Don’t Let the Chill Send You Inside – 5 Designer Ways to Make Your Patio Feel Warmer on Late-Summer Evenings
Outdoor season isn’t over yet. Here’s how designers are savoring the last stretch of summer
Late summer is a magical limbo: milder weather, less chance of frizzy hair, and, though most of our back-to-school days are finally behind us, that inner knowing of new. It’s the honorary new year. And while our eyes might already be wandering toward fall, there’s no reason to rush through the last stretch of actually enjoyable alfresco air.
The trick is to slowly, gently ease your patio into cozy season. No need to dive off the deep end and swaddle the setup in unnecessary accessories; like a perfectly lightweight cashmere at the beach, you want just enough to acknowledge that September is coming.
So we asked designers how they handle those first hints of crisp fall air without making things feel prematurely frigid – the little moves, both physical and visual, that make staying outside after sunset seem like the better option. Ahead, five ways to postpone saying goodbye to summer just a little longer.
1. Great Lighting
An overhead lantern adds a little wire-free whimsy, even while it’s light out.
Great lighting won’t make you physically warmer, but mentally, emotionally, spiritually, the right ambience delivers the warm-and-fuzzy feeling we’re starting to crave.
‘Honestly, this might be my number one recommendation,’ says North Carolina-based designer Grey Joyner. ‘If you have the budget to add ONE new thing to your patio, I would focus on good quality outdoor lighting – both the fixtures and the bulbs themselves. Good lighting can completely change an outdoor space. And this applies to everything from choosing great fixtures, to selecting the correct bulbs, to adding cordless lamps when needed and even bringing out candles and lanterns when you’re using the space.’
And you can, apparently, quantify the sweet spot for cozy. ‘Adding warm ambient lighting at 2000K–2700K creates a soft, golden glow that our brains associate with safety and comfort,’ adds Bella Baldwin, interior designer at Rumor Designs in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, who insists just about any avenue to warm light is welcome this time of year.
‘Incorporating this through string lights, candles, and lanterns invites people to stay longer and creates a softer, more natural transition from day to night. Bonus points for solar-powered options that automatically turn on as the sun begins to set!’
2. Fire Features
The NYC streets are still bustling below, but a marble fire feature changes the pace on this Studio Formichella-designed Midtown patio.
It’s, quite literally, the oldest trick in the book, but fire really does work in more ways than one. The heat, obviously, is nice, but planted as the centerpiece of a seating group, a fire feature makes those increasingly early sunsets feel less like bad news.
‘A fire pit or fire coffee table is the ultimate addition for the outdoor living space when the weather starts to shift. It provides actual warmth, but it also becomes a natural gathering point,’ observes Rebecca Formichella, founder of New York City-based design firm Studio Formichella. ‘There’s something instinctive about sitting around a fire. It slows the evening down and encourages everyone to settle in.’
A good one doubles as an architectural feature. ‘I prefer designs in stone or aged metal so the fire element feels integrated into the landscape rather than like an appliance or an afterthought.'
3. A Basket of Throws
Designer Kathy Kuo coordinates her mugs with her throw blankets in this San Francisco patio, carrying color through the cozier layers.
We swaddle ourselves in our coziest blankets as soon as we step inside for couch time. But designers ask: why not take this indoor accessory outside, too? Be it a performance outdoor throw that can resist the elements or simply a few regular ones tucked away in a charming basket, having another layer on hand makes an outdoor living room feel a little more like an indoor one.
‘Throw blankets specifically designated for the outdoor areas of a home are so underrated!’ exclaims Kathy Kuo, designer and founder of Kathy Kuo Home. ‘The key is choosing materials that are both cozy and performance grade.’ She specifically recommends Sunbrella for its soft, high-quality layers that resist moisture and fading.
Kristen Kinsella, Director of Interiors at Soucie Horner Design Collective, reaches for highly textured, fall-friendly patterns like plaid, always stashed in big woven baskets for ease.
4. Cushioned Seating
Layer up throw pillows to add warmth and coziness to your outdoor living room.
If you wouldn’t want to sit on it inside, why would you want to sit on it out? Real-living-room-worthy cushions go a long way here – visually, of course, but also because a hard chair is probably one of the better reasons to take the party back inside.
‘If you want people to linger and feel at home, give them somewhere really comfortable to sit,’ insists interior designer Grey Joyner. ‘I love substantial cushions and pillows in outdoor performance fabrics, especially when they bring in a great pattern or unexpected color.’
As for matching them? Grey would actually rather you didn’t. We’re on the brink of autumn, after all, which is prime time for layering. ‘Please don’t be afraid to mix prints: stripes, botanicals, geometrics, whatever speaks to you,’ urges Grey. ‘The goal is for the patio to feel cozy and comfortable and not like a stuffy showroom.’
5. Indoor-Outdoor Rugs
Not every rug needs to be a capital-S Statement. A subtly geometric braided jute adds an extra layer of style without overwhelming whatever else you’ve got going on.
For the final finishing touch, make the underfoot moment a welcoming one. An outdoor rug anchors the seating group, lends a little something-something to catch the eye, and provides a layer of insurance against the evening chill.
‘As the ground cools, area rugs can not only add visual warmth, but also help insulate your outdoor spaces from the evening chill,’ explains Courtney Klinger, founder of Philadelphia-based Studio Whitford. ‘A soft ground underfoot brings a sense of luxe warmth that typical outdoor pavers just cannot replicate. It makes such an impactful difference in the cooler months.’
Soucie Horner Design Collective's Kristen Kinsella recommends SHIIR Rugs for its wide range of pattern and colors, each handcrafted by master artisans in India and Nepal. For more affordable options, Ruggable and Rugs USA never cease to excite with their designer collaborations.
Garden-party season isn’t over yet. Celebratory backyard birthday brunches, slow Sunday barbecues, and all the alfresco occasions in between can carry on a little longer with a few strategic additions.
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