How to Decorate a Garden Patio

Grouping odd-sized pots adds rustic charm.

Decorating garden patios is a chance to create a space that expands on and complements the inside of your home. Whether you have a plain concrete slab or a multilevel, rustic wooden deck, you can turn it into an oasis for your family and friends. Rhonda Mohrin at myinteriordecorator.com suggests that you choose a theme for your patio décor. Outdoor barbecue, beach and country are the three she favors most, but you can decorate a patio any way you choose. Decorating garden patios can be every bit as simple as enjoying them.

Things You'll Need

• Broom and dustpan
• Tape measure
• Tables
• Chairs
• Potted plants
• Outdoor rugs
• Lighting
• Fountain (optional)
• Awning or tilting umbrella

Instructions

1. Clean your garden patio space from top to bottom. Sweep the floor or deck, remove cobwebs and cut back any dead or intrusive greenery. A garden patio should complement and embrace a garden, not be invaded by one.

2. Take complete measurements of your garden patio: the width and depth; the width and height of any windows if there is a wall. The more complete your measurements, the easier it is to plan your patio.

3. Decide on a theme. "Garden" means different things to different people, and that definition can range from a rustic, wildflower-strewn deck to a miniature version of the gardens at Versailles. You don't want your garden patio to look like an amusement park, and very few people can mix New England-style nautical items with Caribbean colors without it looking like a shipwreck.

4. Section the patio off into different areas according to how it will be used. Place an outdoor dining table and chairs closest to where the food will be prepared, and the cozy, outdoor conversation pit farthest away from---but in sight of---where the kids will be playing.

5. Place potted plants around the edges of the patio to crate privacy and reinforce the overall garden theme. Plain wooden benches with tall plants on top and shorter, bushier plants in front of them create privacy without blocking cool, evening breezes.

6. Bring the indoors outside. Weatherproof rugs and sophisticated lighting give a garden patio more of a permanent, homey feel than bare cement or wood decking, and the stark illumination of most standard outdoor lights.

7. Accessorize. Don't be afraid to hang dime-store artwork and scatter yard-sale knick-knacks about the patio. Tabletop fountains are a good option, since they offer the soothing sound of running water for very little money. The more attention to detail you give your garden patio, the more pleasure it will give you.

Tips & Warnings

• Install a retractable awning or tiltable patio umbrella on garden patios that only need shade during one part of the day.

• Avoid flowering plants like roses and honeysuckles that have thorns or attract bees.

References

• Creative Home Decorating: Patio Decorating Complements Both Your Home and Garden
• Who What When Where Why?: How to Decorate a Patio
• My Interior Decorator: Decorating the Deck and Patio

Resources

• About Patio Designs: Simple But Effective Patio Decorating Ideas