The Hottest Patio Ideas for 2023

This trend is easy to achieve—just look around you. The great outdoors provides plenty of inspiration, with its lush foliage, pretty flowers and neutrals that go with everything. Look for wooden or wicker furniture, floral or leafy décor items and natural fabrics that draw on the elements to create a peaceful space. Want to really up the ante? Consider the sustainability of your purchases. Many furniture and fabric pieces are made from recycled materials, so you can do a small part for the environment as you outfit your backyard or balcony.

Who doesn’t love the saturated colours and playful patterns of the ’70s? Vintage furniture silhouettes (saucer chairs—yes, please!) paired with soft furnishings in geometric shapes and psychedelic designs will help to pull this theme together in a sophisticated way. Incorporate bright whites and soft greens to play off of this bold approach and balance out the riot of colour. Add a playlist from the era and a throwback cocktail and guests will never want to leave.

If you want to feel like you’re on a resort vacation every time you step into your outdoor space, this is the trend you need. Go for an airy, neutral colour palette (think trip to the beach), natural accents and furniture pieces that allow you to settle in for a relaxing afternoon with a good book or a cozy evening with friends. Add throw pillows and blankets, floor coverings and a heat source so you can make the most of your new favourite staycation spot well into the fall.

There’s a reason certain pieces make an appearance year after year: They’re timeless and comfortable, with a look that never goes out of style. Deep seating, an ottoman or two, a conversation set and an adjustable umbrella come together to give you instant patio cred. If you have the space, add a full outdoor dining table and chairs so you can enjoy meals al fresco all season long. Add soft furnishings in dark, durable fabrics so they weather well through more than one season.

When space is limited, hybrid furniture is the answer for creating an attractive, functional outdoor space. Conversation sets with raised coffee tables can be used for lemonade in the afternoon and a casual dinner in the evening. Furniture pieces with built-in storage mean that blankets, pillows and other accessories can be tucked away easily without the need for a separate storage box or bin. Fold-up chairs that double as loungers are perfect for soaking up vitamin D or being used as extra seating for company.

The only thing better than gorgeous patio furniture and accessories is gorgeous, sustainable patio furniture and accessories. Many tables, chairs, dining tables, conversations sets and more are made from partially recycled materials, so you can make choices with the environment in mind. You don’t sacrifice style or durability either; the pieces are just as eye-catching as their less sustainable counterparts and the majority of the products are formulated for all-weather use.

If you crave simple design and clean lines, we’ve got you covered. Look for sleek silhouettes and solid or minimally patterned fabrics and accessories. When choosing a modernistic colour palette, go muted and more understated—shades of grey, beige or black are favourites. Natural materials are often incorporated, too, in accents like furniture legs and tables. If you love the simplicity of the mod look but crave a pop of colour, add throw pillows, a bright outdoor rug or cheerful potted plants.

You’ve probably seen this popular Instagram hashtag: #ihavethisthingwithfloors. People snap pics of beautiful flooring and post it, whether it’s stunning tile in a museum or lovingly restored vintage hardwood in a heritage home. You can have your own piece of the trend with a unique patio floor. Whether you go neutral or bold, outdoor rugs and patio tiles can completely change the look of a space, anchoring the aesthetic from the ground up (see what we did there?).

Sometimes the best theme is no theme at all. If you prefer to choose things that speak to you to cultivate a more eclectic look, you’ll end up with an outdoor paradise that feels personal and intimate. One word of caution: You run the risk of the area feeling disconnected when nothing is consistent. You can fix this by starting with a neutral base, choosing a unifying colour for accents and having focal points in the space to draw the eye.

We wish patio season could last year-round but we aren’t that lucky in the True North. That doesn’t mean you can’t savour every moment by integrating heat and lighting elements into your patio setup. The addition of a fire pit, an outdoor fireplace or a propane-feuled fire feature means that you can start to enjoy your outdoor space before the weather truly warms up in the spring and until the mercury drops in the fall. Add an outdoor lamp or a string of Edison bulbs for shorter days.