Dreaming of wrapping your outdoor style seamlessly from indoors?
Homeowners pour their heart into designing the inside of their homes. They spend hours deliberating over paint colours, agonizing over furniture options, and stressing about their lighting choices.
Then they step outside…
And it looks like someone else’s house.
There’s hope though. Creating continuity between your indoor and outdoor style is simple and makes a massive difference for your home.
What you’ll learn:
- Why extending your indoor style outdoors is the #1 design trend
- How lighting makes or breaks your design flow
- Steps for taking your interior style outdoors
- What NOT to do when changing your outdoor look
Indoors Mirror Outdoors: Extend Your Design Style to Your Outdoor Space
Consider this your wake-up call.
If you haven’t started thinking about how your indoor style transitions outdoors, you’re missing out.
The latest survey of design experts says that 56% of respondents “expected unified indoor-outdoor design to be the biggest trend in outdoor living for 2025.”
What does that even mean?
When you take your interior design style outdoors, both spaces just feel better. Larger. Thoughtful. Curated.
It also creates continuity. Everyone who enters your home flows easily from the inside to the outside without skipping a beat.
“But Steve. What’s the big deal?”
Well…
Another survey found that 98% of design experts agreed that investing in updating your outdoor living spaces increased property values.
Meaning this trend isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
You can start tying your indoor and outdoor spaces together with one simple fix.
Outfitting your outside lighting fixtures to match the interior of your home.
Think things like globes for outdoor fixtures that mirror the indoor lamps in your home.
Lighting Makes the Design. (Your Outdoor Lighting, That Is.)
Take a minute to really look around the inside of your home.
What grabs your attention? Window treatments? Décor? Furniture?
For most people, it’s the lighting.
Lighting sets the mood. It anchors your décor style. It creates ambiance like nothing else.
Which is why outdoor lighting is having a major moment in the spotlight, pun intended.
Sure, you needed lights outside 10 years ago. But they were mostly functional. And everyone knew it.
Not anymore.
The outdoor lighting industry was valued at $15.22 billion in 2024 alone. Analysts project that number to jump to $23.8 billion by 2030.
And for good reason.
Homeowners are finally waking up to the fact that outdoor lighting deserves the same care and attention as their indoor fixtures.
That’s why savvy homeowners:
- Choose similar-style light fixtures.You got indoor globe lights? Get outdoor lamp post globes that match.
- Stick to the same finish.Brass table lamps indoors? Don’t shy away from brass outdoor fixtures.
- Use the same colour temperature.Are your indoor lights warm? Don’t confuse guests with cool-tone lighting outside.
Before you know it, your entire home will ooze style… and light.
Continuity, Simplified
Don’t forget about the big three.
Your indoor design style doesn’t magically stop at the front door. Everything you do inside should flow to everything you do outside.
From your colour palette to furniture style, make sure you’re creating cohesion throughout your entire home.
Colour: Décor experts predicted earthy colour tones would be big in 2024. And they’re right. For outdoor spaces anyways. Brown, green, and other earthy tones are the most popular exterior paint and décor colours right now. Create something similar indoors.
Fabrics + furniture: Your furniture style should go hand-in-hand with your indoor furniture. Love modern kitchen cabinets? Purchase outdoor furniture with similar clean lines and streamlined silhouettes.
Materials: Materials tell a story. High-end stainless steel appliances inside? Carry that stainless steel outdoors with your patio furniture and lighting fixtures.
If you’re feeling stuck on how to start, try focusing on your lighting first. Here’s why.
Light changes everything.
It really is the most important design element of a space. Plus, updating your outdoor lighting requires very little effort. Pick up some lamp post globes that match your indoor lighting and call it a day.
You’ve already made the first step towards extending your interior style outdoors. Now get to shopping!
Everything to Avoid When Extending Your Design Style Outdoors
Humans cannot resist lists. It’s impossible.
That’s why this list of don’ts exists to help you avoid some simple pitfalls.
When taking your interior design style outdoors, avoid:
- Mismatched scale.Just because you have a boatload of space on your deck doesn’t mean you need a king-size sofa. Keep the scale of your indoor furniture consistent with your outdoor furnishings.
- Desperate lighting choices.As mentioned before, your indoor and outdoor lighting should complement one another. Do not purchase superhero-themed lamp post globes for your front porch.
- Disconnected transition areas.Don’t forget about the space between the indoors and outdoors of your home. You can take small steps like coordinating your throw rugs with your patio furniture colours.
- Letting function trump form.Cooking supplies and lawn mowers are allowed to be ugly. Your patio furniture is not. Today’s outdoor furniture is just as stylish as indoor furniture AND resistant to the elements.
Final Thoughts on Bringing Your Interior Design Outside
Bringing your interior style outdoors is easy and makes a world of difference.
Not sure where to start? Try these simple tips.
Lighting should always be your number one priority. Swap out your current outdoor lamp shades for something that matches the indoors.
Next, focus on easily changed elements like décor, pillows, and curtains. You’d be surprised how far a little fabric can go.
Ready to tackle your outdoor space? Start slow. Pick one thing and change it.
Do you love your indoor lighting but hate your patio lights? Buy lamp post globes that match your indoor lighting and enjoy your upgraded outdoor space!
Don’t have indoor lighting you love? Time to start there.
Looking for more outdoor lighting ideas? Check out the Buying Guide for Lamp Post Globes.
Happy decorating!
