Warmer weather will soon be upon us, and you know what that means: more time spent in the great outdoors (or, at least, the great backyard).
Your backyard patio can be an oasis of calm, the perfect place to retreat from your job, your neighbors, and any of your worries. The key is designing a space that you crave to see every single day.
Here are five of our favorite backyard patio ideas for creative people to make their own this summer.
1. Think About Patterns
When designing your patio, the first thing to think about is patterns.
The best place to start is by looking at your interior design style. This will help create a cohesive design style that flows inside out and back again. Are you sleek and contemporary? Laid-back and bohemian? Colorful and eclectic?
Think about the types of patterns you see in your own home. You don’t need to replicate them on your patio, but you can certainly draw on them for inspiration. A boho style, for example, would complement a fresh batik pattern.
You can use one pattern to make a big impact, or you can mix patterns to create more texture. Just make sure to change up the scale of the patterns so they don’t compete and check that the colors work together.
2. The More Greenery, the Better
From there, you can breathe some life into your patio with something you already have in abundance: greenery. Think potted plants, hanging planters, trailing vines, and even a green wall.
As with patterns, you’ll want to vary the texture of your plant life to achieve a more interesting design. If you live somewhere dry (or have a black thumb) get a variety of succulents. If you have grasses, vary it up with some potted trees or flowers.
Also, don’t forget to account for the whole experience. Fragrant flowers like lavender, jasmine, or gardenia make your patio look and smell like heaven on earth. Just make sure to accent those notes with something gentler.
And remember, be creative! If you don’t have much floor space for pots, transform your drab fence into a hanging garden with hanging planters. Use window boxes. Build a shelf or encourage some ivy to grow. You’re only limited by your imagination.
3. Get Lit
Of course, the patio has one critical disadvantage over the great indoors: lighting. Don’t forget to add lighting to your patio so that you can continue to enjoy it even when the sun goes down.
One of the easiest ways to set up whimsical lighting is with string lights. If you’ve already got an umbrella or a pergola, this is the perfect place to string up some lights.
If you don’t have a pergola, you can still enjoy the whimsy of string lights with a bit of creativity. You can set up a post with a planter as a base and hook your lights around the patio.
Keep in mind, however, that if your string lights have to be plugged in, you may be limited by the placement of plugs.
If you want double-duty light and warmth, there’s no time like the present to install a fire pit. It’s a beautiful design feature that adds a ton of functionality–light, warmth, and the perfect s’mores location. What’s not to love? Plus, it incorporates well into your dining area if you layout your patio the right way.
4. Get Creative with Seating
If you have a small patio, you’re going to have to get a bit creative with your seating options. Even if you don’t have a small patio, it’s smart to be inventive with seating so you can broaden your functional storage options.
A stool, for example, can easily become a small storage space. A big ottoman can don multiple hats as a footrest, table, and storage chest.
If you have a pool and need to hang towels before they drip all over the house, there’s a simple and functional solution: install some hooks by the door. That way, residents and guests can hang towels, hats, and more, keeping their stuff in one place while keeping your patio tidy.
5. Create a Bistro Nook (or Bar)
Last but not least, why not create a fun, functional, and beautiful dining area?
If you love to cook outside in the summertime, it’s well worth investing in an outdoor kitchen to maximize your outdoor joy. Go for more than just a grill–think about storage, entertaining zones, and the flow of traffic.
If you only have a bit of space, you can create a perfect nook to drink your coffee and read the paper with your dog. All you need is a table for two, some stools, and a bench for storage.
Alternately, you can make things a bit more fun for the adults by creating a small bar cart. This can be an actual bar shelf or just a cart with wheels–you’re only limited by your own creativity. That bench for your bistro nook can easily store your bar supplies.
Want More Backyard Patio Ideas?
If you’re looking for more backyard patio ideas to make your space uniquely your own, we’re here to offer the inspiration and practical advice to make your dream patio a reality.
Make sure to check out our blog for more great design tips and ideas, like this post on choosing the best patio storage bench or these reviews of our favorite patio heaters.