Tiny Patio, Huge Potential: 47 Ideas to Make the Most of Your Small Outdoor Area.

Small outdoor spaces can be challenging to decorate, but there are numerous small patio ideas that can help you make the most of your limited outdoor area. With the right design, your patio can connect your indoor and outdoor living spaces seamlessly. The size of your patio is critical, and it should be treated as an outdoor room. For a petite patio, smaller bricks or river-run pebbles work better, while larger bluestone pavers are more suited to a grander outdoor space. String lights, sleek outdoor furniture, fire pits, and outdoor rugs can add a unique touch to your patio design. You’ll discover 47 small patio ideas that work well in both backyard and front yard settings in AD’s article.

1. Weather teak deck

A weathered teak deck offers a warm yet contemporary spin, notes Ani Khachatryan, principal and interior designer at Ani K Interiors in New York. Along with its stylish visuals, a weathered teak deck, or other flooring material, defines your outdoor space and creates an even surface for furniture.

2. Create privacy

For DIY patio privacy, especially in a metropolitan area where space is prized, adding decorative black metal screens and lots of greenery can up the secret garden factor while still achieving an airy outdoor pocket, according to Khachatryan.

3. Embrace the patio shape

A gazebo-like patio makes for a perfect outdoor area. Anne Hepfer, Toronto-based interior designer and author of MOOD, used this octagonal covered screen porch as a setting for a custom round dining table with a built-in lazy Susan. She then surrounded the dining spot with curved-back chairs, and added a round wicker pendant light. “The space is cohesive, cozy, and aligned with the architecture,” she says.

4. Create a sunroom feel

“The shaded patio, hidden behind oversized barn doors, provides extra space for spectators next to the family’s indoor badminton court,” says Christie Tyreus, architect and designer of Tyreus Design Studio in Sausalito, California. The space manages to feel like an extension of the home because of its complementary design, with the added benefit of shade via the stylish painted wood slats.

5. Extend a small bedroom

When confronted with a room adjoining a small patio space, try combining them! The covered patio design should have the same clean lines and wood tones that are used throughout the interior, Tyreus suggests.

6. Create a sound barrier

If your patio is in a noisy location, hamper the noise by incorporating plants or a water feature and creating a sound barrier, recommends David Charette, cofounder of Britto Charette in Miami. An outdoor speaker playing your favorite tunes can also phase out annoying racket.

7. Cozy rustic

Instead of fighting against the limitations of your patio size, try playing into it with a cozy rustic design. Certain styles readily lend themselves to small spaces, and with a rustic edge guests will end up feeling cozy instead of cramped!

8. Embrace lighting

Don’t forget that lighting extends the functionality of a small deck. “Whether you hang pendant lights or even a battery-operated exterior lighting, the glow can work equally well for morning coffee or an evening cocktail,” says Mark Cutler, cofounder of CutlerSchulze in Los Angeles. Light can dramatically alter the mood of a space, so adding proper lighting could leave you with a brand-new atmosphere.

9. Create a natural nook

Boxwood hedges make it simple to define an outdoor space without the need of inorganic elements. If you’re aiming for nature to stay at the forefront of your patio, consider putting plants to work.

10. Square firepit

“Paired with a square firepit, this small patio offers a clean, modern look that’s also fully functional,” says Joe Raboine, director of residential hardscapes at Belgard. Square firepits add a more buttoned-up look, as opposed to circular firepits, so they’re a perfect choice if your furniture taste skews modern.

11. Built-in benches

If you’re adding a wood deck to your patio space, adding a built-in wood bench will add a cohesive feeling and bring the space to a new level. “For a truly built-in feel, keep the decking and seating materials consistent,” Tyreus says.

12. Let plants hug the patio

An asymmetrical patio zigzags to create platforms like a designated dining area with a bistro set, or a place for a storage bench that doubles as a quiet spot.

13. Play up the elevation

Think outside the box to take advantage of breathtaking views on your property. While a small, steep yard can be hard to landscape, a little creativity goes a long way, advises Jamie Melton, owner of Laurel Crest Landscapes in Sylva, North Carolina, who devised a secluded firepit hideaway.

14. Fence in the front yard

Front yards used to be reserved for planting and not much else. But according to Kevin Lenhart, design director at Yardzen, an online landscape design service, as people spend more time at home, they’re using any and all of the outdoor space they have–including the front yard. “Requests for functional front yards are up 150% at Yardzen,” he says. “Small yards are included in this phenomenon, offering just as much function as larger spaces when designed with care.”

15. Avoid clutter

The best way to avoid a cramped patio is to be thoughtful about what really needs to be located on it. “Well-scaled items to match the proportions of a small space will always look appropriate,” says Summer Jensen, CEO and principal of Hawk + Co in Los Angeles. “When at all possible, I dislike seeing the back of a sofa so I look at the door openings and keep those paths clear of blocky elements. I’ll use two chairs with a side table or opposing conversational sofas to keep sight lines clear and welcoming.”

16. Make it a patio for two

“A patio can be designed for just two people,” Lichten notes. “Make the petite enclave cozy with two chairs and a table to put down your libation of choice.” Small size doesn’t have to be a limitation—setting up your space for just two people can help create a feeling of intimacy.

17. Carve out a BBQ spot

From portable suitcase BBQs to cube grills, there are plenty of compact barbecues to best suit your space. If cooking is a priority, a snazzy barbecue can even serve as a focal point for your patio.

18. Circular firepits

When space is particularly limited, a circular firepit can help fit more seating than a square firepit. Plus, it adds to an air of coziness by fueling the small patio with the ambience of togetherness.

19. Focus on styled decor

Tailor your outdoor decor to your personal style. Rather than rely on items that are more neutral, a kaleidoscopic palette heightens the personality of your space. When there’s not much room for small accents this is especially important.

20. Wow with an outdoor rug

Oftentimes making any big changes to an outdoor space comes with an equally big price tag, but the addition of an outdoor rug can level up any area—whether you want to cover existing hardscaping or just add a pop of color. A bright blue rug echoes the soothing aqua of the pool. “The client wanted a quiet, shaded outdoor room for napping, relaxing, and watching sports,” says architect Christopher Sanders of Sanders Architecture in Austin.

21. Define the patio with a trellis

“Small outdoor spaces provide ideal settings for more intimate spaces, like dining areas,” explains Tyreus. “Adding a trellis with heating elements and pendant lighting allows the space to be used throughout the evenings, even into the winter months.”

22. Hang a hammock

Even the smallest patio spaces often fit hammocks, but they’re no consolation prize. As anyone who’s ever taken a hammock nap, or spent an afternoon reading while wrapped up in one, hammocks are worth, well, much more than their weight in gold.

23. Decorate with plants

The best way to bring color into an outdoor space is with plants. Whichever plants you prefer, make sure you consider how much sunlight your space gets before selecting the blooms.

24. Create verticality with a bar table

A bar table and a few stools generally have a smaller footprint than your typical set of table and chairs, making them an ideal selection for a small patio. An added bonus is that their atypical height will make this space feel especially distinct from an indoor dining area.

25. Simplify with concrete

Low-maintenance and stylish? Yep. “For design consistency with modern interiors, you want a patio surface that doesn’t weather, so a solid surface material like concrete is a good choice,” Tyreus says.

26. Charm with bistro chairs

To make your space more flexible, employ folding bistro chairs as extra seating should unexpected guests join your backyard soiree. These helpers are especially useful on a small deck that may seem too crowded if you go crazy with too many permanent pieces.

27. Wrap around with steel cable railing

Bringing the illusion of less confinement, steel cable railing helps a small outdoor space feel less cavernous and add a modern flair. “We use steel cable railing systems when we want the railing to be less visible, less of a separation between spaces, and low-maintenance,” Tyreus says.

28. Employ mod elements

Midcentury-modern furnishings tend to have a lot of attitude, and a chiminea with a sleek design is absolutely perfect for making a stylish statement in an outdoor space without requiring a big footprint to accommodate.

29. Shade with an outside umbrella

Something about a classy umbrella can give any space a resort-like air. Beyond the mood-booster, an umbrella makes it easier to enjoy your patio no matter how strong the sun beams down.

30. Use tall plants for privacy

Slim tall plants can be used to add privacy to an outdoor area without making it feel cave-like, which you can sometimes run the risk of with man-made implements. If you live in a less nature-infused space, adding tall plants can also help the space feel refreshing. “The vertical planter and plant materials add life while creating visual separation between the outdoor patio on this penthouse condo from the neighboring office building,” Sanders says.

31. Built-in fireplace

“Elevate your own private urban retreat by creating smaller intentional zones dedicated to dining alfresco or lounging fireside with a glass of wine,” says Candace Rimes, designer director of Atlanta’s Fogarty Finger. “Be sure to layer in outdoor pillows and throws to achieve a luxurious feel and a seamless connection to the indoors.”

32. An oasis for one

“Especially in cities, where we’re often craving reminders of the natural world, potted plants and shrubs are an essential addition to any terrace or patio, even a small one,” says Ximena Rodriguez, principal and director of interior design of CetraRuddy in New York. “A little green can go a long way in creating a sense of exclusivity on a terrace.” Even if you don’t have enough space to place seating for a group, an outdoor patio can easily be dressed up to provide relaxation for one.

33. Channel a beach theme

Happily distressed furniture and a blue-and-white palette do wonders to unify a space and provide a casual atmosphere. Whether you’re on the waterfront or hours from a coast, channeling a beach theme can give an outdoor space a sense of direction.

34. Adorn with an arbor

When covered in vines and surrounded by plants, a simple wood arbor can infuse an outdoor space with a magical quality.

35. Grow bamboo

In a tight space that can’t accommodate privacy hedges or other typical greenery, growing bamboo can offer privacy and separation between the patio and nosy neighbors.

36. Insert feng shui elements

“This fantastic patio is located on the property flanked by water on one side and a vineyard on the other,” says architect Cathy Purple Cherry of Maryland-based Purple Cherry Architects. The cozy little three-step-down patio, which was mathematically proportioned to specific furniture, incorporates a contemporary gas firepit utilizing an abstract steel art piece as well as a recirculating water element spilling from a metal spout into a rock cistern, all tied together within the stone-walled space. The goal of this small patio design was to experience all five elements of feng shui.

37. Skip the hardscaping