In Home by Ellen DeGeneres (Grand Central Publishing, 2015), the comedian invites readers inside some of her residences, as well as those of her collaborators.

Among those profiled is Los Angeles design store owner Cameron Smith’s two-bedroom house, shown here. To supplement a small dining room, he seamlessly extended the indoors out with a dreamy deck for entertaining. Create a similar look by mixing living- room-like pieces such as a low-slung sofa that encourages guests to sit back and sink in and a weather-resistant table lamp for dinners at dusk. Vintage-style pottery adds a bohemian vibe, while a driftwood-and-stone mobile nods to our local landscape. The result? A welcoming outdoor oasis for eating, hosting, or just escaping.