How to Create Outdoor Living Rooms

Eschewing the one-big-patio idea, Tim divided his 50x50-foot backyard—bookended by house and garage—into four outdoor rooms filled with amenities for relaxing or entertaining.

There's a dining area, with a shaded table for eight, just a few steps from the kitchen door. Opposite is a cozy seating area for two where Tim likes to read the Sunday paper. Tucked behind screening trees and close to the garage is a south-facing sunroom with a burbling fountain and chaise lounges that rotate easily to follow the sun. Opposite lies the main seating area, featuring a coffee table that moves aside to reveal a fire pit for cool nights.

Pictured: Slender hornbeam trees divide the yard into four equal spaces.