In a season of cost-cutting and "staycations," many Americans are taking a second look at their outdoor living area.

Whether you've got a sprawling yard, midsize patio or even a single balcony, you can create a great space for relaxing and entertaining, according to designers Mallory Mathison, Janine Carendi and Brian Patrick Flynn.

Sprucing up outdoor space doesn't have to cost much. Prices for new outdoor items are likely to be lower this summer than last year, and the flea market/yard sale circuit is full of treasures needing only minor rehabbing.

Some advice on making your outdoor living area gorgeous — and functional:

"Think of it as an outdoor room," Flynn said. "Just like a house has four walls, I like to visually create four walls outside, even if it's a small space."Construct a pergola or simple wood frame around your outdoor dining area, which will define the space without penning you in. It can be attached to your home or freestanding. Flynn suggested attaching curtains to the upper supports, adding drama to small spaces and breaking up larger ones.Plants also can define the space: "Row of plants create a privacy screen" while still keeping things airy, Flynn said.Choose potted plants that remain lush all summer,For flooring, Carendi suggests covering cement patios with decking tiles — available at home improvement stores and easily installed — for a more organic look. If you have a deck, Flynn suggests painting it the same color as your house. (If it's made of high-end wood, though, it might look best stained.)

For daytime, umbrellas do double-duty: blocking unwanted sun on blistering days and gathering warmth around your table on chillier ones. In urban townhouse gardens, Carendi said, they can also be angled to block an unappealing view.At night, these designers love adding a warm glow outdoors. Try using hurricane lanterns or hanging a candelabra filled with pillar candles (easy to suspend from the pergola Flynn recommends, or hung on an iron arm like a hanging plant).If you have an electrical outlet, hang strands of small lights — Carendi suggests using all white ones — or look for outdoor hanging fixtures that plug in.

The range of choices in outdoor furniture — especially compact pieces for small spaces — has increased in recent years, Carendi said. Her advice: Prices should be low this summer, so go for quality. You're seeking not just style, but also comfort and durability.Though it might seem unnecessary, buy plastic covers to keep outdoor furniture in good shape for years to come.Flynn and Mathison suggest combing flea markets for old wrought iron and rattan pieces. Add a fresh coat of spray paint, Flynn said, then "cover cushions with brand new outdoor fabric. You've got this one-of-a-kind, designer-looking set for pennies on the dollar."Mathison agrees. Spray painting, she said, "is so noncommittal. If you paint it lime green and then hate it, you can always do it again."Shops that spray paint cars might spray an entire set of outdoor furniture for as little as $30, she said, and the paint is durable.

These designers advise having fun with bold color outdoors. White or very light colors will show dirt and pollen quickly, so go for deeper shades.No need to match outdoor styles and colors with your home's indoor design. But Carendi recommends keeping all the small details (plastic dishware, napkins, upholstery fabrics) in coordinating colors. A random collection of mismatched colors and items, she said, can "make the yard look like a yard sale."Flynn's advice: Bring art outdoors by having a favorite image, perhaps a photo you've taken, made into a large outdoor banner — the weatherproof kind stores use for advertising a sale — to hang on an exterior wall.Other outdoor items that merge style and function: colorful planters and pottery, a pretty outdoor storage box for toys, candles, grilling accessories, etc., and an herb garden.