21 Patio Ideas for an Inviting Outdoor Space You'll Never Want to Leave

By Jessica Bennett
Updated April 08, 2020
Credit: David A Land
Just like interior rooms, patios benefit from seasonal spruce-ups, new furniture arrangements, and added accessories. Revamp your outdoor living space with these fresh patio ideas, including styling tips and DIY projects, to get it ready for the season. With these ideas, you can create an inviting patio you'll enjoy all summer long.
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Small Patio Ideas

Credit: Kimberly Gavin

You don't need an expansive backyard to create an attractive patio. With the right planning and pieces, even a small space can become an outdoor retreat. First, ensure privacy by choosing an area alongside your house or fence, or consider adding a trellis for a more secluded feel. Then furnish the patio space with a set of chairs and a table with an umbrella. If you're working with limited square footage, consider a bistro table set. Add an outdoor rug and mounted lanterns to amplify the cozy atmosphere.

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Patio Lighting Ideas

Credit: Edmund Barr Photography

Ensure you can continue enjoying your patio well past sunset with the right exterior lighting. String lights draped across a covered patio can help cozy up outdoor spaces after dark. Attach the lights securely so they stay up throughout the year.

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Outdoor Patio Bar

Credit: Matthew Benson

Add an outdoor bar to your backyard patio so you can spend warm summer evenings kicking back with a cool beverage. Although this patio idea might seem luxurious, you can easily put together a DIY version using cement blocks and wood boards. Add outdoor chairs or stools at counter-height and an umbrella to complete the setup.

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Add a Fire Feature

Credit: Ed Gohlich

Create a cozy gathering spot for friends and family by incorporating a fire pit into your patio design. Planter boxes filled with colorful succulents and cacti frame the seating area of this paver patio. Adirondack chairs with colorful pillows offer a spot to sit back and relax while roasting marshmallows.

Editor's Tip: Be sure to look up your city's regulations around fire pits before purchasing or installing.

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Patio Ideas for Unused Spaces

Credit: Bob Stefko

Convert underutilized areas in your landscape into welcoming patios. Add cozy appeal with handsome furnishings, vibrant fabrics, and beautifully planted containers. You can build a patio space anywhere you can create a floor from brick, flagstones, wood chips, or gravel.

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Create a Cozy Patio

Credit: Laurie Black

Everyone needs a solitary spot for sharing quiet conversation with a friend or kicking back with a good book. To create a purposeful patio, you just need a few cushy chairs and a table for resting drinks or books. Arrange these pieces in a lushly planted garden and add in a water feature for even more charm.

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Peaceful Patio Ideas

Credit: Peter Krumhardt

Patios should be retreats that offer a peaceful respite from everyday stress. Opt for neutral color palettes, spare furniture arrangements, and plentiful plantings to fashion serene scenes that match your relaxing and entertaining needs. Keep it low-maintenance by selecting weatherproof furniture and fabrics and cultivating a garden from easy-care container plantings.

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Elegant Patio Design

Credit: Dominique Vorillon

Upgrade your patio furnishings to give your outdoor space a more refined look. Here, a distinctive dining set combines glitzy chairs with a table crafted from a carved base and a glass top. To replicate the high-end look, hang a gilded mirror on an exterior wall or fence located near your patio, or paint wooden chairs with a decorative metallic finish.

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Patio Design Ideas

Consider your patio an outdoor room. It should feel just as homey and inviting as your home's interior. These patio design ideas will help you give your outdoor space interior-like appeal with tricks for furniture and amenities.

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Colorful Patio Decor

Credit: David A Land

A splash of color can instantly give your patio a personality boost. Consider painting wood furniture in a favorite hue to add contrast and energy to the space. For the best finish, be sure to choose primer and paint that are intended for exterior use.

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Stylish Patio Accessories

Credit: Ray Kachatorian

Amplify a patio's appeal and function by adding in stylish accessories. Accent tables with interesting shapes and patterned fabrics in bold colors can give your outdoor area a more finished, stylish look. Then layer in smaller items such as potted plants or flowers and decorative lanterns for added appeal.

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Small Gravel Patio

Credit: Kim Cornelison

You don't have to have a huge backyard to create a patio you love. Carve out a small corner by laying down DIY-friendly and affordable pea gravel. Install landscaping fabric first to prevent weeds and mud, then rake the material on top. Add a few chairs and a garden stool to complete your custom gravel patio.

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Patio Color Scheme

Credit: Emily Followill

Thinking about redesigning your patio? Take your color cue from your home's exterior to create a cohesive scheme. In this alfresco dining area, the white-ruffled slipcovers and umbrella mirror the color of the home's trim. These furnishings pull up to a rustic stone table that echoes the siding's earthen tone.

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Revive Patio Furniture

Credit: Mark Lohman

Grab a paintbrush and white paint to refresh worn or mismatched outdoor furniture. Before painting metal patio furniture, check for rust and treat any rusted areas before painting. A fresh coat of paint will make the pieces look like new.

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Outdoor Fabric Ideas

Credit: Bob Stefko

Outdoor textiles come in a wide array of colors, patterns, and styles. These durable fabrics are designed to endure both sunny and stormy days so they remain in good shape throughout the season. Choose your favorite fabric and use it to cover cushions, fashion throw pillows, or create patio-enclosing drapery panels.

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Fresh Patio Ideas

Credit: Kimberly Gavin

Use colorful blooms to brighten your patio space. For long-lasting, easy-care color, plant your garden with perennials that will show up year after year. In this patio area, a repurposed workbench functions as a potting station, so fresh blooms are always within arm's reach.

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Portable Patio Furniture

Credit: Tria Giovan

Versatility is key for your patio furniture arrangement. Consider choosing lightweight pieces that you can move from sun to shade or partner with other conversation groupings as needed. Other adaptable furnishings, such as benches or stools, can function as extra seating or a table for refreshments.

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Shaded Backyard Patio

Credit: Bob Stefko

Uncovered patios often suffer from too much sun. Consider cutting the sun's glare and improving comfort levels with freestanding or table-inset umbrellas. Choose ones that can be adjusted as the sun moves across the sky, and select umbrella fabrics that complement your patio's color scheme.

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Modern Patio Design Ideas

Credit: Paul Dyer

Spend more time outside enjoying the weather by including a few modern conveniences into your patio space. Move TV time from the couch to the outdoors by mounting a set on an exterior wall. To upgrade your patio even further, consider adding stereo speakers, an outdoor kitchen, or a fire pit.

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DIY Patio Furniture

Credit: Cameron Sadeghpour

A fresh look for your patio doesn't require splurging on new outdoor furniture. You can DIY your own using simple materials. Here, concrete blocks stack up as end tables and sofa, which feature provide storage caches for collections, reading materials, and extra picnic gear.

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Antique-Style Patio Ideas

Credit: Michae lPartenio

Antique garden furniture and accessories bring sophisticated substance to old and new patios alike. Look for garden relics at estate sales, flea markets, and antique shows specializing in vintage garden gear. Designed after French antiques, these reproduction pieces offer elegant European style, while supplying modern function on this stone-paved hilltop patio.

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By Jessica Bennett