Terrace ideas: Inspiration and images for your outdoor dream

Photo: KatarzynaBialasiewicz / iStock.com

Terrace ideas for creating and designing the terrace is a popular topic. The terrace is often referred to as the open-air living room. And for a good reason: it's a great place to relax after work, to meet friends and acquaintances for a barbecue, to unwind and enjoy the beautiful summer days under the open sky. So it's not surprising that there are many terrace ideas for designing your open-air living room. There are many ways to transform your terrace into an oasis of well-being. You can find out here what you should basically consider when designing a terrace and how you can express your personal living style in the outdoor area as well.

Framework conditions for a modern terrace design

Before you start implementing your terrace ideas, you should consider the most important framework conditions. These include the location or orientation of the terrace, its size and what you would prefer to use your outdoor area for.

Intended use

First ask yourself what you mainly want to use your terrace for. As an outdoor dining room with a barbecue and a large table for many guests? Or as a place of relaxation and tranquillity, for sunbathing or reading your favourite books? Should your children perhaps have a place to play here? Depending on the desired use, there are different ways to design a terrace. The location or orientation of your terrace plays an important role.

Location / Orientation

If the terrace faces south, the sun is present throughout the day - ideal for sun worshippers, but for children and anyone else who does not want to be exposed to direct sunlight, good sun protection is needed. Even with a west-facing terrace, a sunshade or sun sail can be useful to protect yourself from the sun outside in the afternoon after school and at the end of the day.

Regardless of the compass direction, you should also consider the location and neighbourly surroundings when designing the terrace. For example, in order to protect yourself from street noise or the prying eyes of the neighbours, you need a noise barrier and/or privacy screen. Not only walls, fences or partitions with climbing plants are suitable for this, but also hedges, tall grasses, reeds or bamboo. The Look of the privacy screen and the other terrace design, depends on the size of the terrace.

Size

To make a terrace comfortable, it should be sufficiently large and not too crowded. Only then can you feel comfortable on it. You have enough freedom of movement and the terrace furniture gets a safe place. As a rule of thumb, seating furniture should be at least 1 metre away from the edge of the terrace - this applies in particular to raised and unenclosed terraces. To be able to use an outdoor area as a terrace, you should have an area of at least 3 x 3 metres available.

Terrace ideas & tips for small terraces

The challenge with small terraces is to make the best use of the available space and to integrate as many elements as possible without having a cluttered look. The best way to achieve this is to use height as the main guideline, so for example, do not place the lighting on the floor or table, but rather - in the form of fairy lights or lanterns - hang it up. The same applies to sun protection: a sun sail usually saves more space than a parasol.

If there is not enough space for a large garden table with many chairs, a few cosy armchairs with a small table are recommended. If necessary, for example when guests are coming, you can supplement these with folding chairs that can be stored away to save space when not in use.

You don't have to do miss out on planting either. With so-called "vertical gardening", you can make use of the height of walls, railings and suspended plant bags. Besides climbing plants, succulents are excellent for this, as are herbs of all kinds.

Designing a large terrace: Ideas & tips for large terraces

Designing a large terrace may not seem problematic at first glance. Its not a problem of space, but a problem of structure so it does not appear dreary and empty. It is advisable to create several areas, which may differ not only functionally but also in their design.

In no case should a place to relax be missing - either as a cosy sitting area with lounge furniture or as a sun deck with loungers and small side tables. You should also not do without an area with a large dining table where you can enjoy delicacies from the barbecue together with your guests. The barbecue itself also needs its space, of course. If you regularly invite guests to large garden parties, you should think about a counter/bar where you can prepare delicious drinks.

Different floor coverings visually delineate the individual areas, for example, you can lay out the relaxation area with the sun loungers with wooden planks, while in the dining area there are stone slabs under the terrace furniture.

Cosy and beautiful terrace design: What no terrace should be without

As different as the preferences, ideas and design possibilities are, there are certain things that must not be missing when it comes to making a terrace cosy and beautiful. These are: the terrace floor, the terrace furniture, greenery or planting and lighting so that you can still sit outside comfortably late at night.

Building terraces: Ideas for terrace flooring

Terrace design begins with the construction of the terrace, namely as an idea for the matching floor. And here the possibilities are almost endless. The various materials differ not only in their appearance, but also in their special properties:

Terrace boards made of wood or the wood-plastic mixture WPC radiate a cosy warmth, but without heating up quickly themselves. This means you can walk barefoot across the terrace at any time. Wooden planks, however, require regular maintenance.

WPC, on the other hand, is very easy to care for, resistant and does not splinter, but can fade over time if exposed to intense sunlight.

Stone floors are also easy to care for and particularly durable. The same applies to outdoor tiles, which are available in a wide variety of colours and patterns. Gravel as a terrace floor is very pressure-resistant and insensitive to weathering, but is difficult to clean.

Garden Terrace Ideas for Greening / Planting

If you want to plant or green your terrace, you should not only choose the plants according to their appearance, but also according to the location of the terrace: for example, ornamental lilies, shrub margarites, crucifers, rose marigolds and oleanders are suitable for sunny spots. On the other hand, begonias, chrysanthemums, fuchsias, foam flowers and coloured nettles prefer shady areas.

 With the many terrace design options, you should also consider practical aspects, because the planting should be suitable for everyday use. For example, if you have little time for gardening, you should prefer low-maintenance plants. If you do not have the possibility to overwinter the plants indoors during the cold season, hardy plants are a good choice.

 Taking these terrace ideas into account, however, the following applies: Whatever you like is good!

Terrace design options with terrace furniture

Suitable seating furniture is needed to spend time on the terrace. What this is depends first and foremost on your usage habits. A garden table with matching chairs belongs on every terrace. The size of the table and the number of chairs depends on the size of the terrace and the number of residents or guests. An additional sun lounger is indispensable for anyone who likes to bathe in the sun or make themselves comfortable with a good book.

 Terrace furniture should be of high quality, i.e. waterproof and UV-resistant, colourfast, dimensionally stable as well as impact and abrasion resistant. It should also be easy to care for and clean without much effort. Terrace furniture can be made of different materials, each of which has certain properties and advantages:

Wood is the most popular material for terrace furniture. And this is not only due to its natural look, but also to its robustness and durability. Although regular maintenance is required to protect the wood from the elements, in return you get furniture that radiates a special warmth and provides a pleasant body feeling even in hot temperatures.

Terrace furniture made of metal (aluminium) weighs little, is weather and corrosion resistant and easy to care for. They are very durable, but can get very hot in summer.

Polyrattan also weighs little and is very easy to care for. They are weatherproof and even strong UV radiation can hardly harm their shape and colour.

Furniture made of plastic is easy to care for, inexpensive and available in many different shapes and colours. However, long exposure to sunlight can fade the material and make it brittle. Plastic furniture can often be stacked or folded so that you can store it in a space-saving way when not in use.

Designing a terrace with sun protection

If the majority or even the entire terrace is exposed to direct sunlight most of the day, sun protection is essential. Depending on the available space and personal preferences, a sunshade, a sun sail or an awning can be used for this purpose. Each variant has advantages; which one you choose depends on your individual taste and needs:

Parasols can easily be opened and closed again. They can be rotated as needed or set up in a different location without much effort, so they can move with the sun and easily adapt to changing needs. Sun sails, on the other hand, are permanently installed and therefore cannot usually fly away. They remain opened out all the time and provide extra shade. Awnings are also permanently installed - usually on the wall of the house - and can also serve as privacy screens under certain circumstances. It can be closed if necessary, so that there is no risk of wind damage to it either. The awning is thus also well protected from the wind. This allows you to design your terrace in a comfortable and beautiful manner and let's you benefit from effective sun protection.

Cosy terrace design with matching lighting

To ensure that you can still enjoy the warm temperatures for a long time in the evening hours, it is advisable to illuminate the terrace. This aspect should be one of the most important ideas even before the terrace is built. If you need a certain amount of brightness to read a book outside late at night, for example, you should, if possible, use wall lights or special spotlights. If, on the other hand, the lighting is only intended to create an atmospheric ambience, solar luminaires, lanterns or windlights can be placed on and around the terrace. Lampion fairy lights are particularly decorative and also suitable for small terraces.

Terrace design: Design styles for every taste

As we all know, tastes are different and nowhere is this more evident than in the interior design style of the home. But this also applies to the garden and the terrace, because you can also design them in a certain style - according to your personal taste - so that you feel just as comfortable outside as inside. You can find some great garden terrace ideas for the most popular design styles here:

Terrace ideas for modern terraces

The most striking feature of a modern terrace is its clear shapes and straight lines. WPC planks, granite or concrete slabs are particularly suitable as flooring. Tip: Particularly large-cut slabs have a generous and calming effect. This effect should be continued with the furniture by matching the design and colours to the terrace floor.

 The planting on a modern terrace tends to be sparse, but it also sets interesting accents. The clear structure of the modern style can also be found here, for example with hedges or woody plants cut exactly into shape, often in combination with rectangular or circular water basins or stones.

Garden Terrace Ideas: Country style

For terraces in the country house style, a floor covering of natural stone, paving stones, gravel or wood is suitable. If a boundary or privacy screen is desired, a fence made of wood or wicker fits just as well as a wall made of natural stone or a low box hedge.

 Rustic wooden furniture with textiles in light colours is inviting and friendly. For the planting, old containers may be used that could also come from an old country house kitchen, such as a zinc tub or enamel pot. Larger tubs can be decorated with lush flowering plants such as roses, lilacs or hydrangeas.

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Terrace design in Asian style

Puristic yet spiritual - this could be the motto of a terrace designed in Asian style. The restriction to the essentials starts with the flooring, which can be made of gravel, stone slabs or wood. Shaped shrubs, bonsais and decorative foliage plants form an attractive contrast to maple or rhododendron.

 Of course, bamboo should not be missing here, nor should water, which - depending on the size of the terrace - can be integrated as a small basin or water feature. Typical decorative elements are Buddha figures in different sizes and stone lanterns.

Designing a terrace in Mediterranean style

On a Mediterranean terrace, everything is reminiscent of holidays on the Mediterranean. A light-coloured sandstone or light-coloured gravel, broken natural stone paving slabs or concrete paving stones with a rustic surface are recommended as flooring. A terrace enclosure made of natural stones or a pergola with roses or vines climbing up it is particularly cosy. Filigree metal chairs and bistro-style tables or rustic wooden furniture are suitable for seating. On large terraces, a hanging chair or hammock also looks very good.

 Herbs such as lavender, oregano or sage, which spread their typical scent in terracotta pots of various shapes, colours and sizes, provide a special Mediterranean flair. Vegetables such as tomatoes, peppers or aubergines also find a nice place in between. If you prefer something larger, we recommend bougainvillea, oleander, olive or citrus trees.

Terrace ideas for oriental designed terraces

Like a fairy tale from Arabian Nights - that's how you feel on a terrace in oriental style. The flooring can be colourful tiles, often with a decorative outdoor rug on which benches and/or cushions invite you to relax. All textiles can be lush and colourful. Small tables in a mosaic pattern made of metal or wood and accessories in metallic materials such as gold, silver, brass or copper are also popular.

Terrace Building Ideas: Terraces with natural garden

If you want not only people but also animals to feel comfortable on your terrace, use natural materials as far as possible that blend in with the surrounding nature in terms of their form and function. This includes a water-permeable terrace floor, for example made of natural stone slabs, chippings or native wood species (e.g. larch).

A natural stone wall, which can also serve as a habitat for insects and small animals such as lizards, is a natural and attractive border for the terrace. Existing boundaries such as the wall of the house can be planted with ivy, and you can also place many flower pots and tubs with insect-friendly flowers. Ideal are unfilled flowers or roses, whose nectar and pollen are food for insects of all kinds and are therefore readily visited by them.

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