25 Ways to Transform Your Patio into a Private Nirvana (2024)

This sexy Hollywood Hills house, nestled discreetly on a hillside in Los Angeles’s historic Beachwood Canyon, knows how to take the party outside. A row of voluminous potted plants frames the terrace, which the owners made use of in lieu of an indoor dining moment. “The indoor dining space could fit only about seven comfortably, so we decided to just move it all outside,” explains homeowner Jonno Burden. With weather basically always permitting, Burden and his partner enjoy cramming as many friends as they can around their ATRA 16-person granite Atlas dining table.

Architect Ed Glenn sought to keep the architecture—and its backyard furnishings—quiet in the renovation of this historic Melbourne, Australia, house. Black butterfly chairs by Angelucci 20th Century sit out in the sun around an aboveground firepit that sets the sculptural stage for a cozy evening by firelight.

Who says a patio needs to be paved? This old-world Milanese home, carpeted with natural lawn and furnished with a comfortable Driade sofa, is the ultimate setting for a little rest and relaxation time. Don’t have space for a family-size pool? Opt for a small in-ground pond that can function as an ornamental water feature.

In some cases, living large means thinking small. Take, for instance, this backyard California porch, which is canopied by lush vegetation. All that’s needed is a place to sit (read: this powder-coated steel armchair) and a perch for whatever you’re drinking (read: this marble pedestal table). The only thing that’s more iconic than this early Frank Gehry residence is this level of relaxed cool.

Sometimes being horizontal is the only way to appreciate your courtyard view, whether or not you’re lucky enough to have a poolside dreamscape like at this Miami abode. A simple sculptural recliner can provide all the repose required after a long workday.

When deliberating seating arrangement options, there’s a common question designers are faced with: Do you want a seating space or a dining space? Why not opt for both, as did interior designer Nate Berkus in his Montauk, New York, backyard turned retreat. With an outdoor dining table in one area and inward-facing seating in another below the wooden pergola, dinner party guests have options when it comes to where to converse.

Creating a swoon-worthy alfresco experience doesn’t have to break the bank. In this coveted alcove, vintage dining furniture sits beneath an abundance of vining greenery in Reese Witherspoon’s Los Angeles terrace. Not only does the covered pergola offer a romantic feel, but it also negates the need for constant maintenance. We’d call that a win-win.

If your space is even partially covered, bring in textiles. While the surrounding patio elements of this Santa Monica, California, home might be weather resistant and thus, rigid, some soft upholstery and pillows can add texture and comfort to the space. For even more coziness, drape a few blankets across the chair arms. Your guests will thank you.

Whether you’re cooking inside or outside on the grill, summer dinners are best enjoyed in the great open air. Opt for furniture made of earthy elements like this quartzite table with a limestone sphere base in the loggia of a Dallas home. This isn’t your regular picnic on the blanket, that’s for sure.

The designer of this Palm Beach villa considers this green space an extension of the living room. “I simply reupholstered everything to make it feel new again,” Lori Deeds says. “Here, green is a neutral, and it goes well with anything.” For an easy update, re-cover your furniture with a new fabric and trim. Bonus points if you use the leftover fabric for matching pillows.

While your interior might be more formal (or not), your outdoor space can be an outlet for playful patterns and bold colors. Of course, fashion designer Betsy Johnson wasn’t afraid to do just that in her Malibu, California, escape. The lattice covering casts shade over a slew of patterned upholstery and throw pillows. And if you’re a truly committed maximalist like Johnson, bring in corresponding florals for even more color.

For evening gatherings, frame your roof deck with wooden planters, which offer much-needed greenery in an urban space as well as definition to a large outdoor space. On this TriBeCa rooftop, voluminous hedges provide both privacy and respite without obstructing a breathtaking city view.

Whether you’re lakeside or merely concrete-side, think about the way that guests will travel through your outdoor space and how they will experience it. If you’ve got great water views like this Wisconsin lake house, moving the furniture to be outward facing is almost a given. Maybe you’ve got a stellar garden moment going on along the fence: Move the chairs in its line of sight. Maybe you invested in a firepit or a small water fountain: Define the space around these moments of outdoor bravado.

No pergola, no problem. Rather than commissioning the build of a large pergola to cover an entire porch or terrace, chef Ina Garten’s version covers just a garden bench, carving out a shady spot in her otherwise sun-soaked yard. It’s positively Arcadian.

This Hamptons, New York, home patio is a breath of fresh air. With expansive green views all around, teak sofas and shapely chairs offer a front-row seat to requisite outdoor therapy.

Sometimes the space speaks for itself. The loggia of this 19th-century property in Panzano, Italy, boasts a sun-baked look that needs no further embellishment. Opt for small, simple furnishings that are on par with your backdrop.

If you’re fully invested in open-air living, take notes from the dining palapa of this Mexican oasis, which nods to its surrounding culture by using local materials. The thatched roof is made of dried palm leaves and the dining table was reimagined using several colors of floor paint.

Sometimes furnishings will play second fiddle to the surrounding vistas. A case in point is this luxe Lebanese pad, which overlooks the Mediterranean. In contrast to the house’s modern finishes, this wooden dining table and chairs add refreshing warmth and naturality.

Nothing amps up a space like an art moment. This black-and-white sculpture in the desert-modern Palm Springs house has personality in spades. Our favorite detail? The pool is lined in black granite so it functions like a mirror, reflecting the landscape around it.

Thoughtful lighting softens the glow and creates a cozy ambience in any outdoor space. We’re loving these large lanterns in designer Natalia Miyar’s Coral Gables, Florida, home, which turn this lush garden into an outdoor living room, even after the sun has gone down.