These 20 Canadian Backyards Were Meant for Summer Entertaining

Consummate hosts should consider an L-shaped sofa. They’re perfect for holding a crowd. We love the small-scale cutie Jillian Harris brought to this gorgeous Vancouver home. The pile of pillows are a cozy touch.

A pool shouldn’t dominate a backyard. Case in point: this one right here, where a grassy portion suits the kids, the dog and the gardener in the family. Multiple spots to enjoy meals, drinks and relaxation were also incorporated in this knockout multi-use yard by Bryan and Sarah Baeumler.

Imagine if this backyard had a plastic table and chairs? It would feel totally off. That’s why Bryan and Sarah Baeumler chose low-slung contemporary sofas and a coffee table to match the chic feel that’s happening indoors. Even the hedge in the planter has been squared off to riff off this streamlined yard.

Lure guests outside with a stylish al fresco design. In this luxurious Vancouver home, the outdoor portion does that with this section that coolly transitions from the indoors. Interior stylist Wes Thurn purposely chose furniture and art pieces that don’t feel like a conventional patio set-up. Inconspicuous heaters mean everyone remains toasty into the night.

Unleash the inner hippie in you by creating a super casual sunken screening room. This idea works really well if you’ve got the outdoor real estate, like this lucky couple. PS: This is the way to go if you’ve got young kids and are debating between a pool or not. (The pool can wait; an outdoor screening of Toy Story cannot.)

Attention serious terrace types: this is for you! This ultimate dream home belongs to the McGillivrays, of course, and is dripping with covetable design ideas: the ceiling’s panelled wood, over-scale light fixture, space heaters to prolong the nights, outdoor TV and stone fireplace.

This eclectic meets modern farmhouse in B.C.

speaks to the homeowners’ love of the mid-century Palm Springs aesthetic. The fun continues outdoors, where juicy splashes of colour is a welcome change from the usual. The wooden theatre chairs are vintage, and the dog sculpture is made out of old fire extinguishers. The yellow door leads to a studio. Can you tell an artist lives here?

Summertime is so short! Make sure to have fun with your yard by choosing colourful, sunshine-y pieces. We are loving this youthful patio that, amazingly, is the outdoor space to a shipping container home.

Take a page from Sarah Richardson’s cottage and make sure each outdoor element is relaxing. We love the colour-coordinated roof deck off Sarah’s master bedroom. An awesome spot to take in the view.

Sarah Richardson’s cottage rental doesn’t skimp out on style or comfort. Check out the amazing transformation of this 1950s dwelling, including the outdoor spaces. This was once a dreary deck with unloved furniture. Sarah transformed it simply with a comfy sofa, two chairs, a coffee table and side tables. Now it’s a hot spot for soaking up rays.

Grass is so overrated, at least it is in this hardscaped design by deck master Paul Lafrance. The HGTV Canada backyard specialist cleverly mapped out zones for socializing outdoors well into the night. There’s a spot for the barbecue, dining and lounge areas, as well as a contemporary fire pit for post-dinner cocktails. Covered areas also mean rain won’t spoil the fun.

Plan your outdoor space exactly as you would the one indoors. That’s the takeaway tip from this inviting setup that features comfy seating to wile away the afternoon, as well as a two-way fireplace that acts as a divider between the dining and lounge areas.

Even the nicest decking can use a punchy rug. This navy damask carpet looks snazzy and demarcates one section of this deck designed by the Property Brothers. Durable outdoor carpets are everywhere this year, so there’s no excuse for a bare deck!

Got the lanterns, the cushions and extra blankets in a bin for when the temperatures dip? Check, check, check! No one wants to constantly pop back indoors while lazing away the afternoon with friends. Tour the rest of this dreamy lakeside backyard.

In this charming backyard design by HGTV Canada’s Paul Lafrance, a garden beautifully mimics the deck line. The varying heights in the yard mean guests aren’t constrained to the deck and can traipse on the grass to enjoy all your gardening efforts.

Here’s something to keep the kids highly entertained. Backyard Build’s Brian McCourt and Sarah Keenleyside designed this incredibly fun – and fancy – treehouse, which has a zipline and meditation room, for one lucky family. Built-in seating indoors and custom wallpaper make this structure not your average scrap-wood box in the trees.

A soothing blue, cream and brown colour palette is oh so very Nantucket on his dreamy deck. The cushy cubes are a smart option for extra seating when friends drop by, and double as a place to hold drinks – just add trays! And that daybed. Swoon.

Is there anything more romantic than gathering around a crackling outdoor fire with that special someone? (A rhetorical question, of course.) This lovely vacation home in Muskoka is made for entertaining as a couple or with friends. A pair of red muskoka chairs, a rug and a massive stone fireplace are stylish choices.

The ultimate entertaining oasis is right here in this swoon-worthy backyard overhaul. Count up those fun gathering spots! Hot tub, big pool, wide deck to hold a gang, lanai for those too-hot days and the list goes on…

This is Origami House – the remarkable house on Pender Island, B.C., designed by architect Tony Robins, and inspired by the Japanese art of paper folding. The dramatic structure features lots of sliding glass panels for indoor/outdoor living and views for miles. The outdoors is an entertainer’s dream, from the covered pool with low seating to the vast open spaces for milling around with a drink.