1. Choose comfortable, durable furniture. Resin rattan is an excellent solution for outdoor furniture in Hong Kong. Unlike metal furniture, the resin rattan won't scorch you if the furniture has been left in the direct sun — as it often is during hot Hong Kong summers.

Choose fabric that will survive in your respective climate — I look for fabrics that will hold up in Hong Kong's humid and tepid climate.

2. Shade your space. This white pergola offers shade and protection from the sun's UV rays with Perspex panels. Outdoor blinds installed around the perimeter provide optimal privacy from neighbors and refuge from the heat. For a DIY option, drape fabric to create a colorful shaded spot for afternoon tea.

3. Double your cooking space. This outdoor kitchen has a complete setup for food service, with a wet bar, an outdoor cooking range and a beautiful outdoor dining room. I love to add in a little herb garden — what I call a bartender's garden — near the barbecue for fresh seasonings.

4. Consider a complete landscape. For those who have the space, a rooftop lawn is the ultimate urban outdoor luxury. Not only does it look beautiful, but it can actually improve your building's efficiency. Richard Cooke of Green Roof Asia says he always puts a drainage layer and filter fleece on the roof before installing a rooftop lawn. "Adding a lawn to your rooftop can act as a second waterproofing layer," he says. "A lawn reacts like a sponge, catching rain, and the absorption can actually help serve as an additional protective membrane between your roof and the interior below."

5. Add easy greenery with potted plants. If a full landscape isn't right for your outdoor space, keep your plant life manageable by adding potted plants to your rooftop, terrace or balcony. If every home in Hong Kong played their part and placed one plant outside or in a window, there would be 7.8 million additional plants to help keep our air clean.

If you're squeezed for space, consider vertical gardening. Trellises can help foliage grow into fantastic formations, and some modern metal trellises look great even when they're not covered in plants.

6. Make use of small, efficient water elements. A spa is a great place for decompressing and letting off some steam after a long day. In our hot summer months, a hot tub can also double as a cool plunge pool.

I also love to add a soothing, built-in fountain to a plunge pool. Smaller fountains and water features can help muffle out the sounds of the city and drown out the stresses of the day.

7. Look for easy outdoor lighting solutions. Lighting is often the most overlooked part of an exterior design. Outdoor lighting options can help highlight and feature beautiful foliage, and set just the right mood. If you're looking for something easy and ecofriendly, look for solar-powered solutions, since they don't require extensive electrical installations. For renters, string lights or a collection of paper lanterns to create ambience.

8. Create privacy without compromising style. In Hong Kong your nearest neighbor can be at arm's length. To enjoy a rooftop fully, you want to create privacy while still having an open feel. I love using live elements, such as planted bamboo or a trellis of vines, to cover up walls or create private spaces. Passionfruit, honeysuckle and firecracker vines are just a couple of my favorite climbers that do exceptionally well in Hong Kong.

9. Keep an eye out for outdoor entertainment opportunities. Rooftops in Hong Kong often have shared walls with neighboring buildings. One way to make great use of an exterior wall is to turn it into an outdoor projector screen — it's great for barbecues, game days or romantic movie nights.