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How to Design an Outdoor Space That Feels Like a Luxury Hotel Terrace

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Published
02/09/2025

When you sit at a five-star hotel terrace, don’t you just feel like you could stay there forever? Everything seems perfect, but effortless. The furniture is immaculately placed, the hidden lights cast a warm glow, and there’s this quiet sense of luxury that makes this entire space feel like a retreat.

And then you need to go home and the dream is over. But what if you could have a terrace like that at home? It could be even better because you won’t have to deal with strangers, crowded lobbies, and drinks that cost way too much even for a luxury hotel. All that space could be just for you to relax in, entertain your friends, and just enjoy being outside to the max.

You might think that this depends on expensive furniture and the perfect view, but it’s actually all about design. Let’s see how to level up your outdoor area.

Design Elements to Focus on

The key is in the details. You may have noticed that luxury hotels and high-end resorts all have this seamless flow between indoor and outdoor areas and they often use big sliding or folding glass doors that open up to make the living space feel and look bigger. You can get this same effect if you match the floor you have inside to what’s outside. If that’s not your taste, you can also choose a color scheme that blends these areas together.

You’ll need to think about materials, too. Hotels have natural stone, hardwood, and fabrics that are weather-resistant to make it look sophisticated and, of course, to make the design last. Stick to a neutral color palette like soft greys, warm earth tones, or classic monochrome for that timeless feel.

Privacy is just as important (if not more) than aesthetics. In resorts, you’ll see lush greenery, pergolas, and decorative screens, and you can do the same. Get tall plants, outdoor curtains, or partitions. Naturally, it shouldn’t be anything too basic, make sure that whatever you choose looks stylish.

If you want to go all out, consider adding a deck. Now, you may be thinking to yourself, “Do I really need to find a deck builder near me just to give my backyard a makeover?”. But a well-placed deck can make your backyard go from a random space outdoors to a retreat that looks and feels like a high-end resort. So getting a professional to both advise you on how and what to do and to do the actual project for you might just be the best option (unless you’re a well-versed handyman with loads of free time on your hands).

Key Features

Terraces in luxury hotels feel special because they’re designed to be comfortable, stylish, and every design feature is intentional.

There are a few key things that you can use to replicate this in your home.

1.    High-End Furniture and Intentional Layout

You won’t find a piece of furniture in a luxury hotel terrace that’s there to just look good or to just be comfortable. The furniture needs to work more than one job.

So, choose deep-cushioned lounge chairs, oversized sectionals, and cozy daybeds. All of these look luxurious, plus they’re comfortable and inviting. You’ll also need to think about how to arrange that furniture because the best outdoor spaces have areas dedicated to specific activities, like a spot for lounging, dining, and socializing.

2.    Ambient Lighting

This is one of the easiest ways to create a warm, inviting atmosphere. You’ll never see a single light source on a luxury terrace. Instead, you’ll see layers, like soft overhead lights, glowing lanterns, and hidden LED strips all working together to create a luxurious feel.

You can add small, built-in lights along a deck or pathway to make it seem high-end and polished. Just make sure to choose warm lighting because it feels relaxing and cozy. kind of like candlelight.

3.    Water and Fire Features

The sound of water is very soothing, so think about adding a little fountain or a waterfall. Many luxury hotels have water features to create a peaceful atmosphere and you can do that same thing at home. It can even be a small reflecting pool or trickling water wall, it will still do the trick.

Fire features work the same way, but in the opposite direction, which means their glow is warm, inviting, and cozy. A fire pit, an outdoor fireplace, or torches can do wonders, especially on cold winter nights. If you have water and fire combined, the effect is even better.

Conclusion

Living in a place that looks like a luxury hotel but without the other people seems ideal, right? There are many ways in which you can make the interior look like it belongs in a high-end resort, but for now, you know what to do with your backyard.

Building a deck will be the most work, and all the rest is just cosmetic upgrades that will be done pretty fast, and they don’t even have to cost too much.

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