Love Your Outdoor Living Room

 

Pull up a chair -- or a sofa or bench. Comfortable outdoor living furniture invites lounging and lingering. This cushion-covered banquette is actually made of plastered concrete, and it helps define the corner of Tim and Susan Anderson's backyard in Los Angeles. (Concrete a little too permanent or imposing? Try low sofas.) Lightweight butterfly chairs are easy to move around as more people join the conversation, and lanterns and throw pillows add punches of color. Tall, sculptural plants such as giant birds-of-paradise and spiky brown cordylines create a wall outdoor decor of sorts, giving the corner an intimate feel.