Designing Custom Outdoor Living Spaces for Charleston Homes

There’s something special about outdoor living here in Charleston. With our mild winters, long summers, and warm breezes well into the fall, our outdoor spaces naturally become part of how we gather and unwind. It’s no surprise, then, that custom outdoor living spaces are a top priority for many of our clients’ Charleston custom homes and outdoor home renovations. 

Below, our custom home designers share the process and planning tips we use with our clients to help bring outdoor spaces to life in a way that’s beautiful, functional, and built with your lifestyle in mind.

Defining Your Vision for Your Custom Outdoor Living Spaces

Before you start planning your outdoor home renovations, it’s important to set the foundation: purpose, inspiration, and style. These are some of the first considerations our custom home designers walk through with our clients to make sure their outdoor spaces support the everyday moments, gatherings, and experiences that matter most to them.

Think About How You’ll Use Your Outdoor Living Space

How do you see your outdoor space fitting into your life? Consider how you use it right now—maybe it’s where you enjoy evening drinks on the porch, or let the kids run wild in the backyard. But also think about what you want this space to be. Could it be a sun deck with a stunning ocean view, a custom pool house, or a backyard entertaining space? If you have multiple uses in mind, don’t worry: You don’t have to pick just one.

Start by listing your must-haves and share them with your custom home designer to make sure your priorities are covered. To help guide your outdoor design, consider these scenarios:

• Everyday Use: Will your routine include coffee on the porch in the morning, happy hour under the pavilion, or post-dinner cocktails by the fire?
• Casual Gatherings: How would you like to use your custom outdoor living space for football Saturdays, casual evenings with friends, or an impromptu movie night under the stars?
• Special Occasions: Hosting a dinner party or weekend visit with extended family? Make sure your outdoor design accommodates larger gatherings.
• Seasonal Considerations: As seasons change, would a fire pit or fireplace make the space cozier for fall? And when temperatures are at their highest, would some extra shade make your backyard space more comfortable?

Gather Inspiration and Explore Your Options

Think back to outdoor spaces you’ve loved. What made them memorable? Was it the convenience they brought to outdoor living, the comfort they offered from the summer heat, or even how the lighting changed the mood as the sun went down?

If you need fresh ideas, there’s no shortage of inspiration out there. A stroll through your favorite neighborhoods can spark ideas and help you spot what features other Charleston homeowners have included. And don’t forget to browse PRD’s portfolio to see how we’ve brought outdoor spaces to life in other Charleston custom homes.

Choose an Outdoor Design Style That Feels Like You

Once you’ve gathered your favorite ideas, start to think about common threads, such as color, palettes, materials, and different shapes.

Here are a couple things to keep in mind:

• Consider Your Home’s Architecture: Choose a style that complements your home’s design for harmony between your indoor and outdoor living spaces.
• Balance Beauty and Practicality: Some materials age beautifully, while others need more upkeep. Your custom home designers can help make sure you get the look you love without the maintenance you don’t.

For more help, check out An Interior Designer’s Guide to Defining Your Unique Design Style for interior design tips that apply to both interiors and outdoor spaces.

Creating Zones to Define Your Outdoor Design With Purpose

Great outdoor spaces are more than just a patio, they’re a series of thoughtful zones that serve different functions. Whether it’s an open-air kitchen, a cozy lounge, or a tucked-away shower, each area should feel distinct yet connected. To define different zones, consider:

• Using outdoor walls for structure and privacy.
• Varying floor materials, like tile for the kitchen and concrete for the lounge.
• Incorporating elevation changes, such as steps or sunken areas.
• Adding built-in structures like planters or furniture for natural separation.

Custom Features to Personalize Your Outdoor Living Space

Every great backyard has that feature everyone loves: the outdoor fireplace that keeps the conversation going late into the night, the open-air dining area that turns into a gathering spot, or the porch swing made for dreamy afternoons. Here are a few features our custom home designers have included in outdoor renovations and Charleston custom homes to fit our clients’ lifestyles: 

Outdoor Kitchens Built for Effortless Entertaining

If you love grilling under the stars or hosting brunch in the fresh air, an outdoor kitchen is a must-have addition to your custom outdoor living space. An outdoor kitchen makes it easy to cook, host, and stay part of the conversation—all without running back inside. This setup features a built-in grill, outdoor sink, extra storage space, and a mini fridge, all designed to keep prep and cleanup simple. 

TV Lounges Made for Game Days and Slow Sundays

An outdoor TV area brings all the comforts of your living room outside—perfect for game days, movie nights, or winding down with your favorite show. In this coastal-inspired home on Daniel Island, a covered porch creates a relaxed, all-weather space to gather, complete with a cozy sofa and wall-mounted screen.

Dining Areas for Al Fresco Meals

An outdoor dining space can completely change the rhythm of your home, inviting slow mornings, lingering dinners, and conversation that carries past sunset. In this oceanfront villa on Kiawah Island, a dining table sits on the upper-level porch overlooking the beach, creating a breezy, elevated setting where the sound of the waves becomes part of the experience.

Backyard Showers That Keep Messes Outside

Outdoor showers, like the one we included in this Splashpad Cabana in downtown Charleston, are one of the most practical features you can include in your custom outdoor living space. They’re perfect for rinsing off sandy feet and muddy paws, and if your space includes a pool or access to the ocean, you can wash away chlorine and saltwater without tracking it back inside. 

A Final Planning Tip: Don’t Overthink It. That’s What Your Custom Home Designers Are For.

If you don’t have every answer yet, that’s completely normal. Some choices will feel obvious right away, while others might take more time—and that’s exactly where we come in! We walk you through the options, suggest ideas you may not have considered, and make sure every decision supports the way you want to use your space.

Bringing Your Charleston Custom Home’s Outdoor Living Space to Life

Once you have a somewhat clear vision of what you’d like your outdoor space to look like, the next step is turning those ideas into something tangible. Explore PRD Custom Homes’ design and home renovation portfolio to see how other Charleston homeowners have transformed their outdoor living spaces—and imagine what’s possible in yours. When you’re ready, reach out to our custom home designers, and let’s create an outdoor living space you’ll enjoy for years to come.