Home Outdoor Living 27 of the Most Creative Backyard Decorating Ideas These outdoor décor ideas will bring your space to the next level. By Martha Stewart Editors Martha Stewart Editors An article attributed to "Martha Stewart Editors" indicates when several writers and editors have contributed to an article over the years. These collaborations allow us to provide you with the most accurate, up-to-date, and comprehensive information available.The Martha Stewart team aims to teach and inspire readers daily with tested-until-perfected recipes, creative DIY projects, and elevated home and entertaining ideas. They are experts in their fields who research, create, and test the best ways to help readers design the life they want. The joy is in the doing. Editorial Guidelines Updated on April 19, 2023 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: KatarzynaBialasiewicz / GETTY IMAGES When the weather starts to warm up, there are few places we'd rather be than outside. But if your backyard isn’t spring and summer ready, you’re likely on the hunt for ways to spruce up your space. Ultimately, the best backyards are multifunctional, striking the perfect balance between visual appeal and convenience—after all, this is a place to gather with friends and family, so you want it to look beautiful and facilitate entertaining. Luckily, with the right outdoor décor ideas and tools, you can create a backyard that feels welcoming and relaxing. 18 Small Patio Ideas to Maximize Your Outdoor Space 01 of 27 Create Outdoor Seating for Two Pernille Loof It's nice to have a big table where groups can gather, but there's something equally appealing about creating quiet areas for smaller gatherings, too. Pockets of outdoor seating, either in the garden or by a pool, will serve as great conversation areas or spots where you can sneak away. 02 of 27 Add a Fire Pit Kimber Collective You don't need much space to enjoy a fire in your backyard. Invest in a fire pit, which allows you to sit around the warm flames with friends and family on cool spring or summer nights. "A fire feature can be used to bring personality and character into your own outdoor retreat," says Kerrie Kelly, creative director of Kerrie Kelly Design Lab. "There are so many different styles, colors, and finishes available, [so] the possibilities truly are endless." 03 of 27 Add an Umbrella HadelProductions / GETTY IMAGES Quickly provide structure and shade in your backyard with a few aesthetically pleasing umbrellas. "It works for the cafes and restaurants and it’ll work for your backyard," says Rebekah Zaveloff from KitchenLab Interiors. 04 of 27 Exterior Lighting GCShutter / GETTY IMAGES Lighting is one of the easiest and least expensive ways to cast an enchanting spell in your backyard. "Even the simplest of patio lighting ideas—such as a string of twinkle lights—can create an intimate, cozy feel that will invite guests to linger at the table," says Kelly. 05 of 27 Add a Cooking Space RossHelen / GETTY IMAGES Whether it's an outdoor grill or an entire kitchen, adding an outdoor cooking space is a great way to elevate your space. "When dining al fresco, we continue to see a blurring of the lines where the indoors ends and the outdoors begins," says Kelly. "A meal is now an experience—by being able to cook, entertain, and relax while enjoying the calming effects of nature, you're one step closer to creating your own outdoor oasis." 06 of 27 Add a Water Feature Jacky Parker Photography / GETTY IMAGES Water features, like bird baths and fountains, are an easy way to drown out unwanted street noise. "Running water has a soothing effect on people, so it's a great addition," says Zaveloff. "Reflecting pools are another great way to add a focal point and serenity to your back yard. " 07 of 27 Lay Down Gravel 2K Studio / GETTY IMAGES Consider substituting some of your grass with pea gravel, crushed gravel, or stepping stones (with ground cover in between). No matter the material you choose, it's important to define your seating space with non-turf materials so you don't have to move tables and chairs to mow the lawn, says Zaveloff. 08 of 27 Create an Outdoor Dining Room William Abranowicz Centering your backyard around a dining space is a great idea if you want to gather outdoors with your family more often. This open-air dining room is a call back to both classical architecture and Monet's home in France. 09 of 27 Add a Bistro Table Peerayut Aoudsuk / EyeEm / GETTY IMAGES A bistro table and chairs provides extra seating without taking up too much room. "I love setting up a bar on an outdoor marble bistro table—it creates a festive mood and gives you a place for people to gather and congregate," says Zaveloff. 10 of 27 Add Soft Features KatarzynaBialasiewicz / GETTY IMAGES Add comfort to your space with outdoor pillows, rugs, and throw blankets. "When it comes to styling with outdoor soft goods, pay attention to texture, size, and color palette—just as you do indoors—and don't be afraid to mix patterns, playing off the surrounding environment for the ultimate curation," says Kelly. 11 of 27 Hang a Hammock Getty Images / Jon Lovette If you're short on space but still want a place to lounge, hanging a hammock in your backyard is manageable for most homeowners. Anchor your hammock to an exterior wall, string it between two trees, or purchase a freestanding frame. 12 of 27 Incorporate Path Lights bruev / Getty Images Be sure to layer the lighting in your backyard when designing your outdoor space. "While outdoor string or bee lights are great, nothing is better than low-voltage path lights and discreet landscape lights that highlight the branches of trees and bushes," says Zaveloff. "It makes the yard feel like a warm hug." 13 of 27 Create Fresh Tablescapes Ryan Liebe If you don't have room for planters or hanging plants, you can incorporate greenery onto your tabletop when you entertain outdoors. Fresh tablescapes can make an open-air meal feel more special, so try topping your tables with lots of natural plants and flowers. 14 of 27 Add a Trellis HannamariaH / GETTY IMAGES A trellis is an easy way to prevent intense afternoon sun from overwhelming your yard. "An added bonus is you can train flowers, plants, or vines to grow upon it, visually enhancing your outdoor space," says Kelly. 15 of 27 Bring Inside Outdoors Björn Wallander Bring your living space outside with a sectional set for all to enjoy. Here, homeowners anchored the environment with a bamboo ceiling and a lantern that casts a warm glow at night. 16 of 27 Garden Planters Kimber Collective You don't need to be an expert gardener to successfully grow flowers, plants, and vegetables in your backyard—which is good news for families with small backyards or those living in apartment buildings or condominiums. There are a few ways you can optimize whatever amount of outdoor space you have, but one of our favorites is creating a beautiful and functional raised bed. 17 of 27 Add Adirondack Chairs annaphillipsnz / GETTY IMAGES If you don't have enough space for a large outdoor seating arrangement, try high quality folding Adirondack chairs. These are ideal because they can be moved around when you need more space. "They also have enough space on the arm to rest a drink, so you don't even need a table," says Zaveloff. 18 of 27 Consider Small-Scale Upgrades Christopher Churchill Everyone dreams of having a lap pool surrounded by a lush, sprawling garden. But if space is tight, consider small-scale iterations of the features you love. A custom-built hot tub just like this on can be paired with a select few garden planters to create your own backyard retreat. 19 of 27 Add Window Boxes Add greenery to your backyard without taking up too much space by installing window boxes that are full of personality. Use interesting flowers in a myriad of shades and be sure to vary height texture. The mix should complement the rest of your backyard's décor. 20 of 27 Outdoor Pathway Perennials This is the perfect solution for anyone who doesn't want to deal with a lawn, but also doesn't want to give up on the idea of backyard green space. There are dozens of low ground covers and creeping perennials resilient enough to withstand being walked on. 21 of 27 Build a Drop-Down Bar SIMON WATSON Whether you're cooking outside or want to keep a pitcher of fresh lemonade at the ready, adding a surface that can easily fold out (and away) whenever you need it will make your life so much easier. A drop-down bar is the perfect solution. 22 of 27 Fresh Roses SIMON WATSON A unique alternative to a traditional trellis, a network of eye hooks and picture wire creates the effect of a rose-covered cottage. Roses can be trained around corners or in slender columns by loosely tying stems to the wire with twine. 23 of 27 Hanging Plants Johnny Fogg Like any suspended garden planter, these DIY leather holsters guarantee good drainage and keep vines and tendrils out of reach from foot traffic. You can add one, two, or a whole slew of these space-saving hanging planters to your backyard. 24 of 27 Create a Canopy Seth Smoot/MSLO Is your backyard bathed in full, direct sunlight? Trees can take years to grow, but a swath of fabric can go up in minutes and provide much-needed shade during the summer months. Best of all, you can easily take it down when you want the sun to shine through. 25 of 27 Create a Vegetable Garden This vegetable garden was designed to be both beautiful and compact. Visually striking, durable kales and cabbages are planted among tomatoes, onions, and lettuces. If space allows in your own backyard, work an edible garden into the setting. 26 of 27 Plant Fragrant Flowers Krzysztof Baranowski / GETTY IMAGES Make your backyard smell inviting by growing fragrant flowers. "Planting colorful and fragrant flowers is the perfect way to add charm and style to any outdoor living space," says Kelly. "Whether it's a back patio, a garden, or balcony, flowers can make the area special for family gatherings, outdoor parties, and intimate dinners for two." 27 of 27 Add an Archway Lisa Romerein If you want to naturally divide a larger backyard into sections while also elevating its overall aesthetic, try adding a formal archway. This one, which leads to a beautiful summer garden, is set off by neoregelia on the left and angel's trumpet on the right. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit