How To Spruce Up A Small Deck or Patio

Do you want to learn how to make your deck look more inviting? Do you have an existing deck that you want to look good and pretty for summer? In this post, I’m going to show you how to decorate your small deck or outdoor space and turn it into an oasis for your family and friends.

Summer is almost here and the days are getting longer. I love it when I wake up in the morning and the sun is shining and it’s still bright at 8 or 9 at night. We love to grill and eat out on the deck.

My family’s favorite hang-out place is our outdoor living space. I can’t blame them because we live in the Northeast when winter gets very cold and it gets dark at 5 pm. So I want to make our outdoor space as cozy as possible.

We purchased this outdoor furniture set about 10 years ago. It’s been holding up well. I did, however, change the cushion cover because it was starting to fall apart. I’ve been wanting to get a new set but I don’t want to spend an arm and a leg to replace it.

My style changes over time and I’d love to get a rattan-look or boho style furniture set. But I decided to wait because a. this furniture is comfortable and good-quality and b. I don’t want to sell this for cheap and spend a lot of money on a new set.

Whether you want to get a new patio furniture set or keep your existing furniture, these tips are for you.

How to decorate a deck with furniture?

If you have a small deck, the first thing you have to keep in mind is scale. Keep in mind that we need to use small furniture for a small deck or patio. We have a small deck and hubby and I was unsure if we should get an outdoor sofa or dining table set.

We decided to get a conversation outdoor set since our main goal is to sit and relax on the deck. But later on, we added a dining set to create different zones. My family loves to eat on the deck and enjoy the view.

If you’re patio or deck is big enough to have a conversation set and dining set then I suggest having both types of furniture. Creating zones is a great way to make encourage conversation and create more seating for guests. A bistro set and sectional are also good options for smaller outdoor spaces.

This page includes affiliate links – full disclosure.

How to decorate a deck or patio on a budget?

My favorite place to shop for used furniture for a great price is Facebook Marketplace. I scored this dining set for $25. Yes, $25! This type of furniture usually retails for $1k or more. Don’t forget to haggle. I found the items are usually 40-80% less than buying a new one.

Another way of saving money on furniture is to wait until the end of the season. Walmart and Target usually run clearance discounts on their summer decor at the end of summer. In our area, we have liquidator stores that sell Target surplus items and all types of furniture for 40-60% less than the retail price. Check out if you have one in your area.

Look for clearance flowers at Lowe’s, Home Depot, or Walmart. These stores are my favorite place to shop for cheap annual plants and flowers. If you have a green thumb, you can buy flower seeds from Dollar Tree and start planting them indoors in the spring. I don’t like spending too much money on plants that only last for one season.

Buy pillow covers instead of pillows with filling. Amazon, Shein, and Hobby Lobby have a good selection of pillow covers for a lot cheaper than throw pillows. Hobby Lobby usually has 50% off their pillow covers every other week.

Shop at Thrift Store for accessories like trays or lamps and other home decors.

How can I make my deck more inviting?

Add greenery. Plants and flowers instantly liven up any space. You can use faux or real plants. I much prefer the real plants outdoors over the fake ones. In the summer, I take some of my indoor plants out on the deck and I noticed that the plants grow faster outdoors because there’s a lot more light.

Add lighting. Lighting creates a good ambiance and set the tone in any outdoor space. I use string lights at night and I love how it’s not overly bright. Lanterns or solar pendant lights are also a great way to add lighting to your deck or patio.

Add throw pillows and throw covers. These are my favorite accessories to create a cozy outdoor space. I love how you can update or transform the look of your patio by changing the color and style of your throw pillows. Throw blankets are perfect for those chilly summer nights.

Add accessories. Don’t forget to add trays, fresh flowers, candles, or curtains to make your outdoor space feels like an extension of your living space. If you have mosquito issues, you might opt for mosquito repellant candles.

Some people use a heater to heat their outdoor space during early spring or fall. This might be something to think about since I don’t like to hang outside when it’s cold out. We usually bring a fan on the deck when it gets super hot in the summer.

Last but not least, make sure you use an area rug to define the space. To me, every space will not be complete without an area rug. I prefer the plastic area rug over the polypropylene material because it’s a lot easier to clean and it doesn’t absorb water.

If your deck or patio doesn’t have a roof, consider using a sun sail shade, umbrella, or gazebo to provide shade. I find that people don’t want to eat out in the direct sunlight or will not hang out too long without some kind of shade.

To create a better ambiance, I play soft or instrumental music using a Bluetooth speaker.