6 Outdoor Decorating Mistakes to Avoid This Season, According to Pros

Decorating your outdoor space can be just as rewarding as sprucing up the inside of your home, if not better. With plenty of outdoor furniture trends circling around the design world, including indoor-outdoor furniture and warm color palettes, there’s an endless amount of inspiration to pull from.

However, with all of the outdoor design “do’s,” there are certainly some design “don’ts.” We spoke with design experts to find out the most common outdoor decorating mistakes people make.

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Thoughtful lighting shouldn’t only be reserved for indoors—outdoor spaces can benefit from proper lighting, too.

Even though it’s commonly overlooked, outdoor lighting can easily elevate your backyard or patio. Lighting can give your outdoor space an ambient feel, make your space safer with well-lit pathways and stairs, and extend its use. 

“With the right lighting setup, you can extend the usability of your outdoor space well into the evening, allowing you to enjoy your outdoor area long after the sun has set,” Ilaria Barion, owner and CEO of Barion Design, says.

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Outdoor seating can be one of the best parts of an outdoor space, but a common mistake is only considering furniture when decorating.

According to Devin Shaffer, lead interior designer at Decorilla, it’s important to think beyond just furniture and consider personality, decor, different textures, and color. 

“When clients come to me and tell me how they envision their outdoor space, furniture is all they mention, and as soon as I picture that in my head it just seems dull and boring,” Shaffer says. “Hence