Backyard Patio Ideas

Happy July!  Summer is finally here and I couldn’t be happier!   I’m starting to get my energy back, the sun has been out, and our new backyard patio is finally {almost!} finished.  I was hoping to have everything completely done before I showed you the reveal, but you know how projects go.  The metal roof still needs to be added to our covered area and there are a few other odds and ends that need to be finished up.  There’s always something to work on, right?

I hope you enjoy our backyard patio ideas!

This project has been one of those projects that starts fairly small and just kind of snow balls.  Please tell me that I’m not the only one that that happens to!  The wood on our previous patio was getting old and worn so we decided to paint it last year {you can see more of our 2016 summer patio here}.

While I did love the look of the paint, the winter weather and our goofy dog were not kind to it, and it was in desperate need of a facelift once spring arrived.  Since the wood was old and I didn’t love the railing and lattice, we decided that we would just replace it.  And then we decided that we might as well make it bigger and put in a covered area.  And then we figured that we would try composite decking instead…  The list goes on. 🙂

Now that it’s done though, I would say that it’s totally been worth it.  We LOVE it!!!! I have my breakfast out here every morning, we hang out more in the backyard as a family, and we’ve cuddled under blankets and watched an outdoor movie almost every night.  A staycation is looking pretty good this summer.

I’m going to write more about the actual patio structure and why we chose to use composite decking in another post so I don’t overwhelm you.  Today though, I have lots of photos for you of our furniture and design elements – my favorite part of any project!  Most of the furniture is from the Canadian Tire CANVAS collection.  I’ve had my lounger for four or five years now and purchased the chairs last summer.  I’ve been really impressed with their quality and durability and was happy to grab some more items for our larger space!

I really wanted this patio to be an extension of our indoor living space and a place to just relax and enjoy some outdoor time.  I’ve talked before about how to design an outdoor space using zones and used those same principles when designing this space.   We now have a space to lounge in the sun, a spot to read and have a summer drink, a dining area, a cooking zone, and an outdoor “family room”.

The biggest thing missing from our previous patio was a covered area.  Since we do still get rain in the summer {and lots the rest of the year!}, it was a huge pain lugging the pillows and other items we didn’t want getting wet in and out from the house.  Having a covered area not only allows for storage (and BBQing!) when it’s wet, but also provides some much needed shade on those hotter days.

I’ve always wanted a sectional so I was so excited to get this one from the CANVAS Selina Collection.  It’s SO comfortable!  I could pretty much sleep out there every night.  It’s perfect for entertaining and we’ve loved using it to watch outdoor movies in the evening and take afternoon naps out of the sun.  We have three corner units, three armless units, as well as an ottoman {it’s actually just out of the picture as we often use it as a serving table}.  They can be clipped together so they don’t slip around and we can always change things up if needed.

The cushions on these sectionals {as well as the club chairs on the other side} are so wonderful to sink into.  They provide the perfect balance of support and comfort!  But the best part about them {and all of the other fabrics in the CANVAS line} is the durability.  We eat {and spill!} out there, the dogs climb up with their dirty paws, and things just get messy.  Even though the cushions are light-colored, all of our stains {including chocolate from our s’mores!} have cleaned up easily with just a microfiber cloth and water.   The fabric is stain, water, and sun resistant so I don’t have to stress out when things get dirty.  A big plus for relaxed, summer living!

I moved our little terrarium outside that was previously on our kitchen table.  Mixing in a few faux plants with real plants, cuts down on watering time and guarantees that I will have at least a few “plants” still alive at the end of the season.

We’ve also really be enjoying our new outdoor fire table and have had a few s’mores nights already.  I have it covered over in the photos here, but have another post on outdoor lighting that I’m working on to show you how everything looks all lit up at night.  The propane tank tucks inside the end table to keep everything neat and tidy.

I purchased our dining chairs last year and really wanted to get this concrete patio table as well.  Unfortunately, I couldn’t get it to work in our old space, but it was the first thing on my list when creating our new patio.  I did seal the table with concrete sealer as I had read some reviews about it staining without a sealer.  The table seats 6 comfortably and is the perfect size for our space.

Outdoor furniture is definitely an investment, but if you purchase good quality pieces and do a little bit of maintenance, you will be able to enjoy them for many years to come.  I’m hoping for a long summer and a warm fall so we’ll be able to enjoy this space as long as possible!

For tips to create your own backyard oasis, check out this post…

And make sure you’re keeping your furniture in tip top shape with these simple outdoor furniture cleaning tips…

Happy Summer my friends!

*** I would like to extend a huge thank-you to Canadian Tire for partnering with me.  While I was provided with free product in exchange for this post, I truly love their CANVAS collection and have purchased many items on my own in the past.  All of the opinions expressed and the actual design of the patio are 100% my own. ***