How to Plan an Outdoor Living Space (and Avoid Costly Mistakes)

Most homeowners start an outdoor project by thinking about what they want to build – a patio, a deck, a firepit, maybe an outdoor kitchen.

But the people who design and build these spaces for a living start somewhere very different. They start by asking how you want to live in the space. “I basically explain to people that it’s going to be another room of their house – an outdoor room,” says Mike Schumacher, one of the senior sales consultants at Lowney’s Landscaping in Appleton WI.

By the end of this guide, you’ll understand the key decisions you need to make – in the right order – so your outdoor space works beautifully now and for years to come.

Step 1 – Start With the Right Mindset

Mike often begins by reframing how homeowners think about their backyard. “A lot of people think they’re just building a patio or a deck,” he said. “But really what you’re doing is adding another living space to your home. It’s just outdoors.”

Once you think of it as a room, the planning becomes more natural:

• Where will people sit?
• Where will they walk?
• Where will they eat?
• Where will they gather?

Your first action:
Write down why you want this space. Is it for entertaining? Quiet relaxation? Family time? Hosting holidays?

That purpose should guide every decision that follows.

Step 2 – Define How You’ll Actually Use the Space

This is where many projects go wrong. “Everybody has a really cool-looking space in mind,” Mike said. “But you have to stop and think about how you’re actually going to use it. That doesn’t come naturally.”

Ask yourself:

• Who will use this space?
• How often?
• How many people will typically be there?
• Do you cook outdoors?
• Do you want shade?
• Will kids or pets use the space?

Mike uses his own family as an example: “I come from a family of seven. If I have my brothers and sisters over, that’s 14 to 20 people. If that’s a normal thing for you, then the space needs to be bigger.”

Step 3 – Plan the Big Pieces First

Good planning always moves from the biggest, hardest-to-change items down to the details.

Decks & Pergolas

“We go through things in order,” Mike said. “First it’s decks and pergolas. Are you adding a deck? Are you changing it? What kind of decking? What kind of railing? How big does it need to be?”

“And do you need a patio or platform under the deck? Decks really should be raised about 14 to 16 inches so you get airflow underneath and you’re not burying the framing in the ground.” You should also remember that decks create a habitat for animals. It’s your decision whether that’s a good thing or a bad thing.

Patios & Base Surfaces

“Concrete is your least expensive, then stamped concrete, then pavers – that’s kind of how it goes. And stamped concrete and pavers are actually pretty close in price a lot of the time.”

A lot of people misunderstand patios and how functional they are. “Patios allow you to be lawn-level,” Mike said. That can matter if you play games and etc. Basically, they allow you to “use the yard a lot more,” Mike said.

Steps & Grade Changes

“Are you stepping down from the house? Is there a hill? Do you need walls? Those things matter more than people realize.”

Action at this stage:
Decide whether you need a deck, a patio, or both, and roughly how much space you’ll need.

Step 4 – Avoid These Costly Mistakes

Mistake #1 – Making the Space Too Small (especially the patio)

“People think the salesperson is just upselling them when we say make it bigger,” Mike said. “But then they save a few thousand dollars and regret it every time they try to use the space.”

“With new construction you see 10-by-10 or 12-by-12 patios. But you want different areas out there. To me, 350 to 450 square feet is already small.

“I’ve heard people complain their patio is too small. I’ve never heard anyone say their patio is too big.”

Mistake #2 – Getting the Firepit Wrong

“Some people put in a built-in firepit and barely use it. Others start with a portable one and wish they’d gone permanent,” Mike said.

“But if you do put one in, you need to plan the space. You don’t want to be moving tables and chairs every time you use it.”

One aspect to remember related to a built-in firepit is mosquitoes. If they are terrible back by the woods and you’re not going back there after dark, maybe a portable one makes more sense than a big built-in one, or maybe you need to ask about pest control services before you finalize that part of the plan.

Mistake #3 – Not Planning the Cooking Area

If you don’t plan where heat and smoke go, you can do real damage – sometimes literally. “People don’t think about where the grill is going until it’s too late. Then they’re melting siding or realizing they want a bigger setup.”

“Are you just using a Weber, or do you want a $2,000 grill with a surround? That changes the layout.”

Step 5 – Design Comes from People, Not Just Measurements

“We ask what makes people feel good,” Mike said. “Some people are very linear. If their house is square, they want the same angles. Other people want it more free-flowing, with curves.”

“How far from the house do you want the firepit? People think they want it far away until they realize how far it is from the bathroom or fridge. Or if you have little kids, you might not want it way back by the woods.”

“Some people want that camping feel, so they do want it far away. And the nice thing is it moves the 11 p.m. noise farther away too.”

Step 6 – Understand the Planning & Design Process

Every project goes through three stages:

1) Your own ideas – photos, links, wish lists
2) The consultation – where your ideas meet budgets and layouts
3) The design phase – for larger projects

The Lowney’s marketing director and his wife built a house a few years ago, and at their first meeting with their home consultant, he his wife magically pulled out a binder full of plans, colors, layouts, etc. – primarily magazine clippings. He didn’t know she had been saving these for decades.

A lot of people plan these kinds of steps for years, whether that’s a new-home build or a significant outdoor living space improvement. If you are that kind of person, don’t be afraid to let your landscaping company know that you want to be actively involved. See the video of Holly on this Outdoor Living page; she’s a great example of somebody who stayed involved. 

Then you will be excited and confident to meet with the consultant – yeah, that’s a fancy word for salesperson – and start turning your ideas into a real plan. “If it’s a bigger project, it goes into design. That usually takes three to five weeks because it’s complicated. Plants, drainage, lighting, electricity – it all has to work together,” Mike said, adding that it’s important to understand “that part doesn’t start until you sign, because it’s expensive and time-consuming work.”

Step 7 – Plan Your Timeline Realistically

“People call in May and want it done by July,” Mike said. “That’s just not how it works.”

“Even if you’re ready, if you’re not signed, you’re not on the schedule. And once you are, you’re usually looking at two, three, sometimes four months.”

“If you plan in winter – January or February – you usually get more attention and things move faster.”

Step 8 – Build a Master Plan

This is the step that saves the most money. “We do patios where we pour footings for a pergola that won’t go in for a year or two,” Mike said. “But when the time comes, everything’s ready.

“People put in a lawn, then later we cut it out for shrubs, then later we drive across it to put in a patio, then re-sod it. That’s thousands of dollars that didn’t need to be spent.”

“If you think you might want lighting, a TV, or sound later, we can put conduit under the patio now instead of tearing things apart later.”

Step 9 – Think About the Life You’re Building

Are you planning to have kids? Are you close to retirement? That changes how you use the space.

“My backyard is my zen area. I go out there, turn on my music and lighting, sit with my TV, and it just makes me feel good. I look at it and internally smile. This area is mine.”

That’s what you’re really planning – not a patio, not a deck, but a place where life happens.

Your Planning Checklist

Before you move forward, make sure you’ve thought through:

✔ How you want to use the space
✔ How many people it needs to support
✔ Deck vs patio vs both
✔ Cooking, fire, and shade
✔ Budget range
✔ Timeline
✔ Future phases
✔ Utilities, lighting, and upgrades

The more clearly you answer these now, the better your outdoor space will be for decades to come.