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Patio Decorating Ideas: Turn A Small Space Into Paradise

Decorating a small patio can be tough, but not if you have the right furniture and accessories. My patio just underwent an extreme makeover, and now, it better reflects my personal style. It’s my favourite place in the whole garden to chill and restore. Creating an outdoor room isn’t hard, but the benefits are well worth the decorating efforts. Here are some patio decoring tips I learned along the way.

patio decorating tips

Since my garden is still under construction, I spent a bit of time transforming the patio below my deck into an oasis I could enjoy while there was chaos everywhere else.

And I’m thrilled with how it turned out. It’s my new favourite place in the yard!

Many of the same rules around interior design also apply to patio decorating. You’ll quickly notice a theme here: I put a lot of stuff that’s meant for the indoors outside…and it elevated the space from patio to outdoor living room.

When you treat your backyard and patio as an extension of your living space, you’ll get an amazing retreat that I bet you’ll use more than your living room during the summer months.

Let’s get into the patio decorating ideas!

decorating patio ideas
I have an eclectic style, and I love how this modern sectional ties it all together.

Sponsored content: This post has been sponsored by Crescent Garden. They were lovely enough to send me home with an InOu sectional they had on display at the Northwest Flower & Garden Festival. I’ve long been a fan of Crescent Garden because they make THE best high-quality, sustainable garden containers and now, outdoor furniture!

Use the offer code GARDENTHERAPY15 to get 15% off Crescent Garden products. Offer expires December 31, 2024.

outdoor patio with sectional and artwork

Help the Environment, Find Sustainable Designs

One of my biggest pet peeves about outdoor furniture is its lifespan. Yes, the outdoors is much harsher on our outdoor furniture, but when you’re investing money into it, you want it to last.

Most of us know all about fast fashion, but few of us talk about fast furniture. The EPA estimates that over 12 million tons of furniture waste was generated in 2018, and only 0.33% of that was recycled. Yikes!!

A big goal of mine for my backyard and my overall methodology is to use second-hand items whenever possible. My hot tub was entirely second-hand and used recycled wood for the surrounding walls.

When it comes to my InOu sectional, I know this will last me for decades. I first heard of Crescent Garden 15 years ago when I got some of their pots. And I STILL have them! I’ve seen many terracotta, ceramic, plastic, and wood pots break down in that time and my Crescent Garden pots still look brand new.

Crescent Garden’s InOu sectional has a premium warranty. All their products are designed for continuous use and made of 100% recyclable materials so that the material’s lifecycle is far longer than what is commonly on the market.  

outdoor patio sectional
The teak legs are just stunning!

Find Your Central Furniture Piece

When you decorate a home in your house, you usually style the rest of the room around one piece of furniture, such as the couch, dining table, or bed. You want to do the exact same thing when patio decorating.

My InOu sectional is the showstopper of the patio, and it was what sparked the rest of the design. Originally, I had set it there in the winter while I designed and waited to build my deck and patio. It looked so good that I designed the whole space around it!

The sectional really takes the focus of the space. And that’s how it was designed. InOu (In/Out) looks so good, you can bring the furniture inside where it would be right at home.

I had a choice of colours and went with the parchment/linen colour combination with teak legs. There are other colours and leg finishes which you can see here. My sectional is a four-seater L-shaped sofa, and it’s actually modular, so I can move it around and pull it out into the yard if I’d like.

Being able to move it has actually been so helpful for me. My backyard is still in construction, and things are always changing. So, having flexible furniture has made my life much easier while I’m still planning.

But “linen?!” you say? “A light-coloured fabric for outdoors!?”

I have a cat, dog, and kiddo who immediately all jumped up on the furniture and made themselves comfortable.

Never fear, the cushions are Sunbrella fabric, which is the best of the best for withstanding the outdoor elements such as heat, humidity, and dirt. You can even remove the covers and wash them.

All in all, find the furniture that you just love, and the space will easily come together around it.

magic on patio
The sectional is cat, dog, and kid-friendly, thank goodness!

Tips for Decorating a Small Patio

These are the patio decorating ideas I used to transform a dark and unimpressive patio under the deck into an outdoor room with pride of place.

outdoor patio at night
The patio looks especially lovely during dusk.

Pillows and Blankets Are a Must!

Marketed for ‘indoor” pillows and blankets make my outdoor space feel luxurious. Outdoor throw pillows are great for standing up against the elements but are not nearly as cozy. Using decorative pillows with natural fabrics and textures brings the indoor feel outside.

This summer has been exceptionally warm, so I haven’t had to worry about rain so far. My space is also more protected under my deck. That being said, it’s easy to store the pillows inside when not in use or in a deck box.

pillows on outdoor sectional
Make sure the pillow covers are removable and easy to clean.

I wanted waterproof blankets that would be nice to lounge under after being in the hot tub without soaking the furniture so I purchased waterproof dog blankets! They are sherpa on one side and velvety on the other. Super comfy and cozy and nobody would ever know they are pet blankets.

blanket and outdoor patio
I store waterproof blankets in a wicker basket.

HANG REAL Artwork

Kiddo came home one day with a “treasure” he found on the side of the road. Bursting with excitement, he immediately shouted to me when he got home, “Look what I found! I can’t believe it was free.”

Kids. Gotta love them.

Thankfully, I had the perfect space for his masterpiece because artwork can also go outside (especially if you find it outside!) Some garden artwork, such as metal and wood, is meant to withstand the elements. But don’t shy away from other items that might not classically go outside.

The painting, entitled “the bottleneck,” is a depiction of a trail ride being stopped by a family of skunks. It’s faded and covered in water spots but a treasure nonetheless. It’s so funny and cute, and I had to hang it on the patio just for him.

outdoor patio with sectional and artwork
I actually quite like the faded pinky-blue hues of the cowboy painting in the space.

Keep in mind that the artwork will fade from the sunlight, and it should be sheltered from rain. Thankfully I’ve mounted it to the wall where it will be protected.

On the wall behind the hot tub there are two built in shelves that are meant for displaying artwork. I decorated them with a metal piece of painted art, candles, shells, and houseplants. It really makes the area homey and peaceful.

hot tub shelves and plant
This pothos looks good with how much it hangs down.

Add Rugs, Just NOt Outdoor Rugs

Like inside, a rug can really tie a whole space together. Textiles outside will make the space feel very inviting overall.

You can find outdoor rugs just about anywhere. The majority of the ones at big box stores are a plastic, weaved product with a generic pattern. They withstand weather, yes, but they look like plastic. Don’t get me wrong, I use those in other places, but for my covered space I opted for layering wool and cotton indoor rugs. Smaller rugs shake out easily and can be thrown in the washing machine to clean them.

using rugs for decorating patio outside
Layering a few smaller rugs for a cozy seating area.

Make Things Easy to Clean

One gust of wind, and suddenly, you have pinecones and leaves everywhere. And pollen. And dust.

What’s a gal to do?

My rugs, pillows, blankets, and sectional cushions are all washable, and I can easily pop them in the washing machine. Thankfully, the light-coloured sectional is also a dream to clean with just a cloth and some vinegar.

When I first got my InOu, I had the choice of the colour of the furniture/cushions in Shadow/Slate or Parchment/Linen. (I’m so over “millennial grey.” Remember my short term rental home?)

Then I brought it home and remembered I live with a black cat, scruffy dog, and ice cream-covered kiddo.

Yikes!

I thought I had made a HUGE mistake and that my sectional would never be clean again. Thank goodness, I was wrong.

InOu outdoor sectional parchment cushions
InOu in Parchment/Linen.

After those hooligans jumped all over the furniture for a few weeks and it stayed outdoors in the Vancouver winter, it was looking a bit shabby. I used my homemade vinegar cleaner and was flabbergasted by how quickly it cleaned up. I felt like I was in one of those viral cleaning videos. It was so satisfying.

The Sunbrella cushions can also be wiped clean. I’ve had the set outdoors now for 6 months and haven’t washed the cushions yet, just wiped them clean with a damp cloth.

InOu outdoor sectional with slate cushions
These are the slate colour cushions. You can choose which colour of cushions you want when ordering the sectional.

Add Plants, of Course!

You’re outside, so plants definitely need to make an appearance in your patio decorating. You can go for flowers and colourful containers, or something more simple as a single plant.

I went with the simple route with hostas and ferns, since I’m more of a perennial gal and my space is in the shade. I like the fact that I can change it up whenever I want.

decorating with hosta in container on patio
I planted this hosta in a 15-year old Crescent Garden pot. It just needs a spray with the hose to remove the soil and look brand new again.

Add Tables for Drinks

If you plan on entertaining or even just enjoying a morning coffee on your patio, you’ll want to ensure that you have somewhere to rest drinks.

I didn’t go with a coffee table, as I wanted the space open. Instead, I used a set of mismatched side tables. I can move them easily, depending on where people are sitting.

The side tables are made of outdoor-friendly acacia wood and can either nestle together or be set apart. I like how they reference the teak legs of the sectional and the wood of the deck.

wooden patio side table with vase on top
Outdoor side tables can be moved around as needed for entertaining.

Lighting IS the Mood

My patio space was dark under the deck, but it means I have lots of overhead space to hang lights. I went with the classic outdoor string lights, securing them to the top of my deck. You can get them quite long, though, hanging them across your entire yard from the house to a tree or shed.

These have a remote control and a timer, so I can set them to different brightness and turn them off after 4 or 6 hours. I chose wired lights over solar-powered ones for longevity, which paid off as they are a year old and still work like new.

They’re all I need to light up the space at night, but they’re also not too overwhelming. It’s the perfect mood-setter.

decorating patio with lights and sofa
String lights mounted under the deck for setting the mood.

I also have candles, of course. My essential homemade citronella candles to keep the mosquitoes away and tea lights all around.

My most recent lighting purchase was a set of electric candles, also on a timer and with a remote, that I have scattered around the space. I opted for this instead of outdoor light fixtures so I can set a warm glow at the flick of a switch when it’s dark out.

candle and sectional
This candle sits on the ground, and it adds so much ambience.

Add Vases and Other Accents

Don’t forget about the little touches when patio decorating. So often we leave our outdoor space bare, but you should decorate it just as much as you would inside.

decorating a small patio

One of my go-to ways to style a table is by adding a vase of flowers. Even just a small one featuring some current blooms from the garden is all you need.

I also have different wired candle holders, like this birdcage-inspired one, which looks good even when the candles aren’t lit.

bird cage candle holder
Put electric candles in hanging candle holders to make them easier to light.

A quick side note (which I hope you will read):

It’s a new day and age here in the world of writing about gardening. How we find art and information has completely changed since I started Garden Therapy in 2009. Much of what I’m working in 2024 wouldn’t be possible without sponsors, in particular, Crescent Garden. With their support I can keep creating beautiful projects, recipes, and articles on Garden Therapy. Read more about the changing world of gardening information due to AI here.

Exclusive Discount for Garden Therapy Readers

My friends over at Crescent Garden have extended their generosity to you as well.

Whether you want your own sectional or one of their self-watering planters, use the offer code GARDENTHERAPY15 to get 15% off Crescent Garden products. Offer expires on December 31, 2,024, and cannot be combined with other offers.

More Decorating Tips to Try

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