Outdoor Design Tips

5 foolproof tips to beautify an outdoor living space in North Texas

Some well-placed lights and plants and a patterned rug help make this patio feel like an additional living room.

Photo by Devin Miller

Transforming backyards into additional living spaces is a growing trend in North Texas. Even the hottest summer day can turn into a pleasant evening, and the other three seasons are mild, which means your patio is a prime perch for relaxing or entertaining friends.

Upgrading outdoor living spaces can range in investment. A higher-end renovation and finish-out could include using a professional designer and contractor to implement adding structures like cabanas, swimming pools, built-in kitchens and covered patios. A DIY project could include updates to existing structures and surfaces that homeowners can do themselves.

We talked to Nicole Arnold, who owns a full-service Dallas interior design firm, Nicole Arnold Interiors. She’s worked with many homeowners to create cool, comfortable outdoor living spaces that work with the rest of their home’s design.

“In a lot of cases, these outdoor retreats are visible from a main living area inside your home; therefore, make sure they look on par with the rest of your home, and, ideally, a natural extension of your interior style,” Arnold says. “Of course there’s a wide spectrum of upgrades and accouterments available to personalize your particular space, and make it aesthetically pleasing, comfortable and functional.”

These are Arnold’s top five tips for accentuating an outdoor living space, regardless of scope or budget.

1. What goes outside should belong outside
Ensure what is placed outside is sustainable, particularly furnishings. Teak, cast aluminum or weather-rated wicker (actually a PVC product) hold up best. Cushions should be of Sunbrella or other outdoor-rated fabrics to prevent fading and mildew. Furniture covers are always a good idea, even when you have a covered porch. They can keep critters away as well as protect against our occasional sideways rainstorms.

2. Make it bright
Adequate lighting is imperative to fully enjoy evening functions. Illuminate with overhead lighting such as recessed cans in a solid ceiling or string lights in an open ceiling, as well as indirect light from outdoor-rated lamps on end tables. Lit candles can be beautiful, and a glass hurricane can help keep them that way in the breeze.

3. Don’t forget the rug
A foundational piece in any outdoor setting is a rug, and today they are easy to find in an array of options. Brightly colored floral or geometric prints enliven neutral-colored furniture, while natural-looking sisal designs add a quiet softness to a more organic and neutral theme. Ensure that a good outdoor rug pad is used to prevent mildew. If mildew does occur, a gentle bleach and water solution can usually be used safely to remove discoloration.

4. Comfort is key
Staying cool can be a challenge in our Texas heat, so things like outdoor water misters around a patio ceiling perimeter or ceiling fans can help tremendously. Depending on the direction your patio faces, there will be a time of the day (or sometimes two) that the sun will bear down, preventing you from enjoying your space. Some great solutions for that are outdoor curtains that can be drawn closed (also adding a layer of softness or a pop of color to your living area), woven wood shades or a mesh-style shade. Any of these solutions can be manual for a smaller budget or automated for more convenient use.

5. Plants add color and texture
Landscaping can be that final touch on your outdoor retreat’s design. Container plants, trees and flower beds add color and texture and soften the hard nature of stone patios, brick walls or wooden structures. Succulents in containers on a tabletop make great heat-tolerant additions, and the experts at your local nursery can tell you which other foliage will work best in your particular exposure.

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A version of this story originally was published on Candy’s Dirt.

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home design trends

Warm retreats and natural details are top home design trends this fall

2026 Houzz Fall Design Trends Report, warm interiors

Photo by Teal Thomsen for Canyon Collected Design

Warm-toned spaces are very inviting for fall gatherings.

Trends come and go, but a new Houzz report has unveiled all the ways current home design trends are evolving with the seasons rather than fading into obscurity or becoming dated.

Houzz interviewed nearly 50 home design professionals to determine emerging home design ideas for its 2026 U.S. Fall Design Trends Report. One common goal unites every trend this fall: creating rooms that celebrate the personalities of those who live in it.

These are Houzz's top design trends for fall 2026.

Warmth has become the new standard
One thing that's for certain: homeowners have officially done away with stark white and gray interiors. Warm color palettes first emerged as a design trend in late 2023, and now these inviting tones have transcended trendiness to become the "new baseline."

Homeowners and decorators aren't just making simple swaps, either. They're taking a holistic approach by "layering warm wood tones, earthy colors, multiple textures, and natural materials" throughout the home. This gives rooms "more depth and personality" than the previously in-style monotone interiors, Houzz said.

Bringing back personalization
Houzz predicted minimalist spaces would be on the way out in 2025, and they were correct. The golden era of minimalism has come to an end. Homeowners are instead creating true lived-in looks that blend "character, history, and personal storytelling" over spaces that look like they were plucked straight out of a magazine.

Examples include introducing vintage pieces into a modern space and mixing bold colors, patterns, and textures. Even the simplest accent choices can transform a room into something that feels "thoughtfully assembled over time," the report said.

2026 Houzz Fall Design Trends Report, character and personality matter more than perfection Home design enthusiasts are now prioritizing character and personality over perfection.Photo courtesy of Lavish

Photo by Teal Thomsen for Canyon Collected Design

Warm-toned spaces are very inviting for fall gatherings.

Other than vintage items, homeowners can add a sense of authenticity to their homes through "materials and details that carry a sense of history" like handmade tile, natural stone, aged metals, and original architectural elements.

This also means letting go of the idea of a home's "resale value" in favor of a personal sanctuary, according to the report.

"Pros describe clients asking for homes that feel deeply personal, whether it’s the layouts and materials they choose or the objects they display," Houzz said. "That shift is also giving homeowners more confidence to make individual choices, including unusual tile patterns, expressive wallpaper, distinctive furnishings and colors they love."

Embracing natural materials
Wood cabinets or stone countertops might be the first things that spring to mind under this umbrella, but we're diving deeper than that. Stone furniture pieces, like marble end tables, river stone sinks, and travertine coffee tables are rising in popularity, as are wood light fixtures and wood paneling.

"Pros are seeing more appreciation for the variation, texture, and imperfections that make natural materials feel authentic," the report said. "Handmade and high-variation tile, honed and leathered stone, plaster, and warm wood all contribute to a more tactile look."

Preparing for long-term livability
A separate Houzz report found two thirds of homeowners are planning to stay in their homes for more than a decade, if not longer, and less than half say they are currently living in their "forever home." As the cost of homeownership in Dallas rises, more residents are choosing to live in their current spaces longer, which means eventually renovating to accommodate for the future.

Besides adapting a home for aging in place, design professionals are seeing an uptick in popularity for other amenities to "make a home comfortable to navigate at any stage of life."

"ADUs and secondary suites are being designed to accommodate multigenerational living, extended guest stays, rental income, and future family needs," the report said. "Meanwhile, dedicated wellness amenities like saunas, cold plunges, and meditation spaces offer new ways for a home to support evolving well-being routines."

home design houzz design trends interior design home decor