Home Improvement Ideas Patio Design Ideas and Makeovers Patio Designs Find Inspiration for Outdoor Spaces in These 21 DIY Patio Ideas With a little inspiration and some DIY skills, you can transform your outdoor space. By Caitlin Sole Caitlin Sole Caitlin Sole is the senior home editor at BHG. She is a writer and editor with nearly a decade of interior design expertise. She has vast experience with digital media, including SEO, photo shoot production, video production, eCommerce content, print collaboration, and custom sales content. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Updated on June 5, 2023 Trending Videos Close this video player These DIY patio ideas will add usefulness, beauty, and comfort to your backyard, front yard, or other frequently used outdoor space. You'll find inspiration here whether you have a small concrete slab or plenty of lawn. 12 Before-and-After Garden Makeovers to Inspire Your Next Project 01 of 21 A Pergola Creates Shade Even the simplest concrete slab can become a pretty design element with the right patio ideas. This little nook gets a big aesthetic boost thanks to a simply-styled but elegantly detailed pergola. The structure abuts the house at the roofline for a seamless connection, with classically detailed columns that delineate the patio borders and provide a handy spot for some soft fabric shades. 16 Attached Pergola Ideas to Boost Shade and Style 02 of 21 Add a Decorative Wall Treatment Many covered patios are wide open to the landscape, establishing a garden connection. But if a bit of privacy would enhance the space, consider this DIY patio idea: Add a trellis, or another decorative structure, to one of the open sides. Here, the installation of a trellis window offers a backdrop for a conversation nook and a screen from the neighbors. 03 of 21 Enhance the Landscaping Outdoor seating areas work best when connected to the landscape, and you can establish that relationship through design and materials. Here, stacked walls help conquer a slope and repeat the home's colors. 04 of 21 Add a Flagstone Area A gathering spot gets a big boost with the addition of flagstone paving. Adding flagstone elements typically involves a few days' work, but it's a simple DIY patio project. To keep the feel organic, the homeowners here chose an irregularly shaped tile and one with a more natural edge. How to Install a Flagstone Patio: Our Step-by-Step Guide 05 of 21 View These DIY Patio Ideas Love your alfresco spaces even more with these tips and DIY patio ideas for the perfect outdoor room. 06 of 21 Add a Firepit There are many options for adding a DIY firepit to an outdoor patio, including kits and simple instructions. A firepit can create a gathering spot on both warmer and cooler days, and when it's not lighted, offer an extra surface for serving or seating. How to Make an Easy DIY Firepit from Pavers 07 of 21 Dress Up a Beverage Station Practicality is key to increasing the use of any patio space. Storage and organization locations, such as this DIY beverage station, also offer spots for gathering. Customized from an off-the-shelf workbench, special touches include painted drawer fronts and an easily sewn curtain to hide supplies. 16 Cheers-Worthy Outdoor Bar Ideas 08 of 21 Add a Swinging Bed Although furniture is a quick fix, a swinging bed is a simple, charming DIY patio idea for relaxed seating. Adapt a platform or bench to hold a cushion and back support. Hooks should be attached to beams, not the ceiling itself. 09 of 21 Create a Permanent Planter While containers are one way to include plants on a patio, another solution is to add permanent beds for flowers, vegetables, and dwarf trees. Consider raising the beds to offer privacy screening and to lessen the effort of bending over to tend plants. Use These Raised-Bed Vegetable Garden Plans for 3-Season Bounty 10 of 21 Use Gravel as a Base Gravel paths and flooring are a cost-effective, perfect DIY patio idea. Hard surfaces can be added underneath without much prep or upkeep. Here, a loosely stacked stone border wall doubles as a bench while keeping the gravel in check. 16 Gorgeous Gravel Patio Designs 11 of 21 Create a Vertical Border A border can be a good way to define the line between a garden and a gathering space. This solution—a trellis-like border at a corner—is a DIY patio idea that can focus the view and establish a break from the yard's other zones. 12 of 21 Boost Ambiance with a Fountain Water is a great draw for many reasons. It can subdue unwelcome noise while offering a soothing ambiance for a patio. Plenty of options exist, from tabletop solutions to larger built-in ideas. When selecting the size of your fountain, use your needs and the proportions of your space as a guide. 25 Refreshing Water Feature Ideas for Your Landscape 13 of 21 Container Water Feature Create this quick DIY patio idea and add a pretty water feature to your outdoor space. 14 of 21 Add Extra Details Off-the-shelf materials can be useful DIY elements for dressing up a patio. Here, a simple prefab trellis hides the underside of a porch from the small patio. 18 DIY Outdoor Storage Ideas to Organize All Your Backyard Essentials 15 of 21 Paint a Patio Floor An intricate stenciled floor can offer a pop of color and pattern underfoot on an otherwise unadorned porch. For a detailed DIY patio idea like this one, consider a solid border—here, several inches of off-white—to set off the floor. 16 of 21 Create an Interesting Backdrop Adding a focal point is a great way to give space color, shape, and form. Here, screens inset with a decorative, organic-inspired pattern create an organizing element for a seating nook. How to Repair or Replace a Window or Door Screen 17 of 21 Create Your Own Edging A clear break between hardscape and landscape can be a helpful design element, especially on ground-level patios. Luckily, it's easy to create your own. Use brick, concrete, planters, or fencing to build a boundary. How to Install Edging 18 of 21 Upgrade the Lighting Lighting enhances a patio's design aesthetic. Use proportion as a guide when selecting light fixtures, and try to match either materials or finishes—here, fluted-edge lamps match the detailing on the entry rug. 19 of 21 Add Unusual Details and Insets Many patios and outdoor spaces use a single material, which can establish design cohesiveness, but careful planning can add textural elements and visual relief. Here, the homeowner designated a narrow border and an inset to set a delineation between cooking and eating spaces, as well as a space for the contemporary fire pit. 20 of 21 Install Vertical Gardens Taking your garden up a wall is a DIY patio project that dresses up an otherwise bland facade. Creating a vertical garden is as simple as hanging premade window baskets or using old frames or other cast-off pieces of wood to construct a planter. How to Plant Window Boxes Like a Pro 21 of 21 Install a Ceiling Fan Install extra amenities to increase the use and livability of a covered patio. UL-rated damp-location ceiling fans circulate air on warmer days. Look for a fan that's Energy Star certified to trim your electricity usage. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit