’ve decided on all the furniture you’ll need and want in your lounge area, you can start planning its layout. You’ll need to consider the overall space you’ve got to work with and how it’s going to work in terms of both functionality and garden aesthetics.

Use a piece of paper or a digital tablet to sketch a general draft of the layout. Consider creating a focal point, such as a fire pit or large table, and building around it. Make sure there’s room for you and your guests to maneuver around the space easily without tripping over or banging into anything.

If you have a larger outdoor to work with, you could even plan to have multiple segments in your lounge area. For example, you could create a seating area for social events, a food-cooking space with a BBQ and other portable cooking devices, and a quieter corner for relaxation.