We spend a lot of time on our patio and I'm always looking for unique ways to decorate and furnish it to create an inviting outdoor space. I realized this year that it was time for my old patio furniture to go, and I wasn't really sad about it. It didn't fit the space or our needs well. It was the perfect opportunity to reconsider everything!

I started with a completely blank slate, with a really good foundation. Back in the day, this area was originally grass with a mulch bed in the corner. We found it difficult to maintain and actually pretty useless. Since the front of our house has a tiny front porch, we thought this would work much better converted into a patio by paving the area with stone.

After fixing up the landscaping, furniture, and decor, I transformed this blank slate into a wonderful area that works so much better for us. We love spending time out here now and we can actually comfortably enjoy the waterfall and pond. Our neighbors even wander over to have a chat when they see us out here lounging in the evenings. It's been great and a much better use of the space.

Transforming this space was easy once I considered a few key aspects of functionality and design. I'd like to share some tips with you for how to decorate an outdoor living space.

Consider the sun direction

The front of our house gets all the afternoon and evening sun. In the hot and humid summers here in Kentucky, sitting out here can be brutal! To make this space pleasant, I really had to consider my shade options. Umbrellas are an obvious choice for providing shade but I really didn't feel like one would fit this aesthetic.

Instead, I used my natural umbrellas, the trees! Before, the lilac tree had a lot of lower branches to it and was in more of a ball shape. I wanted to be able to place an outdoor sofa underneath this tree so I carefully trimmed the lower branches, creating more of a canopy shape. In the spring, this is the best-smelling spot on the farm, and the blooming lilacs are just heavenly to sit under. The tree provides a wonderful amount of shade.

Choosing the right pieces of outdoor furniture

Continuing to address the issue with shade on this patio, I carefully chose two outdoor egg or basket chairs to add to the space, since they come with built-in shade. I placed them so they would face away from the setting sun, providing two more shaded spots for sitting. Since their backs face the driveway and street, they also provide a lot of privacy for the patio.

To balance out the seating area, I added a small occasional chair to the opposite side. This chair is the last one used since it is the least comfortable and if it is afternoon/evening, it tends to be in the full sun. For this reason, I didn't want to spend as much money on it as the other pieces since I knew it wouldn't be used as frequently.

There was quite a bit of room in the middle of the conversation area so I needed tables that would take up that visual space. I found a pair of round nesting tables at World Market that did the trick. I can pull them completely apart if I need to expand the area or layer them for the more intimate arrangement. I also like having the two separate surfaces for serving drinks and snacks.

I selected a couple of small occasional tables to provide a place to perch a drink on next to the chairs. The blue table can double as an additional seat because it is actually an outdoor metal stool. Plant stands also make great small tables for drinks, because they come in various styles and heights perfect for any space.

Add a water feature

We had already installed a fish pond with waterfall a few years ago and it makes the perfect, relaxing background noise for patio lounging. Installing something like this is a big expense so that might not be an option for everyone, but a portable outdoor fountain is a great alternative. Their soft bubbling noises will give that same feeling without much less cost and hassle. Even a basic bird bath can be a nice water addition to the space.

Incorporate plants and other accessories

To me, rugs are just as important outdoors as they are indoors. They really tie a space together. For my patio, I chose a round rug that echoed the round tables. In all honesty, it should be bigger but the larger round rugs are just way too big! I might layer another neutral jute rug under it to give it more visual weight.

To finish off the space and give the sense of sitting in a garden, I added plenty of pots filled with flowers and plants in decorative vessels. I even bring out a lot of my house plants for the summer, and they love the extra sunshine and humidity. Just make sure you choose the correct plants for your patio's lighting conditions. My hydrangeas, for example, need to stay in the shade and away from the intense afternoon sun.