Sofía Vergara's 'outdoor living room' look will be everywhere in 2024 – here's why

Experts explain how the Modern Family actress hacked the ideal entertaining space

sofia vergara at america's got talent
(Image credit: Getty Images)

With a busy schedule as an America's Got Talent judge and the leading actress in Netflix's upcoming Griselda, it's important that Sofía Vergara finds time for rest and relaxation. Thanks to her brilliant outdoor living room idea, calm is easy to come by.

A recent Instagram post reveals the Modern Family star's tranquil deck and interior design experts are obsessed.

Sofía's back deck looks like a living room transported out of doors. Guests lounge on a large white outdoor sofa and armchairs around a low limestone coffee table. An outdoor rug defines the space while yellow pendant lights glow down on the area. Only a potted tree and a large monstera plant remind us that the den is on the deck. Sofía has made the space perfect for gathering by using best outdoor furniture and warm lighting to create a cozy vibe.

'I love how all the elements of this super-chic outdoor gathering space come together in ways that are both practical and beautiful,' says interior design expert Kathy Kuo. 

kathy kuo home
Kathy Kuo

Kathy Kuo is a celebrated interior designer and international guru within the home and lifestyle space. She has 20+ years of experience in the design industry. 

The artfully designed space has a stylish and intentional look. 'I love the contrast of plush white sofas with the industrial look of the concrete coffee table, and how Sophia has used her potted plants as a built-in pop of color,' says Kathy Kuo. 'The effect is minimalist but also so cozy and so inviting.'

Chrissy Arsenault, interior designer states: 'This is the ultimate example of bringing the indoors out, with these cozy deep-set furnishings arranged in a U-shaped conversation layout, allowing the outdoors to be the focal point. Layering in a large area rug defines the space, as does a statement stone coffee table and oversized planters which add height, texture, and a pop of color to this otherwise neutral palette.

Chrissy Arsenault
Chrissy Arsenault

Chrissy Arsenault, owner, and principal designer for Live Original Design, established in 2007. She specializes in interior design, including renovation and millwork design, in and around the Greater Toronto Area and Niagara.

Furthermore, Sofía's small outdoor living room idea makes her space perfect for entertaining. 

'An outdoor lounge space should be visible from a prominent window of the home, intended to draw you outside away from the chaos of everyday life and technology.'

'Here, the focus is conversation, comfort, and the open air. I don't see anything high-tech. Just relaxation,' says Chrissy Arsenault. 'It’s the perfect space for just kicking back with loved ones and enjoying the ambiance, adds Kathy Kuo. 


If you enjoyed reading about how Sofía Vergara makes her patio into a calming oasis, you'll love our list of entertaining garden ideas to help you create a welcoming backyard.

Sophie Edwards
News Editor

Sophie is a London-based News Editor at Homes & Gardens, where she works on the Celebrity Style team. She is fascinated by the intersection of design and popular culture and is particularly excited when researching trends or interior history. Sophie is an avid pop culture fan. As an H&G editor, she has interviewed the likes of Martha Stewart, Hilary Duff, and the casts of Queer Eye and Selling Sunset. Before joining Future Publishing, Sophie worked as the Head of Content and Communications at Fig Linens and Home, a boutique luxury linens and furniture brand. She has also written features on exciting developments in the design world for Westport Magazine. Sophie has an MSc from the Oxford University Department of Anthropology and a BA in Creative Writing and Sociology from Sarah Lawrence College.