*Disclosure: I only recommend products I use and all opinions expressed here are our own. This post contains affiliate links that at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission
Creating a patio was never a part of my childhood. Growing up, our house lacked a patio or even a back porch, just a simple set of steps leading from the back door.
However, when my husband and I decided to build our home, we made sure to include an open and functional patio.
In our first home, although we had a patio, we rarely used it. We extended the concrete to the edge of the house, with plans to add a pergola, patio furniture, and a television. However, those plans never came to fruition. Looking back, I believe one of the reasons we didn’t prioritize it was because the patio could not be seen from inside the house. As a result, we never felt a strange urge to relax and spend time out there.
Our New Patio
When we moved into our current home in June 2018, one of our goals was to create a beautiful patio space. However, it took us three years to complete our patio. Unlike our landscaping project that we completed in April — detailed here — finishing the patio was a slow process because we didn’t know exactly what we wanted.
Initially, we faced some drainage issues because of improper dirt grading. Our landscaper addressed this problem by adding more soil to raise the level, planting grass, and incorporating rocks to filter rainwater from the roof.
1. maintaining a clean Patio
Our two English Mastiffs enjoy spending time on the patio just as much as we do. Unfortunately, whenever it rained, they would seek shelter there, leaving behind a trail of muddy paw prints. To prevent them from tracking dirt into the house, we decided to block off the patio with a small garden fence from Home Depot. This simple solution made it easier to keep the patio clean and free from their dirty paw prints.
2. unique chair design
My husband and I wanted our patio to have a distinctive touch, not just the typical patio or Adirondack chairs. Thankfully, my husband’s friend is a furniture builder and he posted a picture of a unique chair design on his Instagram. After a quick call, we had four custom-made patio chairs, each measuring 25 x 25 inches. While we loved the natural color, we knew we needed to stain them for added protection against the outdoor elements.
Since I preferred a lighter stain and my husband preferred a darker one, we compromised and settled on a Ready Seal exterior wood stain in the natural cedar color from Home Depot. According to the customer service representative, this stain is regarded as the best in the industry, with a lifespan of 15 to 20 years.
3. comfortable Seat Cushions
To add comfort to our chairs, my daughter and I decided to make the seat and back cushions ourselves using her sewing machine. We embarked on a fabric-hunting adventure, visiting three different stores — Joanns, Michaels, and Hobby Lobby — in search of the perfect fabric and foam cushions.
Although Joanns had foam cushions in the exact size (25 x 25 inches) and thickness (5 inches) we needed, each seat cushion was priced at a whopping $69.99! Considering our budget, we had to find a more affordable option. Eventually, I turned to Amazon in search of outdoor deep seating pillow and cushion sets. While I found some options, none of them truly spoke to me.
Fortunately, a friend suggested we visit AtHome. Initially, I was unsure about the type of pillows to purchase, so I was simply looking for comfortable options in dark colors. However, I soon realized I was browsing through indoor pillows, which were not suitable for outdoor use.
At Home has an entire patio section dedicated to various types of patio cushions.
At Home has a patio section with rows and rows of all types of patio cushions. When buying pillows, make sure the material is for outdoor use.
Since our chairs measure 25 x 25 inches, it was crucial to consider the fit and thickness of the cushions. We needed a thickness of at least 5 inches, ruling out anything thinner. Fortunately, the pillows I purchased from At Home are 24 x 24 inches in size and have a generous thickness of six inches, making them a perfect fit for our chairs.
The links four our cushions — some items may be out of stock.
- Wheaton Midnight Outdoor Premium Deep Seat Cushion
- Wheaton Midnight Outdoor Premium Corded Back Cushion
- Wheaton Midnight Outdoor Premium Gusseted Short Back Cushion
4. The Fire Pit
My husband emphasized the importance of having a fire pit. He wanted a source of warmth during colder months and the opportunity to enjoy cooking s’mores and other foods associated with fire pits.
We found a fire pit at Lowe’s that caught our attention: the Big Horn 47.24-inch black steel wood-burning fireplace. It proved to be user-friendly. My husband was able to assemble it in approximately 20-25 minutes. Additionally, it includes a cover to safeguard it from the elements when not in use.
It is important to exercise caution when using the fire pit. Although we currently have it positioned in the covered area of our patio, because of its wood-burning nature, we relocate it to the uncovered portion while in use.
5. The Rug
While the fire pit held significance for my husband, I had a particular interest in finding the perfect outdoor rug. However, this proved to be a challenging task. My daughter and I carefully measured the patio space to determine the size, and we agreed that a 9 x 12 outdoor area rug would suit it perfectly.
When selecting a patio rug, it’s essential to opt for one specifically designed for outdoor use. While there’s nothing inherently wrong with choosing an indoor/outdoor rug, I personally find them to be less reliable due to their material composition. The rug we ultimately selected is made specifically for outdoor use, making it easier to clean and maintain.
Finding an outdoor rug that struck the right balance in size, avoiding both being too oversized and too small, was a priority. Additionally, I wanted to ensure that the color of the rug would complement our cushions. My initial plan was to purchase the rug first and then select the cushions accordingly. However, this turned out to be more challenging than I anticipated. Luckily, I found a local store offering the perfect 9 x 12 outdoor area rug at a discounted price. To my surprise, they only had one remaining in stock.
Upon first glance, I was immediately drawn to the rug’s color and design, as it reminded me of interconnected “O’s,” symbolizing our family name. Below, I’ve provided a list of alternative options that share similarities with our patio rug
Putting it all Together
Now that we had all the pieces — chairs, cushions, fire pit, rug — it was time to put it all together. I wanted to record the entire process from beginning to end but I was in a rush to put it all together. Two days before Thanksgiving is when I finally found the pillows and the rug.
I wanted to surprise my husband before he came home from work.
It took about an hour for my sons and I to put it all together. We had to use a dolly to get the chairs from the garage to the patio and once we did that, it took us some time to agree on the most sensible and comfortable configuration.
To see how we fully transformed the space from this…
…visit my Instagram and watch the YouTube video below for the final reveal.
Now that the patio is done, it’s time for the next home project. Next up…stay tuned to see.
If you think you have an idea, let me know in the comments. Or, you can share what you would like to see next.
If your patio design is complete I would love to read about your process.
Amazing Transformation! I love the rug you chose!
Thank you very much. The rug, to me, ties it all together.