According to some estimates, we only get ~100 warm, sunny days here in Calgary. When that good weather comes along, we want to make the most of our outdoor living space.
When people think about home design, they often focus on what happens indoors – the layouts, furniture and finishes. However, your outdoor space plays a bigger role than most people realize. It impacts how you move through your home, how you host, and where people naturally gather when you’re all together.
If your outdoor space isn’t being used the way you want, it might be time to rethink its design.
Let’s look at how to expand your living space outdoors and design spaces that make it easier to enjoy every moment of the season.
Indoor & Outdoor Living Are Not As Separate As You Think
One of the biggest shifts we see in well-designed homes is this: indoor and outdoor spaces are not treated as separate zones. They work together.
The way you design your outdoor space directly affects how your interior functions. For example, if you host often, your kitchen layout should support easy flow to the outside. You don’t want to be taking the long way around just to get to the barbecue while everyone is waiting for dinner.
From a design perspective, the approach is very similar. You’re still thinking about layout, flow, and how the space will be used. The difference is in the details. Outdoor spaces require materials, finishes, and furnishings that can handle sun, rain, and temperature changes, without compromising how the space looks and feels.
When these decisions are made early in the process, your home starts to feel larger, more open, and more usable overall. Instead of stepping “out” into a different space, it feels like a continuation of your home.
Creating Entertaining Spaces: The Outdoor Living Room
For many homeowners, the outdoor space becomes the hub for hosting.
But a few chairs and a table usually lead to people standing around, juggling drinks, and drifting back inside. If you want a space that people naturally want to gather in, it needs to be designed with intention.
Think about the last time you hosted. Do people tend to stand and mingle, or sit and stay awhile? Are you serving full meals, snacks, or drinks? Do you want things to feel casual or more structured?
From there, we can start layering in the right elements. Seating should always be comfortable and arranged to encourage conversation. We can create specific areas for dining, lounging and serving that feel defined without being disconnected.
It’s also worth thinking about the practical side. Having surfaces nearby for drinks, plates, or serving means people aren’t awkwardly balancing things or heading back inside every few minutes. Adding a pergola or another source of shade allows you to enjoy the sun without it becoming overwhelming.
The goal is to remove friction. When everything has a place and purpose, hosting becomes easier and more enjoyable for everyone involved.
Create Spaces for You & Your Family
Your outdoor space isn’t just for hosting.
It’s just as important to create areas that support everyday life. When we look at it through that lens, it becomes part of your routine, not something you enjoy only a few times a year.
So the question becomes: how will your family actually use the space?
For some, it’s a quiet spot to start the day with a coffee. For others, it’s making room for kids to play without being in the middle of everything, or creating a space where teens can relax and have friends over. It might even mean carving out an area where you can step away from your desk and work outside for part of the day.
What works for a couple who travels often will look very different from what works for a busy household with young kids.
Let’s design your outdoor space for how you actually live, not how you think it “should” be used.
Creating Elevated Spaces
Function comes first, but it’s the design that brings everything together.
An elevated outdoor space starts by carrying your interior design decisions outside. That means selecting materials and colour palettes that feel consistent with the rest of your home, so nothing feels out of place.
Next, we look at how the space is used and how each element supports that. A well-planned seating area with comfortable outdoor furniture, like a sofa or chaise with durable cushions, creates a place people actually want to spend time. Lighting plays a big role here once the sun goes down, whether it’s exterior lighting or a fireplace or fire pit to gather around.
From there, we look at your finishing details – those well-chosen accents help the space feel personal and truly yours. Clean lines, layered decor, and thoughtful additions like an outdoor rug or a chic planter add texture and personality. Incorporating greenery into the landscape adds depth and keeps the space feeling connected to its surroundings.
When everything is considered together, your outdoor space feels like a natural extension of your home. Not something added later, but something that was always meant to be there.
Transform Your Backyard With Elle Cherie Design
At Elle Cherie Design, we look at the full picture. From how your indoor layout supports outdoor living, to how each space functions, flows, and feels. It creates a home that is beautiful, functional and complete, both inside and out.
If you’re thinking about how to better use your outdoor space, or how it fits into a larger renovation, we’re here to help you think it through.