The sun is shining, birds are chirping, and high summer spirits are officially upon us - but your project's exterior may very well still be stuck in hibernation. 

Although the official start to summer is only a short while away, it is never too late for some exterior design ideas for this summer - and to consider how they relate to current and prospective changes in social interaction restrictions around the globe. 

Whether your project has just broken ground or you're doing some exterior renovation, here are some design ideas for your project exterior specifically for the summer of 2020.

Outdoor Seating & Dining

It's 2020, so all traditional restaurant and dining areas have had to be dramatically rethought in the midst of a global pandemic and social distancing requirements. It is, however, good reason to consider more intential outdoor eating areas or bars for your project. 

Of course, it might seem foolish to redesign a project solely around the current COVID-19 situation. But outdoors eating areas and bars actually do not have to be a permanent commitment.  There are plenty of free-standing options in different sizes, that come equipped with storage and prep space, and some even come on wheels.  All you need to do is consider how your project makes space for this type of adaptation on the fly.

Just remember - even the mere sight of an outdoor bar can put people in a more festive mood.  And we all could use some of that this year.

Vertical Gardening

Although vertical gardening isn't necessarily a new concept,  it's booming this year. 

Vertical gardening is a method for growing plants, flowers, and vegetables upwards, rather than outwards.  For those with smaller spaces, this method is a great way to add a slew of diverse plants in one area. Vertical gardens also contribute toward reducing the carbon footprint of a residential or commercial project, providing both aesthetic and environmental benefits.

Patterned Outdoor Tile

Outdoor patio tiles in patterns, vibrant colors, and shapes are ever-growing in popularity.  If you decide to go for this look, be aware of the cardinal sin of over-decoration.  If you want the tile to be the main attraction, neutral-colored furniture with solid-colored cushions will help keep the focus on the tile.

Experiential Spaces

Your project's outdoor space can involve much more than just conversational patio furniture.  The stay-at-home orders enacted across the globe have already begun to elicit a larger focus on how we as people utilize every space around us, because you might just be spending more time confined to certain space than you ever would have planned. 

In residential contexts, many homeowners are gravitating toward features they might have taken for granted before the global pandemic.  Outdoor designs in 2020 are already reflecting both homeowners' and developers' focus on the utilitarian purpose of every aspect of a project - for quarantine and beyond.

Trending Colors: Classic Blues

Blue never seems to go out of style, and it certainly hasn't this year.  While classic blue is certainly popular for interior decorating, its effect on a project can be quite different for outdoor design.  By nature, blue evokes a sense of peacefulness. 

Whether you pair it with vibrant greens, wood, stone, or neutral grays, it's hard to go wrong.  In fact, PPG Paints' Color of the Year for 2020 is Chinese Porcelain, a "deep, shaded, orchid blue with a violet undertone." Order a sample of Chinese Porcelain or learn more about it from PPG.

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