Making a garden more of an outside room with atmosphere

[RockingMyFiftiesNot]

I'd like to make my garden a more Interesting space. Am ok with the flower beds as are and we have some nice furniture and I always plant up some pots. Visited a few friends' gardens over the last 10 days and seeing lots of photos on FB of what people have done with their gardens in the recent lovely weather. I've been inspired to do more with our garden eg we've bought an outside wall clock as it's practical and decorative - makes the patio more of an 'outside lounge', and I'm thinking of complementing the usual pots with a larger tub which will be more of a feature. Ongoing debate with DH as to whether we have room for a corner seating unit with coffee table. I don't think we'll go with that as might be too cluttererd. Some of the gardens are overly fussy for my taste (appreciate it's a very personal thing). I don't mind a few garden ornaments but don't want to fill every nook and cranny. We had some solar lights but they need replacing. Not sure if we will though as rarely warm enough to be outside after dark.
So am looking for ideas - what do you have in your garden which makes it more of an outside living space?

Before I posted here I did start to google and look at Pinterest but there was so much to wade through - so any pointers to good design sites would also be appreciated.

Thank you.

We built a patio at the end of the garden and purchased a corner sofa and full size dining table. It’s partially under a tree. We then lined the fence with bamboo trellis and made a further wall of just trellis to make a windbreak. So the sofa is enclosed on three sides, with a small bit of trellis on the fourth side. Makes it a bit room like. We have white lights along a couple of tree branches and along the fence. I’m about to purchase canvas to make a canopy over part of it, so if warm enough we can still be outside with a bit of rain. We have two big fake fur throws, I am very pleased with how it turned out.

I think that’s the only way to make it more lounge like, you basically need an enclosed/sheltered area with a sofa or dining set.

Plants are fantastic, we have too many as my husband is apparantly obsessed, and I’d recommend palms, they are large ever green and hardy and then you can dot around some flowering ones in the summer, like petunias or non stop begonias to brighten it up.

They are really disruptive to birds and moths and other nocturnal creatures in your garden, which you need to promote a healthy garden. And it seems a shame to do that if you aren't even using them.

I didn't know that - thank you, will avoid!

I also didn't know that and was going to buy some this week just to make the front of the house look nice. We don't need them though so won't bother. Thank you.

Fire pit? We have one and it kicks out lots of heat, so we have been sitting out after dark some nights.
Also currently sitting in my hanging chair in the sun. So cosy
I also like somewhere to nap in the garden.

We
Get a lot of sun all day on the back of house so we had a patio roof built off the back. We have a table and chairs, and lounge seating with coffee table. In winter we set up an outdoor movie screen and watched films with blankets and hot chocolate. Benefit is we can sit out there when it rains. We have a large ceiling fan for when it is hot. It’s much more useable now

I would make two seating areas in your scenario. Have main table on patio, and add two comfy chairs and coffee table at the bottom of garden for you both in the evening to save moving everything.

Hurricane lanterns for candles. 4 large ones dotted around create a nice amount of lighting when dark that it’s not lit up super bright, but everyone can see