Terrace design: Ideas for your terrace

A terrace is a place of relaxation, a setting for social gatherings and at the same time a small oasis in your own home. The more stylish and coherent it is, the greater the feeling of wellbeing when you walk outside through the door. We give you valuable tips here on how to furnish your terrace beautifully, introduce you to several styles and explain what you have to pay attention to when designing your terrace. We help you transform your terrace into your ultimate relaxation zone in just a few steps!

Pay attention to these things when you set up your terrace

A comfortably furnished terrace can sometimes feel the same as the living room, while still being outdoors. So a few things should be considered when setting up. Don't forget that all the furnishings are in the open air and are therefore exposed to precipitation and sunlight. When designing terraces in Switzerland in particular, care must be taken in winter to ensure the furniture and plants can survive freezing temperatures and snow. Weatherproof outdoor lounges are usually the most suitable for the terrace, as they can withstand bad weather.

When you set up your terrace, also think about the purpose it will serve. Will it be used for grilling, eating or just relaxing? The orientation of the terrace is not insignificant here. Passionate sun worshipers can relax best on a deck chair on a south-facing terrace, while romantic dinners can be enjoyed outdoors on a west-facing terrace. An east-facing terrace, on the other hand, is perfect for early risers who want to enjoy the first rays of the day at breakfast.

4 ideas for terrace design: from modern to Mediterranean

We usually associated terraces with naturalness and a comfortable atmosphere. Comfortable seating and pretty plants or ponds create the feeling of a personal idyll that can serve as a small retreat from everyday life. You should first think of an overall concept for the furnishings so the terrace doesn’t look restless. In order to help you a little bit, we present four possible styles for designing your outdoor area. Get inspired!

1. Modern terrace design: linear and stylish

Straightforward, clear and unobtrusive - that is what characterises contemporary furnishings. This style is also carried over to modern terrace design. Balcony tiles made of granite or wood are combined with discreet, high-quality furniture that is easy to maintain. High-quality polyrattan has established itself here as a classic for modern outdoor furniture because it shines with its beautiful wicker pattern while also being robust and easy to care for.

Plants are used sparingly with the modern terrace style because the main focus should be on the architecture or the furnishings. Nevertheless, you can set nice green accents with a few specifically placed potted plants. With linear, rectangular or round pools, water can also become a means of expression on a modern terrace.

2. Country house style: romantic terrace design

The rustic, nostalgic country house style is all about rural cosiness. Mainly natural materials such as wood and natural stone are used here. The furniture is mostly playful, but still massive. For example, a rustic wooden table can form the centre of the terrace in a country house style and serve as a gathering spot for social events.

Colourful flowers and herbs from the region should also be included! In addition to various aromatic garden herbs, native plants such as roses or lilac are particularly good. A modern country house style also works well with a little shabby chic. Everyday objects such as watering cans or small buckets can be used as decorative elements or flower pots and spread charming nostalgia and rural idyll.

3. Southern flair: furnish your terrace with a Mediterranean touch

If you want to get into the holiday mood while walking on the terrace, a terrace design in Mediterranean style is perfect! Warm colours and earth tones dominate here, expressed in wicker furniture and natural stone slabs.

With clear shapes and naturalness, rattan furniture matches the Mediterranean style ideally, but wooden furniture or bistro chairs also look good here. A rattan terrace lounge is weatherproof and the upholstery can be easily covered or put away in the event of capricious weather.

The whole thing can be tied together with modern terracotta plant pots for the terrace. Typical plants for the Mediterranean style include slender, cypress-like softwoods. You can achieve an extra portion of southern flair with lemon or orange trees, agaves or grape vines, as well as Mediterranean herbs such as rosemary or basil. Decorative colour highlights in red, orange or yellow make dreams of your last holiday on the Mediterranean come true every time you stay on the terrace!

4. Asian style: elegant harmony

The Asian style is characterized by simple design and clear shapes. Limit yourself to the essentials here in order to calm down and meditate. That means: Furniture with straight lines and expressive topiary. The flooring usually consists of simple wooden panels or gravel. You will not find any lush plant arrangements here, instead cut evergreen plants like bonsai or bamboo dominate.

As far as furniture is concerned, mostly wooden furniture is used, which provides warmth and spreads natural serenity. The terrace design is often based on Feng Shui and should therefore be particularly harmonious. Water is very important in Asian gardens and small water features or stone pools are a fixture in Asian terrace design. Bring Far Eastern calm to your outdoor area with this furnishing style!

Green terrace design: Ideas with plants

When you think of an outdoor area, you usually also think of plants. The possibilities for integrating plants on a terrace are extremely diverse, regardless of whether they are practical hedges, beautiful flower bushes or aromatic garden herbs such as parsley, chives or lemon balm. We give you a few valuable tips here for terrace gardening.

Terrace design with privacy protection using plants

Plants can be very useful on the terrace and can be used as a screen, for example. This has two advantages: The plants make the terrace livelier and greener and at the same time shield it from prying eyes. Hedges and shrubs are a good solution for this, but climbing plants or bamboo can also be used. But a little patience is usually necessary because it can take a while for the plants to grow tall enough to provide privacy.

If you don't want to put the plants directly in the ground, you can also plant them in large pots, which can also serve as privacy. But keep in mind that they may take up a lot of space, so the size of the terrace is always decisive.

Terrace gardening: hardy or not?

Of course, this question always arises in our latitudes: What happens to the plants in winter? After all, not all plants get along well in minus degrees, snow and ice. If you have the opportunity to overwinter the plants in the house, you can also opt for exotic plants such as palm trees or lemon trees. During the cold season, the plants can simply be moved into the house or greenhouse and can move outdoors again in spring.

Otherwise, you should choose specimens that survive the winter in this country, such as boxwood, ivy or cherry laurel. Since each plant deals with cold temperatures differently, it is important to find out in advance how the respective crop needs to be cared for. Then nothing will stand in the way of you having a green terrace!

Terrace design with water

Water is something very special as a design element on a terrace! A terrace with a pool is probably a dream for many, but a somewhat larger area is necessary for this. Water features, however, work best if they are used sparingly and specifically. Before you go to far, remember: A water basin with water lilies usually works better than a roaring, huge fountain.

However, this doesn’t mean that the gentle rippling of a fountain doesn’t have a calming effect - but a stylised, small feature is usually more pleasant and produces pleasant, natural background noises. Of course, you should also stay true to your design style and orient yourself on the size of the terrace.

Making a large terrace cosy

With the right measures, a large terrace can be made very atmospheric. It is the perfect place for expansive furniture, such as a comfortable terrace lounger with a large dining table or many comfortable chairs! Weatherproof outdoor lounges made of fabric in particular create a special feel-good atmosphere. You can organise convivial barbecues, game nights and have fun celebrations there. Since the upholstery is waterproof, the furniture can remain on the terrace all year round. If you want to set up your own relaxation area instead or in addition, you can relax deeply with a spacious deck chair or beach chair.

One tip is to use plants to delimit the area into several areas, such as a dining area, a relaxation area, etc. That way the outdoor area becomes the ultimate place to relax, where everything is possible - happy evenings in company or relaxing hours on the deck chair.

Terrace design for small terraces

With the right design, smaller terraces can also become cosy retreats. Large furniture would be overwhelming rather than relaxing. But with individual upholstered chairs and a compact coffee table, you can already create a small, atmospheric mini oasis. Outdoor bean bags are also great for smaller patios because they don’t take up much space and are comfortable at the same time.

Accessories complete the terrace, but should also not be too pompous; otherwise, the terrace will quickly appear overloaded. However, nice accents can be set with colourful pillows or lanterns. This classic adage applies here: Less is more!

Rooftop terrace design

Rooftop terraces are usually a little larger, so good planning is necessary to make the most of the space. Large-format plants and large lounge furniture are usually good here. Important: Definitely think about sun protection on the roof! A generous parasol is necessary to provide shade and to protect against UV radiation.

As you can see, decorating a terrace in style is not magic. We hope you've discovered a few ideas that have inspired you, and we hope you will enjoy designing and furnishing your terrace!

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