An outdoor living designer plans your backyard like an extra part of your home. Instead of thinking about a patio, a pool, or plants on their own, they design everything together, so your cooking, dining, relaxing, and swimming areas all connect and feel natural to use.

More and more Raleigh homeowners want to spend time outside, not just look at their yard through a window. They want a place to cook dinner, watch the game by the fire, or float in the pool on a hot afternoon.

That's where an outdoor living designer helps. Let's look at what they do and how to find the right one for your home.

Think of your backyard as outdoor rooms

A good outdoor living designer breaks your yard into “rooms,” just like the inside of your house. Each room has a purpose, and paths and plants tie them together.

• The kitchen
  • What it’s for: Cooking and serving
  • Common features: Grill, counters, storage, bar seating
• The dining room
  • What it’s for: Meals with family and friends
  • Common features: Patio, dining table, overhead cover, lighting
• The living room
  • What it’s for: Relaxing and talking
  • Common features: Lounge seating, fireplace or fire pit
• The water room
  • What it’s for: Swimming and cooling off
  • Common features: Pool, spa, tanning ledge, water features
• The garden
  • What it’s for: Beauty and privacy
  • Common features: Planting beds, trees, walkways

At Currin Outdoor Living, we design all of these spaces as one connected plan through our backyard design service.

What an outdoor living designer plans for you

Here's what a complete outdoor living design usually covers:

• Layout and flow: Where each space goes and how you move between them
• Hardscapes: Custom patios, walkways, steps, and retaining walls
• Cooking areas: Outdoor kitchens built for how you like to cook
• Fire features: Fireplaces and fire pits for warmth and atmosphere
• Water features: Custom pools and spas that fit the space
• Plants and greenery: Landscape design that softens hard surfaces and adds privacy
• Lighting: Soft lights that make the space safe and inviting at night

Outdoor living designer vs. hiring separate contractors

Some homeowners try to hire a separate company for the patio, the pool, and the plants. That can work, but it often leads to problems.

With separate contractors:

• Each company only thinks about its own part
• Styles and materials may not match
• You become the project manager
• Schedules can clash

With one outdoor living design team:

• One plan for the whole yard
• Materials and style that match from end to end
• One point of contact from start to finish
• Design, build, and care handled by the same people

Questions to ask before you hire an outdoor living designer

Not sure who to choose? These questions will help you compare teams:

1. Can I see your past work? Look for finished projects that match the style you like. You can browse ours in our portfolio.
2. Do you also build what you design? A design-build team keeps the plan and the build on the same page.
3. Will I see the design before it's built? Ask if they offer visuals, like 3D models, for bigger projects.
4. How do you keep me updated? Regular check-ins make a big difference.
5. Do you offer care after the build? Ongoing landscape maintenance protects your new space.

How Currin designs outdoor living spaces

Our work follows a clear path, from first call to final walkthrough:

• Design: We learn your goals, visit your home, and create a plan you approve before work begins.
• Build: Our team brings the plan to life with milestone updates along the way, through our pool building and landscape build services.
• Maintain: We help keep your new space healthy and looking its best.

You can see the full step-by-step path on our process page.

Ready to create your outdoor living space?

If you're looking for an outdoor living designer in Raleigh, Cary, Apex, Wake Forest, or nearby, we'd love to hear about your ideas. Contact Currin Outdoor Living to book your introductory call.

Frequently asked questions

What is an outdoor living designer?

An outdoor living designer plans your yard as a set of useful spaces, like kitchens, lounges, dining areas, and pools, all connected into one design. The goal is a backyard you can use every day. Learn more about our backyard design service.

Is an outdoor living designer the same as a landscape designer?

They overlap a lot. A landscape designer often focuses on plants, beds, and hardscapes. An outdoor living designer also plans kitchens, fire features, pools, and seating areas. At Currin, our landscape design and outdoor living teams work together on one plan.

Can I build my outdoor living space in phases?

Yes. Many homeowners start with a patio or kitchen and add a pool or fire feature later. The key is to design the whole yard first so each phase fits. Talk to our team about planning in phases.

What features should every outdoor living space have?

Most great spaces include a comfortable place to sit, good lighting, and some shade. From there, add what matches your life, like an outdoor kitchen for cooks or a fire pit for cozy nights.

How do I make my outdoor space usable in cooler months?

Fire features, covered areas, and good lighting help you enjoy your yard well into fall and winter. A fireplace or fire pit is one of the most popular ways to extend the season in Raleigh.

Can you add outdoor living features around my existing pool?

Yes. We often design patios, kitchens, fire features, and plantings around existing pools to make the whole area feel new. Explore our custom patio options to get started.

Where do you offer outdoor living design services?

We're based in Raleigh and serve homeowners across Wake County and the Triangle. Visit our service areas page to see the full list of towns we work in.