Bringing the Resort Vibe Home: How to Decorate Your Deck or Patio for Year-Round Relaxation
The best part of a resort stay isn’t really about where you are. It’s about how little effort it takes to relax once you get there! The lounge chairs are already arranged, and the lighting is low and warm. Someone else has done all the preparation for you so that you can simply put your feet up and unwind. You can build that same feeling into your own deck or patio, and unlike planning what to pack for the trip, you only have to do it once.
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Start With Comfortable Outdoor Seating
Comfort is what makes a resort patio so appealing. Resorts and big hotels don’t treat their outdoor areas as somewhere to eat and leave; they’re places to linger. They design them as places to stay and relax, and your patio can do the same with a little bit of planning.
Firstly, you need to skip the single patio table and chairs. Instead, pick out some sofas, deep lounge chairs, maybe an ottoman, and a couple of scatter cushions to turn your deck into a space that looks inviting to sit in.
You also need to arrange your furniture for conversation. A resort space usually pulls people together instead of lining them up. Try to angle your chairs toward your coffee table or a fire pit so that conversation can flow naturally. After all, you don’t want your guests having to rearrange your patio furniture every time they drop by for a visit.
Add Lighting for a Relaxing Atmosphere
Lighting can change the entire feel of your patio or deck. Bright overhead lighting gives off office vibes, and it can feel a little clinical. But low, warm light is much more intentional, which is the mood you want to set.
String lights above the seating area give a soft glow. And if you pick solar string lights, you won’t even need an outlet nearby. Lanterns and small table lamps also add soft light, closer to where people will be sitting.
Keep your brighter, functional lighting near steps and dining areas, and save the dim, warm fixtures closer to the spots where you want to unwind.
Bring in Soft Textures and Natural Elements
Furniture alone won’t help you to create a resort-inspired patio. For example, adding something extra like an outdoor rug can help anchor the seating area the way it would indoors. It also stops your deck from feeling like a showroom floor!
Another thing to remember is that weather-resistant cushions and throws add a little texture, but they’re also much more practical when used outdoors. These smaller details also make your space feel used rather than staged.
If you really want that island vacation feel, don’t forget to add plants! A few potted trees near the seats and greenery that sits along the railing of your deck can bring a lot of life to the space.
Make the Space Comfortable in Every Season
A patio that only works in June is more of a summer accessory than a practical, everyday space to relax.
Add shade for hot days
An umbrella or retractable awning keeps your deck or patio usable through the hottest part of the afternoon. That means fewer sunburns and more chances to sit and enjoy your outdoor area all summer long.
Stay warm when temperatures drop
Once the weather starts to cool, an outdoor heater or fire pit can help to keep your space usable. You can also add a basket filled with warm, outdoor blankets near your seating area. Your deck shouldn’t go into hibernation the moment the leaves start to fall!
Turn Your Patio Into a Place You Want to Stay
You don’t need a massive budget or an elaborate build to transform your patio! And the ones that feel like you’re at a five-star resort make staying home easier, not harder.
A resort works because it gives you a reason to stay outside a little longer. If you build that same reason into your own backyard, then after your sunny Caribbean cruise, you’ll have somewhere just as good to come home to.
(This is a collaborative post, for more information about our compensation please read our disclosure policy)