When Fredi and Helena from Tabasalu decided to renovate their terrace, they faced a common challenge: creating enough comfortable seating for their frequent pancake mornings and sauna evenings with friends. Fortunately, IKEA interior designer Caroli had many ideas on how to create a terrace for spending quality time with a bunch of people – almost every season.
Before – gets the job done, but could be so much more
The terrace, decorated only by Christmas lights and a single wall lamp, needed a remake to become the year-round gathering space Helena and Fredi envisioned. They wished the terrace to be cozier and more inviting, and maybe even bigger. And with a roof!For our interior designer Caroli, one of the biggest challenges was the narrow space and the many functions it had to fill – a dining, relaxation and cooking area. There were also two doors on the terrace tthat could not be blocked by furniture.
"And I wanted to create an outdoor space where dining in October feels as natural as July’s barbecue," says Caroli.
After – cozy and inviting
First of all, Caroli swapped the places of the relaxation and dining areas, so that the terrace has more space to move around. In agreement with the family and because of safety, she moved the cooking area away from the house. One of the focal points of the new layout is the extendable VÄSMAN table which seats up to 8 people. And the terrace also has storage options – a KOLBJÖRN cabinet suitable for outdoors and a LAGASKÄR coffee table with storage. Curtains, lamps, green plants, and colorful pillows and throws add coziness and invite you to stay longer.
Set up a similar space
Furniture that adapts to your needs
For small terraces, our interior designer recommends foldable or stackable chairs and furniture on wheels that can be moved as needed. Lightweight yet weather-resistant outdoor furniture allows for quick rearrangement. And if one layout doesn't work, she recommends to be bold and experiment until you find the right one. It´s worth remembering that terrace design isn´t set in stone. Seasonal changes are natural: prefer an open layout in summer and cozily group furniture together in autumn.
Stylish and practical outdoor storage
An outdoor cabinet keeps grilling tools ready for impromptu meals, while the coffee table with built-in storage ensures that warm throws are always at hand when the couple decides that dinner tastes better outside, even at five degrees.„Fredi and Helena prefer light furniture. So for their terrace, I chose a white KOLBJÖRN cabinet suitable for outdoor conditions and a white LAGASKÄR coffee table with storage,“ says Caroli.
Relaxing area
In front of the terrace is a nice place to sunbathe or spend lazy days under a parasol. In cooler weather, you can snuggle up under a warm throw outside.
Designer tips for furnishing a cozy terrace
- Use different lighting solutions to create coziness – here, in addition to the wall lamp, I added solar-paneled light chains to the ceiling, mood lights above the dining table, and some candles and lanterns.
- Add plants – it doesn't matter whether they are real or artificial.
- Don't be afraid of colors!
What was done before?
In previous seasons, IKEA interior designers shared their tips on how to furnish odd spaces, adapt homes to changing life situations, and organise all belongings. We have organised kitchens, children’s rooms, and bedrooms, set up a home office in the living room, furnished a tiny one-room apartment, upgraded premises for family business, and so much more.Previous makeovers
You could use some help?
If you'd like to renovate your home without a big investment or major repairs, you can always ask our interior designers for help. With your input and home furnishing style preferences, whether it be traditional or modern, our professionals will help you navigate our wide range of products and create a complete furnishing solution for one or multiple rooms, or for your entire home.Interior design service