The Ultimate Guide to Denver Outdoor Living Spaces
Outdoor living areas in Denver are becoming increasingly popular as homeowners seek landscape design services to expand their spaces and enjoy the outdoors. The city’s unique topography provides breathtaking views that make outdoor spaces even more inviting.
Outdoor areas are perfect for hosting guests or simply relaxing in the sunshine. They also boost the value of your property by extending your living space.
Phase One Landscapes has a thorough understanding of Denver’s terrain and climate and has helped homeowners design personalized outdoor living spaces for over 30 years.
Our Denver landscape architects can transform your standard outdoor living space into an oasis for relaxing and entertaining visitors, all while increasing your home’s aesthetics and property value. Throughout the process, we keep your vision and needs as our first priority, delivering exactly what you envisioned.
Popular Outdoor Living Features in Denver
A myriad of options are available to utilize in your Denver outdoor living spaces. We’ll go over them with you during our initial on-site meeting. But for now, let’s discuss the most common features and popular design elements.
Patios
A well-crafted patio is the cornerstone of your outdoor space, perfect for dining, entertaining, or relaxing. Our patio designs use premium materials like natural Colorado flagstone or durable prefabricated pavers, ensuring a timeless look that enhances the functionality of your space, and increases your property value. Outdoor Kitchens
An outdoor kitchen in Denver is a great option because it makes a wonderful space for gathering and entertaining and is available all year round to enjoy the beautiful Mile High City weather. They are constructed to withstand Denver’s diverse climate, with permeable pavers and granite countertops, among other features, to guard against wind, snow, and sun. Decks
Decks offer a versatile outdoor space, from ground-level lounges to raised platforms with scenic views. They offer a terrific spot for entertainment or just to unwind in the sun. Our experienced landscape designers can help you integrate a useful deck into your home with creativity and functionality. Pergolas
If you’re creating a deck or patio in Denver, consider adding a pergola to protect against sun, hail, and wind. Pergolas make outdoor spaces more functional and durable.
You can also use portable awnings or table umbrellas, but we caution their use due to frequent strong winds. Fire Pits
A fire pit design creates a cozy focal point for gatherings. We install sleek gas fire tables or rustic stone fire pits. Whatever you choose, our master craftsmen guarantee flawless beauty and a cozy space to entertain. Outdoor Water Features
A water feature brings the calm of nature into any backyard oasis in Denver and can provide a focal point for your landscaping. The sound of water from a fountain can also be soothing, and the sight of fish can be eye-catching.
Something as simple as a wall fountain or waterfall, or even as elaborate as a koi pond, can enhance the overall design of your Denver outdoor living space.
Schedule a consultation to see our work and get inspired. Design Considerations for Denver Outdoor Spaces
One of the primary reasons homeowners choose Denver is the city’s varied climate. However, this also makes home design difficult because outdoor and indoor areas need to be specially designed to withstand diverse weather conditions.
Sun Exposure and Intense Heat
The city’s high altitude results in significant sun exposure and heat. As a result, appropriate shading using awnings, pergolas, or tall native planting is vital. These structures also protect furniture and other objects from afternoon hailstorms that occasionally hit the area.
Denver has snow and rain on occasion, so good drainage and weather-resistant materials should be added to outdoor structures.
Strong Winds
Every time the temperature changes, strong winds come in, causing damage to trees and plants and lightweight exterior features to blow away. Windbreaks and other wind-resistant materials may help protect against severe winds. Storm windows resistant to high winds are also an excellent choice.
Precipitation and Soil
Denver’s low rainfall and clay-heavy soils require proper drainage and plant selection. Our Denver landscape designers install drainage systems to prevent pooling and choose native plants like yucca or other drought-tolerant perennials suited to local conditions, reflecting our creativity.
Winter Extremes
Freeze-thaw cycles demand resilient materials. We use sealed natural stone for fire pits, porcelain tiles for patios, and composite decking for decks, ensuring low maintenance and lasting beauty, all tailored for Denver’s unique climate.
Our high-quality landscaping approach, backed by skilled craftsmen and premium materials, delivers outdoor living spaces built to enhance your home’s value and enjoyment.
See if Phase One Landscapes’ architecture services are right for you.
Creating a Seamless Indoor-Outdoor Flow
Every home provides a unique opportunity to blend indoor and outdoor spaces. Our Denver landscape architects recommend these tips to create a seamless, elegant, and functional indoor-outdoor connection.
Integrate Nature Into Your Interior
Bringing nature indoors creates a stronger connection to the outdoors. By balancing natural elements between your indoor and outdoor living spaces, it can feel like one seamless room rather than two separate areas.
Incorporating natural materials like wood, rattan, and bamboo into your furniture or decor instills a sense of closeness with nature.
Material Harmony for a Connected Living Experience
One way to connect your outdoor living space with the indoors is by using matching or complementary materials throughout both areas. This creates a seamless flow and a strong visual connection. When choosing materials, think of the two spaces as one, as you would with any room in your home.
Minimize Visual Barriers for Indoor-Outdoor Flow
Oversized entrances and windows provide more natural light into the space while also reducing visual obstacles. Your space feels significantly larger without any visual interruptions.
Flexible options for opening up space at different times of day include:
- Folding glass doors
- Huge pocket doors
- Giant sliding doors
- Huge windows, especially if access to the outdoors is limited
Maintenance and Care for Outdoor Living Spaces
Warmer Months
You can stay on top of cleaning during the sunny months and give everything a deep clean before the winter frost rolls in.
Sun exposure can discolor and degrade materials over time. Applying UV-protective coatings and installing umbrellas or shade structures can help keep your outdoor area cool and protected.
Chilly Months
On those rare warmer days throughout the winter, you can top it off with an extra clean. If you have wooden or metal surfaces in your outdoor spaces, now is the time to provide an extra layer of protection from the harsh, biting cold air.
Water can damage outdoor features during snowy or rainy days. To keep your space dry and mold and mildew-free, ensure it is properly waterproofed and has adequate drainage.
Windy Days
In Denver, the windiest months are typically March and April. Use wind-resistant materials and designs to ensure durability and comfort year-round. Also, secure your decorations and furniture to keep them from being damaged.
Temperature Extremes
Consider storing sensitive items indoors or using protective covers during harsh weather to keep everything in good condition during inclement weather.
We offer maintenance services to keep your space pristine, so you can enjoy it without the hassle. Our Denver landscape architects treat your project like our own, ensuring it remains a source of joy.
Bring Your Denver Outdoor Vision to Life
Thoughtful design and durable materials are essential for Denver’s outdoor living space. Features like patios, decks, outdoor kitchens, and fire pits must stand up to sun, wind, and seasonal temperature swings. With smart layout choices and climate-aware details, these spaces become year-round retreats that blend seamlessly with the city’s natural beauty.
Phase One Landscapes is your go-to for Denver landscape design services! From an inviting patio design, to a cozy fire pit, or any other outdoor living space, our Denver landscape architects can help craft your dreams. We founded our company in the 90s with a single goal: to build elegant outdoor spaces that give homeowners peace of mind and enjoyment. Our company combines deep local expertise with inspired design to craft exceptional custom outdoor spaces tailored to Denver’s unique climate and character.
Visit our website or call us to get a free quote and start crafting your stunning Denver outdoor living space now!
About Phase One Landscapes
Phase One Landscapes is a full-service landscape architecture and construction firm based in Denver, CO. With over 30 years of experience, the company specializes in designing and building custom outdoor living spaces that seamlessly blend elegance with functionality. From concept to completion, Phase One Landscapes delivers exceptional quality, personalized service, and award-winning craftsmanship for residential clients throughout the Denver metro area. Reach out today to request an appointment.