We’re officially in peak summer. The days are long, the weather is warm, and if you have an outdoor space, this is the season you should be living in it. But if your patio, deck, or backyard isn’t working for you, it’s frustrating. You see that beautiful space and think, “This should be amazing,” but instead it sits largely empty while you’re inside scrolling through photos of other people’s gorgeous patios.
We don’t want that to be you.
The truth is, outdoor spaces that aren’t thoughtfully designed often go underused. Not because people don’t want to spend time outside, but because something about how your space functions doesn’t align with your real life.
So, whether you’re planning a custom home with outdoor space, renovating your current backyard, or just trying to maximize what you already have, here are five tips to create outdoor spaces that actually get used this summer and beyond.
1. Position Your Space Close to Where You Actually Live
This one is for those of you still in the design phase of your custom home build. And this might seem obvious, but proximity is everything. If your outdoor eating or gathering space is far from your kitchen, entertaining can become a hassle.
But when your outdoor space or backyard is directly adjacent to your kitchen or main living area with easy passage, hosting can flow naturally. You’re a few steps from supplies. The transition from indoor to outdoor happens seamlessly, and people flow outside without it feeling like they’re leaving the house.
Beyond just proximity, visibility matters too. Can you see your outdoor space from your living room or kitchen while you’re inside? If yes, you’re more likely to use it spontaneously. You’re reading inside and think, “I’ll finish that outside.” You’re preparing dinner and naturally move to the patio. Spaces you can see are spaces you use. Spaces you can’t see are easily forgotten.
Consider incorporating these design elements:
- Large sliding or folding glass doors (accordion-style folding doors or multi-panel sliders that stack to the side)
- Glass railings instead of solid railings on any raised deck or outdoor area.
- Pocket doors or bi-fold doors that disappear into walls.
- Window placement at multiple heights ensures visibility whether you’re standing at a counter, sitting at a table, or relaxing on a couch.
2. Provide Protection From Sun and Wind
The South Okanagan is gorgeous for outdoor living, but we also have intense sun and valley winds. A totally open patio becomes unusable from midday through early evening in summer.
Covered outdoor space changes everything. A roof or pergola that provides shade means you can use your patio during peak heat. Partial walls or strategic landscaping on the windward side protects without making the space feel enclosed. The coverage doesn’t have to be solid. Partially open structures allow light and air while providing essential shade and wind protection.
This one is a practical necessity if you want your outdoor space to actually function in real summer conditions.
Consider incorporating these design elements:
- Retractable pergolas or motorized shade systems give you flexibility to adjust coverage based on season and time of day.
- Slatted wood ceilings create filtered shade while allowing air circulation.
- Open-sided pavilions instead of fully enclosed structures maintain airflow while providing sun and some wind protection.
- Strategic landscaping as windbreaks uses trees and shrubs to redirect wind rather than block it completely.
- Partial walls or knee walls on the windward side (typically north in our valley) protect from wind while maintaining openness on other sides.
3. Invest in Comfort
A beautiful outdoor space that’s uncomfortable to sit in will not get used. Period. Bad seating, inadequate shade, or poor positioning will likely result in your avoiding it all together. But comfortable outdoor spaces have a tendency to become natural gathering spots.
We recommend that you invest in furniture that feels good. Quality lounges or chairs that recline. Dining chairs with cushions. Maybe a daybed or sectional if you have space. The furniture should work for your actual use. If you want lazy afternoons reading, go for a lounge chair but if you mainly entertain, comfortable dining chairs might be more of a priority.
Also think about how light works after the sun goes down. Evening outdoor living can be magical in summer, but only if the space is well lit. String lights create ambiance. Uplighting on trees adds drama. Task lighting near dining areas makes the space functional. A space that’s dark at night won’t get used, no matter how beautiful it is during the day.
Consider incorporating these design elements:
- Sectionals or modular seating for flexible entertaining
- Deep, cushioned lounges for relaxing or reading
- String lights for warmth and ambiance
- Wall sconces or built-in lighting for structure
- Task lighting over dining or cooking areas
4. Design Your Backyard Around How You Actually Live
Your outdoor space should support your real life. And the best way to make sure that happens is to design specific zones for specific activities rather than creating one large undefined space that tries to do everything and ends up doing nothing particularly well.
For example, If morning coffee is your priority, create a defined seating area with a small table, comfortable chairs, and an eastern orientation to catch morning light. Or, if you love evening entertaining, prioritise a dining area with task lighting, proximity to the kitchen, and a fireplace or fire pit to extend the season.
One of the most useful things you can do during the design phase is to walk through a typical week in your mind and ask yourself honestly: when would I actually use this space, and what would I be doing? The answer tells you exactly what the space needs to include and what you can leave out. The goal is designing spaces with clear purpose so that when the moment arises, the space is ready for it.
Design elements to consider based on lifestyle:
- Fire pit or outdoor fireplace
- Built-in outdoor kitchen
- Designated kids’ zone
- Hammock or daybed
5. Bring the Inside Out Through Materials and Finishes
The best outdoor spaces feel like natural extensions of your home. When your outdoor space or backyard uses similar tones, textures, and materials as your interior, the eye reads them as one connected space rather than two separate environments.
Concrete or large-format tile that flows from your kitchen floor through glass doors onto your patio creates visual continuity that makes the transition feel effortless. Using the same stone on an outdoor fireplace as your interior feature wall creates cohesion. Even consistent colors in outdoor cushions that echo interior tones creates connection that feels intentional and designed.
When it comes to surfaces, choosing durable outdoor materials that mirror interior quality makes a difference in how people treat and use the space. Outdoor spaces finished with quality materials feel like living spaces.
Common Mistakes We See in Backyard Design
Here’s a list of things we’ve learned don’t work when designing your backyard:
- Building the space too far from the house – proximity matters more than size.
- Inadequate protection from sun or wind. A space that’s unusable half the year because of weather is wasted space.
- Furniture that’s impractical or uncomfortable. Looks good in the photo, terrible to actually use.
- Poor visibility from main living areas. You forget the space exists because you don’t see it.
- Designing for entertaining when that’s not your actual lifestyle. A huge patio designed for parties when you never host is depressing—it just feels empty.
- Not thinking about lighting. A space that’s beautiful in daylight but dark and unusable at night wastes evening hours.
- Ignoring practical needs like proximity to kitchen, garbage, or water. These details matter for actual living.
- Overcomplicating the space. The best outdoor spaces are often simple—good seating, shade, comfort, and access to the house.
Make This Summer Count
We’re in the sweet spot of the South Okanagan summer season. The weather is perfect. The days are long. This is your opportunity to actually live in that outdoor space. If something about how it functions isn’t working, now is the time to identify what needs to change, whether that’s small adjustments (moving furniture, adding shade, improving lighting) or bigger reimagining of how the space is laid out and used.
Ready to Design a Backyard You’ll Love?
If you’re in the early stages of designing your custom home and want to talk through how to make your outdoor space work for your lifestyle, we offer design consultations. We’d love to help you think through the decisions that will make the difference between a space you love and one that sits empty all summer. Let’s talk!
Edgehill Homes has been building custom homes in the Okanagan for over 15 years. We believe every home should tell a story and we’re here to help you tell yours.
