This Is the Summer of Outdoor Living Rooms, According to Interior Designer Jeremiah Brent

Over the last year (thanks in part to the COVID-19 pandemic), Yelp saw mentions of interior designers increase by 372 percent as homeowners made it a priority to upgrade their indoor living spaces. This year, it is all about the outdoors, with a serious increase in search terms related to everything al fresco — and interior designer and TV personality Jeremiah Brent helped back this up with upcoming trends you need to know.

Yelp, in collaboration with Brent, released their Top Backyard Trends for 2021 this week. And, according to the HGTV’s “Rock the Block” host, this summer is largely about outdoor living rooms, with items like fire table and patio heater searches at an all-time high.

“Over this past year, our outdoor spaces have truly become our haven,” Brent said in the press release. “Through a little bit of intentionality and connections to the right resources, there are so many beautiful ways to transform your backyard into a timeless escape for your family.”

Brent, who’s married to fellow interior designer Nate Berkus, is a huge advocate of bringing the outdoors in and the indoors out. “To create the feeling of a true outdoor living room, try carrying your indoor flooring out to your patio,” he suggested. Additionally, Brent mentioned that utilizing materials like jute and iron “can last both indoors and outdoors” and will help make your outdoor patio feel like your family’s outdoor living room. And it never hurts to add a patio heater and soft throw pillows for extra decor and coziness.

You can use the same strategy to bring the outdoors in, too. “I’m constantly outside foraging; cutting branches from the backyard and arranging them inside whether it’s in my own home or a client’s home on install day,” Brent revealed.

Need a little inspiration to get you started on your outdoor living room? Check out these 31 dreamy spaces.