2023 Outdoor Living Tour : Backyard Patio
Moving right along (and sadly nearing the end) with my 2023 Outdoor Living Tour, today we’re taking a look at the patio seating area. The French doors in our formal living room lead into our sunken backyard and patio. Emmett’s grill is just outside and we also have a seating or lounge area that circles a fire pit. When hosting, this is where everyone ends up… around the fire, talking, having drinks, and staying up too late. Click through for the tour and sources!
Our main patio is really multifunctional… it’s the place where the dogs zip around chasing each other on the daily, it’s where we’re often found grilling dinner (mess-free summer meals are the best!), and where we sit on cool summer evenings. I’ve also been known to lounge out here with a book soaking up a bit of sun.
Most importantly- this our main outdoor hosting area. When people are over and we’re hanging outside, this is where you can find the majority of our friends gathered.
When it comes to grilling, we’re already doing a lot of that this season. Emmett & I have both been choosing recipes from a new grilling cookbook we’ve been testing for the shop- all of which have been delicious!
These exterior doors probably see the most use of any in our home… we’re constantly opening & closing the living room doors to let the dogs outside into our fenced backyard. They always let us know when they’d like to be let out, which is multiple times a day. They’re lucky I work from home a few days a week, ha!
Thanks to dirty paws that are constantly running in and out, I like to keep doormats in front of every door… the French doors, as well as the garage entry- pictured below.
Just like on our bedroom balcony, we always keep a dog water outside for the boys… although Cash still prefers to drink out of my watering can. Ha!
Everything we keep outside is really durable and easy to clean with the power washer- which I try to tackle at the beginning of each spring season. I’ll often bring out or add accessories for outdoor dinner parties or hosting to spruce things up a bit. Check out our dining area here!
One of my new favorite accessories I’ve added to our patio is this giant 13-wick terracotta candle. I just lit it for the first time and once it’s been burned, I fully intend to turn it into a planter centerpiece, spilling with succulents.
Given the shape of our curvy concrete patio, I knew an arched or curved sofa would be my best bet when floor planning this exterior space. Rather than fighting the organic wavy shape, I worked with the natural arch. Using two curved outdoor sofas, I was able to create this inviting seating area that perfectly frames our round fire table.
I actually have two sets of outdoor cushion covers for the sectional, so if you’re curious how it changes from tan to white- I’m able to switch the color as I please. The tan is more forgiving in regards to muddy paws, but both can easily be power washed (my preferred way to clean outdoor items). This year I was feeling the white, but it goes back and forth each season based on what is clean.
I also added a few new woven outdoor throw pillows I scored from HomeGoods earlier this season. I like their classic look paired alongside our other woven outdoor decor. Our fire pit is still working perfectly and looks much better after the makeover I gave it a couple years ago.
Click the thumbnails below, or use the links below the collage to be redirected to each source.
basket set // french doors // door hardware // string lights //  cypress topiary // wakefield planter // woven outdoor pillows // woven outdoor lumbar // curved outdoor sectional // fire pit // garden stool // monogram doormat // throw blanket // lattice table // terracotta candle // weber copper grill // white planter // white plates // linen kitchen towel // round serving board // handwoven basket pair // olive tree topiary // rosemary topiary // outdoor serving cart // mini wakefield planter set // woven handle basket // ruffled planter // greek key doormat // dog dishes // greyhound garden statue // grilling cookbook // stoneware colander // linen stripes kitchen towel
Many of these items I purchased years ago, so I did my best to find accurate or really similar sources for you. Let me know if I missed anything or if you need a source link- I’m always happy to share!
Once the sun goes down, the patio takes on a really nice ambiance thanks to the candles, fire pit, string lights, and outdoor sconces. Things really start to glow…
Admittedly, I’m not great at low light photography, but I hope you get the gist of the nighttime feel out here… it really is magical, cozy, and inviting!
I don’t know that I’ve ever shared the below view or this particular angle of our backyard, but you can see the balcony peeking at the top, and the garden is just around the corner.
There you have it… that’s what our patio is looking like this year! Be sure to check back on Friday for the next stop on my outdoor tour. I’ll be sharing our home exterior- which includes the front porch, garage, etc. I hope you’ve been enjoying this series! It has been fun to show you all around.
