Did you know that we spend about 90 percent of our time indoors? That’s ludicrous!
Getting outside is so important for both our mental and physical health. Now that the weather is warming up & the sun is finally reappearing, it’s time to get outside and soak up the rays (and some vitamin D!)
Simple patio designs are often the best in my opinion, because they create comfort and style in a way that lets you relax without feeling cluttered or exposed to the elements.
Let’s look at a few simple patio designs and color ideas to impress and inspire you!
Outdoor spaces can sometimes be muddled with earth neutrals like stone, grey, beige and more.
Adding a variety of colors around your patio or your yard adds visual interest and depth to the entire space. The question is what to add and how to get it right!
Colorful outdoor pillows and furniture merge the practical with the creative for a fun and inviting entertaining space (even if you’re just entertaining yourself and your family!).
Installing flower beds with various colorful plants and lush greenery adds elements of biophilic design. Every bit of well thought out design that you add to your outside area is a good investment. Whether you are adding soft furnishings, flower beds or structural elements, adding layers of color and design will add beauty to your space.
Art, sculptures, lights and other decorative elements are even more great ways to add more color to your patio design. Instead of having your patio blend into the outside world with only neutral & natural colors, make it an extension of your home’s design aesthetic.
Consider extending color schemes and themes into the patio space to really integrate the space with your home.
Outdoor spaces like yards and patios are great places to try your hand at some DIY paint projects. A lot of patio and outdoor furniture can sometimes sacrifice aesthetics to be more durable and stand up to the elements. That’s all fine and good, but it doesn’t mean that you can’t take matters into your own hands with some fresh DIY ideas.
Start with the outdoor furniture. Chairs, tables, tool sheds, mini fridges and whatever else you have out there can be improved with some color! Try adding accent colors to table legs or spray painting those plain white adirondack chairs to be a bit brighter.
Switching up pillow covers, seat cushions and tablecloths are all great options for getting color and pattern into your outdoor space.
A fun DIY activity for the family could be to paint rocks and stepping stones to decorate the patio as well. When it comes to your outdoor patio area, the world is your oyster. Let yourself be inspired to add color in creative ways!
Check out my work as an exterior paint color expert for more inspiration.
I already mentioned how plants and flowers can add rich colors to your patio space. Actually, they add much more than that!
Alongside pops of color and gorgeous, natural green, plants can create structure in a space that often lacks it. Many patios are open layouts that can seem unstructured and difficult for entertaining.
Furniture surely adds structure, but adding various plants, trees, bushes, shrubs, flower boxes and more is a bit more of a unique way to create structure in the space and add your personal flair!
The plants can form pseudo “walls” and “rooms” to separate a place for relaxation from a place to grill from the place where the dogs play. Plants also provide great shade from the sun, especially if you opt for taller options or for overhead trellis or lattice panels covered in vines for natural shading!
Pots and flower beds are another way to add color to the space as well. Try picking colors that complement the color of the plants you’re growing!
Whatever “flooring” you choose for your patio is going to be one of the main features and sources of color that you have.
Inside, the walls of the room are often one of the focal points for color with various options for wallpaper, interior paint color designs, etc. Many patios and outdoor spaces lack these walls, which puts more emphasis on decoration and what’s under your feet for color.
Common options for outdoor flooring options include:
Many of these can be made to look as natural as possible to blend into the outdoors. Or, you could opt for brighter options with designs like porcelain tile mosaics or wood-look options to add more visual interest to the patio area.
I hope some of these simple patio designs inspire you to give your outdoor area a bit of a boost! With summer right around the corner and it looking likely that many of us will be spending a lot of this season at home, this is the time to use simple patio designs to make a big impact.
If you’d like more advice or have any questions for a professional color consultant, don’t hesitate to contact me!
