How I Turned Our Covered Patio Into an Outdoor Living Room
The design decisions that transformed one area of our backyard into one of the most-used spaces in our home.
A well-designed outdoor space isn't created all at once. It evolves, one thoughtful decision at a time.
When people think about decorating an outdoor space, I think there's often pressure to have it all figured out from the beginning. Pick the furniture. Buy the accessories. Finish the project.
That isn't how this patio came together.
When we first built our backyard, this wasn't even a covered patio. For the first year or two, we simply had an open seating area. We used it through different seasons and slowly figured out how we naturally spent time outside. Once we realized how much we loved being out there, adding a covered roof became an easy decision. Then I decorated. Slowly…
Looking back, I'm actually glad I didn't rush to decorate it. Having the chance to live with the space first helped me make better decisions later. Instead of trying to create the "perfect" patio from day one, I added pieces as we understood how we wanted to use it.
Today, it's one of the most-used spaces in our home. Morning coffee, dinner with friends, quiet evenings by the fire, watching a soccer game or simply sitting outside listening to music—it's become an extension of our living room.
I Wasn't Trying to Decorate a Patio—I Was Trying to Create Another Living Room
Whenever I decorate a room, I don't usually start by shopping for a list of accessories. I prefer to respond to the room itself over time. Once the larger pieces are in place, I slowly figure out what the space needs.
That was exactly what happened here.
Once the roof, fireplace and furniture were finished, I could see what was missing. The rug grounded the seating area and instantly made it feel like a room rather than furniture sitting on a patio. The coffee table created a natural gathering place. Plants softened the corners, and a simple throw blanket added warmth and texture.
None of those pieces were purchased because every outdoor space is supposed to have them. They were added because this room felt like it needed them. Decorating this way takes longer, but I think the result feels much more personal than trying to finish everything in one weekend.
I Kept the Colour Palette Quiet
One of my favourite things about this space isn't actually the furniture—it's everything beyond it.
Our backyard is surrounded by mature trees, and I wanted them to remain the focal point. Instead of introducing lots of colour, I kept the palette simple with warm wood, creamy upholstery, natural woven textures, black accents and greenery. The landscape becomes the colour while everything else quietly supports it.
I also think neutral outdoor spaces age really well. Trends come and go, but natural materials and simple colours tend to feel timeless.
One Pinterest Photo Changed the Entire Fireplace
One design decision almost went in a completely different direction.
For the longest time, I assumed we'd build a more traditional grey-brown stone fireplace. It felt like the obvious choice for an outdoor space. Then, somewhere during one of my late-night Pinterest searches, I came across a painted white brick fireplace.
The moment I saw it, I knew it was the direction I wanted to go.
The painted white brick instantly made the space feel lighter and a little more refined without feeling formal. Pairing it with a substantial reclaimed wood mantel kept the warmth and rustic character that felt right for an outdoor room. Looking back, I honestly think that combination became one of the defining features of the entire patio.
It's one of those decisions I'm still happy about every time I walk outside.
We Chose the Features We'd Actually Use
When we were designing the patio, we went back and forth on whether to build a wood-burning fireplace or a gas fireplace.
As much as I love the idea of a traditional wood fire, I also know our family. On a random Tuesday evening, we're far more likely to push a button than gather firewood.
Choosing a gas fireplace has meant we use it constantly. We can turn it on in seconds, sit outside after dinner and enjoy the space without any preparation or cleanup. Sometimes practicality is the better design decision because it means the space actually gets used.
We also decided to include a ceiling-mounted heater and built-in speakers from the beginning. Those have been two of the best decisions we made. The heater allows us to enjoy the patio well into the cooler spring and fall evenings, while music completely changes the atmosphere. Whether we're entertaining friends, having dinner with the kids or simply sitting outside with a coffee, those small details make the space feel alive.
I Styled It the Same Way I'd Style an Indoor Room
One thing I've noticed is that many outdoor spaces are furnished but don't quite feel finished. They have seating, maybe a dining table, but they're missing the layers that make people want to stay.
Inside our homes, we naturally add rugs, coffee tables, throw blankets, plants and decorative pieces because those layers create warmth and personality. I approached this patio exactly the same way.
That said, I've also learned that I prefer to decorate with restraint. I don't like spaces that feel overly busy or filled with accessories just for the sake of decorating. I'd rather choose a handful of pieces that really suit the room than fill every surface. To me, good design isn't about having more—it's about choosing well. I like clean lines, thoughtful styling and leaving enough breathing room that each piece has a chance to stand on its own.
I also don't think every decorating decision needs to be permanent. As I come across something I love, I'll happily swap out an accessory or add a new layer to the room. Decorating has always felt like an ongoing process rather than something you finish once and never touch again.
Rather than thinking of this as an outdoor seating area, I treated it as another living room. Once I made that shift, every decorating decision became much easier.
It Was Designed for Conversation
Although we have a television above the fireplace, that has never really been the focus of the room. In fact, the reason we have it at all is so that we can have sports on when there is a good game on and we are entertaining.
The furniture faces inward because I wanted the space to encourage conversation first. Some of my favourite evenings are the simple ones—having friends over, sitting by the fire after the kids have gone to bed, listening to music with the lights dimmed or enjoying a quiet coffee in the morning before everyone else wakes up.
What I'd Do Again
Looking back, there are a handful of decisions I'd make exactly the same way.
I'd build the covered space as large as possible. When we first poured the patio, we actually wondered if we'd gone too big. Standing on that large concrete pad before the roof and furniture were added, it felt enormous. We remember looking at each other and thinking, What are we going to do with all this space? But once the covered roof was built and we started adding seating, the fireplace, side tables, plants and all the layers that make a room feel inviting, the space filled naturally. If anything, I'm grateful we didn't make it smaller. I've learned it's surprisingly difficult to make an outdoor living area too large because once it becomes another room in your home, you'll find plenty of ways to use it.
I'd let the space evolve before decorating it. Living with the patio first helped us understand how we actually wanted to use it. Every decision after that felt more intentional because it responded to the way our family naturally lived.
I'd choose the painted white brick fireplace again without hesitation. It brightens the space, feels timeless and pairs beautifully with the reclaimed wood mantel.
I'd install a gas fireplace again. We use it far more than we ever would have used a wood-burning fireplace simply because it's so easy.
I'd include the ceiling heater again. It has extended how much we use the patio every year and made chilly evenings surprisingly comfortable.
I'd build in the speakers again. Music completely changes the feeling of the space and makes everyday evenings feel a little more special.
I'd put every light on a dimmer switch. This is something we do throughout our house, and it's one of those little features that is a nonnegotiable whenever we renovate. Bright overhead lighting has its place, but it's rarely the atmosphere you want when you're trying to unwind. Being able to dim the lights, turn on the fireplace and put on some music completely transforms the patio. It's a simple detail that makes the space feel warm, relaxed and much more like an outdoor living room.
Finally, I'd remind myself that a room is never really finished. Even now, we're talking about adding a ceiling fan to create a little more airflow on hot summer days. We've also started dreaming about incorporating a pizza oven to make the space even better for entertaining family and friends. Maybe we'll do both. Maybe we'll discover something else the space needs first. That's part of the fun.
The Best Spaces Evolve
Looking back, I don't think what made this project successful was any one design decision. It was taking the time to understand how we wanted to use the space before trying to finish it.
Today, this patio is one of the most-used areas of our home during the spring, summer and fall months. We have coffee here in the mornings, play board games around the table with the kids, entertain friends around the fireplace and spend countless evenings simply sitting outside together. It feels less like a patio and more like another room in our house.
If there's one thing I'd encourage anyone planning an outdoor space to do, it's to design for the way you actually live. The furniture, finishes and accessories matter, but creating a space you'll genuinely use matters even more.