If you’re lucky enough to have a patio, you probably want to get as much use out of it as possible. Any size patio can be a comfortable and stylish outdoor lounge, dining area, or game room that you can enjoy year-round if you put a little extra consideration into how you furnish and arrange it. The right patio decor ideas and landscaping can quickly transform an overrun (or neglected) backyard space into a special place to unwind.
Laying out an outdoor room can feel intimidating, but it becomes easier when you think of it as an extension of your home’s interior. Break up a large backyard space with multiple, smaller seating areas just as you would an open-concept living room, or pair a dining set with a cozy couch for a natural transition after dinner. Choosing patio decor, furniture, and lighting in colors and styles that coordinate with what you use indoors is another subtle way to make your outdoor space look pulled together.
We’re here to help you make that happen. Whether you have a tiny balcony or a sprawling backyard, our guide to creating a luxurious outdoor patio will help you take full advantage of warm weather and extend your outdoor hangs well into the cooler months. So read on for stylish patio decor ideas to try in your own spaces. Fresh air and fresh style ahead.
🏡Love looking at designer spaces for inspo? Us, too. Let’s obsess over them together.
SELECTIVE SEATING
For maximum functionality and comfort, choose multiple different kinds of seating so that everyone can have their seat of choice. Fighting over the favorite corner chair will be a thing of the past.
COLOR COORDINATED
A large patio can feel overwhelming to decorate intentionally. For a cohesive feel, opt for one color (or pattern) of upholstery fabric.
PRIME VIEW
If you have a sprawling and beautiful view, odd are you want to look at it all the time. Situate your patio furniture to have your most comfortable pieces face nature.
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SECRET GARDEN
Rather than feeling cramped and claustrophobic, lean into the tall walls of a garden-level patio to create a cozy and private outdoor oasis.
SIMPLY PERFECT
A large patio doesn’t have to include multiple seating areas and large furniture pieces. Instead, focus on what you want to use the space for, like casual meals at a streamlined dining set.
GREEN ROOMS
Whether it’s a wide-open yard or an airy city balcony, use trailing vines and fast-growing shrubs to create privacy and designate patio zones.
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COZY EXTENSION
In this bedroom-adjacent patio, plush armchairs surrounding a fire-pit make the transition from playtime to bedtime easy as can be.
Kate Abt8MULTI-MATERIAL
Kate Abt created several different zones in her backyard patio, including a dining area by the grill and a sitting lounge with a firepit. The brick area speaks to the exterior brick facade of the home while the larger stone tiles help to break things up and offer a more contemporary vibe.
COZY HARDSCAPE
When working with you on a hardscape backyard space, it’s important to find ways to warm it up. A built-in bench with bright green cushions and striped throw pillows make this patio designed by Lindsay Rhodes feel inviting and cozy.
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Tamsin Johnson Interiors10MULTI-LEVEL LOUNGE
Don’t forget to think about your patio from every perspective. Designer Tamsin Johnson gave her tiered patios and balconies the same foundation of white and green-gray stone tiles for a consistent look from above. Modern patio furnishings contrast with the classic checkerboard pattern.
Trevor Tondro11PLANTED HAVEN
Don’t forget the potted plants! Designer Madeline Stuart gave the backyard of this SoCal home by architects Wallace Neff and John Byers a dreamy garden oasis feel with antique accent lighting and plenty of bougainvillea. To warm up the patio even further, she added an area rug and opted for chocolate brown cushions.
