The Washington Post asked designers what items they use to elevate a simple deck or patio to true “outdoor room” status, and I was happy to share a few of my favorites!

“Designers often talk about the perfect “outdoor living room” — a deck or patio that combines the comfort and style of indoor decorating with the pleasure of relaxing outside. But what separates these outdoor entertaining spaces from more typically decorated backyards?

We’ve asked three interior designers — Brett Beldock of New York-based Brett Design Inc., Abbe Fenimore of Studio Ten25 in Dallas and Dan Mazzarini of the design firm BHDM — about what items they use to elevate a simple deck or patio to true “outdoor room” status.”

Images: Heather Hawkins