From my experience designing outdoor spaces, there is one update that delivers a huge impact when it comes to transforming a backyard and that is adding a patio cover.
Today I am walking you through the possibilities for your own home and sharing images of beautiful covered patios that will instantly increase your use of the space.
1. Nature’s Charm
Your patio is already part of the outdoors, so I think it’s the perfect opportunity to really lean into the rustic beauty of nature. Even if the inside of your home doesn’t have a rustic aesthetic, it can look totally right outdoors.
You could start by using reclaimed and weathered wood for the decking, railing, and those gorgeous ceiling beams.
You could also use that same wood to line the underside of the roof. To me, using this kind of wood gives your patio an authentic rustic vibe and it’s durable enough to last for years outside.
Another idea I adore is using tin for the roof of your covered porch. I bet the sound it makes during a rainstorm is just so soothing.
To complete your rustic porch, you can bring in some durable furniture with wood frames, a handwoven jute rug, and some natural decor. A few plants will add a lovely pop of color to the space. And for lighting, some vintage lanterns can create the perfect glow.
2. Embrace Timeless Elegance
Using bricks to pave your backyard patio gives it such a classic look. If you happen to have a concrete patio already, you can buy thin bricks to install right over what you have. I love that it gives you a beautiful look that is also super low maintenance.
You’ll never have to worry about staining or painting them the way you do with wood. They’re also incredibly durable since they are made of stone or clay.
If you aren’t starting with a concrete base, you should buy stones that are thick enough to give them some longevity. I’ve found that thinner stones can sometimes sink and shift over time, which makes for a surface that isn’t perfectly flat.
You could also think about using more than one color of brick to get a variegated look. Using the colors randomly gives a scattered effect. Or, you could use colors that are distinctly different to create a pattern.
This works so well for designing a border around the edge of your patio.
3. Cozy and Stylish
You really don’t need a ton of space to have an enjoyable outdoor living area. A smaller patio is more budget-friendly and it’s easier to build an enclosed space out of it. The most straightforward option is to install a retractable awning or a shade sail.
These are simple and low profile, which is perfect for creating shade over a more compact patio.
The only issue with those covers is that they can look a little temporary. A permanent structure is going to look nicer and will blend in better with the rest of your home. A solid roof can be expensive, though. So, there’s a third option that combines both of these extremes.
A pergola roof with variegated metal or plastic sheeting looks permanent but is much more affordable. I especially like the plastic option because it allows filtered light to come through, which keeps your patio feeling light and bright!
4. Poolside Retreat
Having a pool in your backyard means you already have the perfect centerpiece for your patio. You could extend your favorite patio material from your house to wrap around the whole pool. You could even extend it out on the other side to give yourself an extra seating area.
I don’t think you need to build a covered deck for the entire pool and patio area. Instead, you can look at different backyard shade structures and find one that you can set up as a stand-alone feature.
It could be a simple slant roof with four supports. A more elaborate structure could even have sides and built-in benches, which is such a great idea. For more versatility, you could install a cover that has a high or vaulted ceiling.
Then you can add lighting and a ceiling fan. Now you can use your covered patio when it gets dark or when it gets super hot outside.
5. Warm and Inviting Fireplace Features
It seems like everyone has a fire pit in their backyard these days. You can take your outdoor space to the next level by installing a fireplace instead. This feature is usually only seen inside, so adding one to your patio gives it more of a living room feel, which I just love.
You can complete the look with a large outdoor area rug and some living room style outdoor furniture. If you can, splurge on pieces that have plenty of big, comfy cushions. A solid wood coffee table or end table is the final touch to give guests a place to set down their drinks.
To make your patio feel totally complete, you could add an outdoor kitchen. Then you could do all of your entertaining right outside, without ever having to leave your guests to go prepare food and drinks.
You can build a space for your grill, add a stovetop, and have a countertop for meal prep. And a drink fridge or an under the counter fridge is a convenient place to keep everything cold.
6. Embracing Contemporary Style
You can give your patio an update by adding some modern elements. I love how natural stone and greenery can turn a plain concrete patio into a sleek outdoor lounge spot. You can cover up that boring concrete with large stone tiles.
Slate is a really popular choice. Use some greenery to accent the space. Small hedges can work as a space divider. And rich wood looks so beautiful as a privacy fence. You could even designate a part of the wall as a living wall.
Place two or three lounge chairs in a sunny spot on your patio. This is just perfect for enjoying the outdoors during the warmer months. I would stick with furniture that has clean lines and not too much ornamentation.
Square angles are great for creating a crisp design. Then, you can arrange a seating area with a fireplace in another spot. This creates the perfect place for enjoying your backyard patio when the weather gets cooler.
7. Transform Your Backyard
Your backyard patio should really reflect your own personal style and lifestyle. Outdoor furniture is a lot like indoor furniture; it comes in so many different styles. A coastal home would benefit from a patio with furniture framed in teak wood.
Modern furniture might have sleek wood or metal frames. Iron furniture can give your patio a traditional look with lots of beautiful details. And woven furniture, like wicker or rattan, can give your patio either a classic or a tropical look.
You can style the rest of your patio to create an outdoor living area. Add some throw pillows to the seating. Put a potted plant in the center of the table. You can even lay a rug on the floor and hang artwork on the walls.
And don’t forget about high tech features, like surround sound speakers and a flat screen TV.
8. Enjoy the Outdoors in Comfort
There is nothing worse than trying to enjoy your backyard patio only to find yourself constantly swatting away mosquitoes and other bugs. Having a patio roof might protect you from the sun and rain, but it won’t do anything to stop the insects.
What you really need is a patio enclosure. It will give you that layer of protection you’ve been looking for.
Be sure to choose your screen carefully. Screens that have to cover a large space without any support need a heavier material. This gives your screen more stability. Also consider how much sun protection your screen provides. If you live in a really sunny place, you might need stronger protection.
Aluminum screening is lightweight and strong, but it has very little spring back. Fiberglass is perfect for blocking insects and is very durable. It’s also one of the most affordable materials out there. And vinyl coated polyester is good for blocking pests and protecting you from the sun.
9. Indulge in Luxury
You can create a feeling of luxury in your outdoor living space by using the same elements you would see in high end homes or resorts. The first thing is a vaulted ceiling. More affordable patio coverings are usually flat and just slope away from the house.
A vaulted ceiling will require a bigger investment and more extensive construction from a contractor. But the result is more vertical space, which is always a hallmark of expensive homes.
Next, you can furnish your outdoor patio with creature comforts. During the summer, you will definitely appreciate having a ceiling fan or two.
If you have the budget for it, you could take it a step further and have gentle misters installed to create a cooling effect. For the winter months, you should install a fireplace instead of a fire pit. This really elevates your patio and inspires a living room feeling in your outdoor space.
10. Enhance Your Back Porch
When your porch is located on the back of your house, you have an increased level of privacy. This makes it just ideal for turning into an outdoor hangout spot.
Instead of adding a big patio table or a lot of patio furniture, you could place games there. You could have a basketball toss game, foosball, or even an outdoor pool table.
You can save some space in one corner to set up a hot tub. It doesn’t need to be huge, but it should be big enough to hold a handful of people. This creates an entertaining outdoor spot that you can use all year round.
Finish the flooring with something that will look nice and be easy to take care of. Polished and sealed concrete is a smart choice. Tile is another durable option that will add to the aesthetic of your porch.
11. Creative and Budget-Friendly
You can give your pergola or patio covering a personal touch by adding some decorative elements. You could add string lights by hanging them around the perimeter or overhead.
Small fairy lights will give a pretty decorative glow, but probably not enough light to safely function. The large bulbed string lights are a perfect choice for creating enough light for entertaining.
You can create a wall for your outdoor structure by building a small water feature. A modern wall might have water cascading down it. A more traditional water feature would look more like a fountain, with streams of water pouring into a bowl.
You can get inspired by other people’s gazebo creations and then make them your own. You could encourage plants to grow around your structure for some natural shade. Or, you could mount long curtains on rails so that you can adjust them to create more or less privacy whenever you want.
12. Create an Inviting Outdoor Living Space
How you furnish your outdoor living space will really determine how often you use it. A simple table and chairs set is functional, but it might lack that element of interior design.
I always like to hang decor on the walls and plants from the roof, or you can put them in large pots. The pots look great placed around the perimeter or in a dead corner.
Wicker furniture is a super common outdoor furniture material. You can arrange your outdoor space just like you would your indoor living room. Arrange a sofa and one or two accent chairs. Then you can place a coffee table between the seating areas.
Finish the space off by adding lighting. Overhead lighting in a fan is common, but sometimes lacks style. String lights are really popular, but they could be seen as a little overdone. Hanging lanterns can give you the same lighting effect but will add a decorative element to your covered patio.
