How to Decorate a Modern Patio Porch

You can extend the decorating theme from an indoor room out to your patio.

Decorating your patio can be as much fun as decorating your home. With the growing popularity nowadays of outdoor rooms, the back patio has taken on a whole new dimension. It gives you a place where you can go at the end of the day and unwind in the great outdoors but without the hassle of having to leave home. Additionally, many of the items that you consider must-haves for your indoor decorating needs exist in forms suitable for outdoor use.

Things You'll Need

• Porch swing
• Wicker furniture
• Outdoor art
• Rug
• Fire pit
• Curtain

Instructions

1. Choose a color and decorating scheme. Just as you would consider these factors when decorating inside your home, you should give them some thought when decorating the spaces outside your home as well. This allows you to select items ahead of time, coordinate the outdoor furniture and combine spaces if you'd like to extend a room in your home -- a family room that opens to the outdoors, for example.

2. Create a variation on the couch and get a porch swing with an abundance of pillows. If you have a patio that's covered, you can hang the swing from the ceiling. If not, free-standing models are available.

3. Buy wicker furniture canvas upholstery for extra seating outside. The canvas upholstery will hold up better in the elements than some of the other types of materials you can get. It comes in a variety of colors as well.

4. Hang up outdoor art on the back wall of your home or on the back fence surrounding your yard. Nowadays, it's possible to find framed art suitable for hanging outside; it's been made of tougher materials to withstand the weather.

5. Create an enclosed space visually by investing in an outdoor rug and position your chairs and a coffee table around the rug just like you would indoors.

6. Invest in outdoor fire pit. There are many variations on this, from one that's built into the ground to the metal kind that sit above ground. This allows you to enjoy the warmth of a fire in your backyard. To bring a touch of romance to the space, fill the fire pit with candles instead of wood for a different look

7. Maintain some privacy by hanging up a curtain. Buy one that is suitable for the outdoors and hang it from the roof. As an added bonus in addition to privacy, you also get a sunscreen, which you can close if the sun become too hot or blinding at certain times of the day.

References

• The Decorating Diva: Outdoor Living Room
• Southern Living: Inspiring Outdoor Rooms
• House Beautiful: 32 Outdoor Room Design Ideas
• Rental Decorating Digest: Porch & Patio Decorating Ideas 

Resources

• Country Living: Stars, Stripes & Style
• Midwest Living: Great Outdoor Rooms