Gwyneth Paltrow's Montecito yard is the perfect balance of beautiful, social, and functional

Gwyneth Paltrow's Los Angeles home is no stranger to adoration from those in the interiors industry. Curated by esteemed designer Brigette Romanek, her 'forever home' epitomizes its cool Montecito zip code through a holistic style that nurtures the body and mind – and this encompasses the backyard.

The actress, best known for her roles in Iron Man and The Royal Tenenbaums, recently offered a glimpse of her sumptuous outdoor furniture and stylish backyard ideas as she cooked an al fresco veggie paella in her outdoor dining space. Though fleeting, the footage showed her backyard is as practical as it is peaceful – while offering ample room for socializing, naturally. 

The snapshot, seen below, shows two tan-hued sun loungers overlooking a soothing gray water feature. A lust-worthy circular outdoor dining table is seen in the foreground.

With loungers (and water feature ideas) to promote relaxation, a social dining space, and an outdoor kitchen – Gwyneth Paltrow's yard combines all we could want in an exterior. It's inevitable, therefore, to want to steal the look. Our best buys that echo the look are below.

Martin Waller, the founder of the international design brand Andrew Martin, recommends beginning with the outdoor dining table – and the importance of finding a design that looks good but provokes good conversation. 

Martin Waller

Martin Waller is the founder of the globally renowned design house Andrew Martin, and he remains at the heart of the brand to this day. The London-based designer has shaped furniture, fabric, and wallpaper trends through his experimentative designs – based on a variety of cultures. At the turn of the millennium, he published his bestselling design book Fusion Interiors (now available on Amazon). 

'The importance of curating a space to re-connect with friends and loved ones has been brought into focus over the past few years. Whether it's indoors or out, comfortable seating requires pieces big enough to lounge on, however many guests you are entertaining,' Martin says. 

The designer says that a combination of both sofas and chairs (much like Gwyneth's outdoor furniture) is key to making sure everyone gets a seat – while ensuring the space remains relaxing – even with lots of people. 'An array of outdoor cushions is essential for both comfort and providing additional seating when necessary,' Martin adds. 

Round Callanish Outdoor Dining Table – $2,895 on OKA

We love this dry pebble gray dining table that works just as well as a sculptural feature for your space as it will a dining table. The pedestal base also makes it more space-efficient – fitting more people around the table without the legs getting in the way.

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Beyond her dining space, the design experts at Juliettes Interiors draw attention to the more relaxing area of Gwyneth's yard around the sun loungers – or rather – the white umbrella above the sun loungers. 

'During the warmer months, incorporating an umbrella is an essential addition to escape the midday sun, so choose a chic and eye-catching design to elevate an outdoor space,' they say. And, in terms of entertaining – they add that an area isn't complete without a luxurious accent piece or two. 'Adding bold pops of color through colorful and curvaceous furniture is a great way to draw the eye to the space,' they add. 

Now, amid the first week of spring, there seems no better time to recreate Gwyneth Paltrow's multifunctional garden – whether you live in California or beyond.