21 DIY Patio Ideas to Transform Your Backyard

Get inspired with these budget-friendly and creative DIY patio ideas.

By
Stacy Fisher
Stacy Fisher, Writer
Stacy Fisher

Stacy is an expert writer for The Spruce covering home DIY projects and crafts. She has over 18 years of journalistic experience, appearing as a DIY expert on the Dr. Oz Show and several radio shows. She has published hundreds of articles and co-authored a book.

Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process
Updated on 04/14/23
patio decor

The Spruce / Christopher Lee Foto 

Creating a beautiful DIY patio for your home means more than just setting out a few chairs and hoping for the best. But it doesn't mean spending a ton of money or time. You can easily DIY a patio by making a unique surface, creating one-of-a-kind furnishings, or going all-out on decor. Here are 21 DIY patio ideas to help you make an outdoor space like no other.

  • 01 of 21

    Lay Pavers as a Foundation

    DIY Paver Backyard Patio
    Stacy Risenmay, Not Just a Housewife

    This DIY patio idea shows how adding a patio to a yard can make a huge difference to the total design of the space. Not Just a Housewife tackled this project and now is now sharing how to build a patio out of pavers. Seating is added as well as planters and string lighting. The final result is a wonderful place that can be used for both relaxing and entertaining.

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  • 02 of 21

    Redesign From Roof to Floor

    Colorful Backyard Patio
    The Handmade Home

    Bloggers Jamin and Ashley Mills of The Handmade Home wanted to take their yard and completely redesign it, from top to bottom. A 10-foot by 10-foot concrete paver patio provides an area for outdoor furniture, including a porch swing. There's a separate dining and lounging area, giving them two spaces in one. Chairs are set around a DIY firepit to encourage conversation.

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  • 03 of 21

    String Some Lights

    DIY Patio at Night
    Young House Love

    Over at Young House Love, they've ripped out their back deck and added a patio made out of pea gravel. This is a great way to build a patio if you're on a budget. It also is an easy project that you should be able to do yourself. Outdoor furniture and landscaping are added, and string lights are hung to provide some ambient lighting.

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  • 04 of 21

    Assemble an Outdoor Living Room

    Living room style outdoor DIY patio

     Home Stories A to Z

    Home Stories A to Z shows how a patio can be an extension of your home. The key is comfortable outdoor seating. The goal is to create a living room outdoors by adding a sectional and some chairs. End tables are also included and an outdoor rug ties everything together. This DIY patio looks great and is easy to put together.

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  • 05 of 21

    Create Decorative Focal Points

    A woman watering a plant on a patio

    A Piece of Rainbow

    A focal point is often what someone notices first about a space. It can be just about anything that the eyes like to rest on, and you can have several in a space. Bringing plants and flowers onto the patio is just one way to create a focal point. There are directions on how to build this planter from A Piece of Rainbow.

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  • 06 of 21

    Make It Modern Style

    Modern-style DIY patio
    The Merry Thought

    The Merrythought shows you how to take a patio and make it modern. The fence is painted a moody black and furniture with clean lines are added. Just because it's modern doesn't mean it has to be cold. This redesign has pillows and blankets that provide a cozy feel.

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  • 07 of 21

    Put Up a Two-Tiered Space

    Elevated pool DIY patio
    Classy Clutter

    Here's a beautiful DIY patio idea that will make your backyard feel like a resort. Classy Clutter came up with this two-tiered lounge area and it makes quite the inspiring patio space. Comfortable seating and heavy-duty patio umbrellas have been added to the patio and can be enjoyed all day long.

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  • 08 of 21

    Choose Alternative Furniture Materials

    DIY patio

    Afro Bohemian Living

    This outdoor furniture can be put together in just a few quick and easy steps. Afro Bohemian Living will inspire you to create your own seating out of wood pallets. The style doesn't end there, plants, pillows, and a rattan roof are added to make it even more welcoming.

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  • 09 of 21

    Build a Pergola

    Patio DIY pergola

    Ursula Carmona of Home Made by Carmona

    A pergola is a great way to make a patio feel like a legitimate space where someone would want to spend time. It's also a great way to provide some shade during the hot months. Here, Home Made by Carmona styled her pergola with climbing vines, string lights, plants, and even wind chimes.

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  • 10 of 21

    Add All the Decorative Details

    Decorative items set out on a patio

    Fynes Designs

    Another DIY patio idea is to add decorative details that make your patio feel comfortable and cozy. Decorative details can be set out like this with a tray, fruit, plants, and some drinks. Fynes Designs has a lot of other ideas on how to dress up your patio.

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  • 11 of 21

    Build a DIY Firepit

    A backyard with a patio and fire pit

    Studio DIY!

    This stunning backyard from Studio DIY! embraces color with colorful cushions. There are two patios here, giving people a place to eat and lounge around the DIY firepit. There are also lots of plants added here, making it feel like a comfortable outdoor room.

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  • 12 of 21

    Upgrade in a Weekend

    A dining room table on a patio

    Jessica Welling Interiors

    The idea behind this patio makeover by Jessica Welling Interiors is to pick a weekend and only use that time to upgrade the patio. A rug is added to define the space and then string lights, a vertical wall planter, and lots of accessories are added.

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  • 13 of 21

    Mimic the Surroundings

    A coastal themed DIY patio setup

    H20Bungalow

    Another DIY patio idea is to decorate the area based on the surroundings. H20 Bungalow created a coastal-themed patio that fits in perfectly with the lake that the patio overlooks. Besides furniture, there are a lot of other accessories that go along with a theme.

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  • 14 of 21

    Make a Patio Out of Bricks

    A DIY brick patio

    https://www.ambertysl.com/

    Bricks are the foundation for this lovely patio that's tucked away in a garden. A fire pit is also built from bricks, making it look like it belongs there. A table, seating, and accessories are all added. Amber Tysl shows you how to do this easy patio makeover.

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  • 15 of 21

    Decorate the Entire Patio

    A patio with an outdoor table

    Design Improvised

    The patio over at Designed Improvised has been perfectly planned and executed. The whole patio is decorated from the rug on the ground, to the table settings on the dining table. There's also a color scheme here, which makes it easier to stay focused when decorating your patio.

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  • 16 of 21

    Use Concrete for the Base

    A backyard DIY patio

    The Sweetest Occasion

    A simple concrete base is inexpensive and a quick way to get the patio of your dreams. The Sweetest Occasion has done just this and created what can only be called an oasis. Lots of seating and string lights pull everything together.

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  • 17 of 21

    Look at the Smallest of Spaces

    A small patio

    The Merrythought

    A tiny backyard doesn't mean that you can't have a patio. The Merrythought was up for the challenge, and it turned out fantastic. The patio is gravel here, proving that you can make a patio out of just about anything. Plants, loungers, and a rug make the space feel full but not crowded.

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  • 18 of 21

    Choose Tile

    Blue and white tile on a patio

    Lovely Indeed

    Using tile for your patio is a unique choice that will stop the neighbors in their tracks. Especially if you make a bold color and design choice as Lovely Indeed did. She took a brick patio and used tile to give it a complete makeover. A table, chairs, and potted plants make the tile pop.

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  • 19 of 21

    Add Seasonal Decor

    A table and chairs on a patio

    Jessica Welling Interiors

    Change the patio decor seasonally for an easy DIY porch upgrade. You'll be surprised at what a difference some new accessories can make. This patio at Jessica Welling Interiors has been redesigned into a place to relax in the summer, boho style.

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  • 20 of 21

    Use Every Corner

    An outdoor patio in the corner of a yard

    Lovely Indeed

    Even the corner of a yard can become a patio. Just use some brick pavers to achieve the look as Lovely Indeed did. There's just room enough for a couple of chairs and a fire pit. It makes for a cozy place perfect just for two.

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  • 21 of 21

    Paint the Concrete

    An outdoor living room on a patio

    The Turquoise Home

    An easy DIY patio idea is to upgrade the actual patio. At The Turquoise Home, a concrete patio has been cleaned and painted, making it look new. New seating and a rug make it feel like a new room, right outside your back door.

23 DIY Patio Furniture Plans