With the arrival of warmer days, holiday homes once again take center stage in the way we live. Not merely as a destination, but as an extension of a certain way of life: slower, more outdoors, and more connected to the place itself.
However, preparing a home for summer should not be understood as a one-off or merely decorative gesture. It is not simply about “tidying the garden” or adding furniture. Above all, it is about thinking of the outdoors as an integral part of the architecture, a space that must respond to climate, use, and the passage of time.
This is where many projects fail: by treating the outdoors as scenery rather than as a livable space.
Living the outdoors
Unlike permanent homes, where the interior dominates the experience, in holiday homes the outdoors takes centre stage. It is where meals linger, where evenings unfold, and where space takes on a different scale and rhythm.
But for that to happen, comfort cannot be left to chance.
In a climate like Portugal’s, marked by long summers and intense sun exposure, the quality of outdoor spaces depends largely on the ability to control heat. And that begins with simple yet structural decisions: creating shade, orienting spaces properly, and allowing air to circulate.
In this context, passive architecture remains the most effective tool. Strategies such as external shading, cross ventilation, and solar exposure control can significantly reduce the need for artificial cooling, making the space naturally more comfortable.
Read also: How to renovate a short-term rental property
The Importance of Shade
Among all the elements that shape an outdoor space, shade is perhaps the most underestimated and the most decisive.
It is not simply about protection from the sun, but about creating conditions that encourage people to stay. No matter how well designed a space may be, without shade it tends to be abandoned during the hottest hours of the day.
Shade can be architectural or natural, but it should be considered from the very beginning: pergolas, overhangs, deciduous trees, or even more technical elements such as brise-soleils can filter light and reduce heat gain. Solutions of this kind improve comfort and can significantly reduce the energy consumption associated with cooling.
Materials That Respond to the Climate
Another common mistake lies in choosing materials based solely on aesthetics. Outdoors, especially in a summer context, the thermal behaviour of materials becomes decisive.
Surfaces that are too dark or dense tend to absorb heat and release it throughout the day, making the space uncomfortable even by late afternoon. In contrast, lighter materials or those with greater reflective capacity help maintain more balanced temperatures.
Wood, for example, offers comfort to the touch and a more natural relationship with the space, but it requires maintenance. Stone, depending on its colour and finish, can be highly durable, although it is not always the most comfortable solution under intense sun exposure. Outdoor ceramics, on the other hand, now offer a strong balance between technical performance, durability, and aesthetic versatility.
Water, Freshness, and Proportion
In holiday homes, the presence of water often emerges as a response to the heat. Yet while swimming pools are highly desired, they should not be seen as the only solution.
In many cases, simpler interventions such as outdoor showers, small plunge pools, or reflecting pools can provide sufficient thermal comfort, with less construction impact and greater integration into the landscape.
Read also:: What you need to know before building a swimming pool in Portugal
What Remains Unseen: Ventilation and Orientation
There are fundamental aspects that are rarely visible, yet deeply determine comfort: ventilation and orientation.
Natural ventilation, when properly designed, allows air to circulate and accumulated heat to dissipate, reducing the need for mechanical solutions. The simple creation of airflow through opposing openings or the strategic positioning of elements can significantly transform the way a space is experienced.
Likewise, the orientation of outdoor spaces should take into account the path of the sun throughout the day. A mistake in this reading can completely compromise how the space is used.
Between Use and Permanence
There is also a question that is often overlooked: maintenance.
Holiday homes are not lived in continuously, and this demands more robust choices. Materials that are too delicate, solutions that depend on constant use, or spaces requiring frequent maintenance tend to deteriorate more quickly.
A good project anticipates that absence. It works with time, not against it.
Preparing a holiday home for summer is an opportunity to rethink how space is used and how architecture can respond more intelligently to the climate.
At a time when temperatures are rising and resources are becoming increasingly demanding, designing good outdoor spaces is no longer optional, it has become strategic.
If you own a holiday home, whether in the countryside or by the coast, and feel that you could do more with that space, perhaps this is the right moment to rethink it.