While we spend a considerable amount of time making our gardens hospitable for our plants, we must not forget to make these spaces equally inviting and comfortable for ourselves and our guests. A patio is a great way to incorporate more outdoor living into your landscape, but laying pavers is just the beginning. Once you’ve established your seating area and surrounded it with plants, your new outdoor oasis needs beautiful and durable dressings that take it to the next level.
To give you some ideas and inspiration, we asked two highly acclaimed landscape designers to recommend their favorite non-plant products for enhancing a modern patio design. From furniture that allows you to lounge and savor the fruits of your labor to artwork and accessories that complement your plantings while adding extra personality, these expert selections will transform any patio into an elegant outdoor retreat.
This bold water feature creates an instant focal point in a small space
Modfountain makes a number of high-quality fountains and metal sculptures. I am a huge fan of the X3 Stainless Steel Midi-Mod Fountain. At only 3 feet high, it’s a more compact version of the larger X3 Fountain, making it perfect for home gardens. Easy to install, it instantly becomes a fresh, stylish element for homeowners who want to make a bold statement on a budget. It works well in a modern or traditional garden as a focal point and can also provide a sound buffer from area noise. The “X” design is unique and eye-catching, and the fountain is available in several colors, both bold primary shades and more traditional metallic hues. It comes with a pump, hose, pipe, and valve for easy assembly. An underground basin or above-ground bowl are sold separately.
Provide that finishing touch with this super-versatile outdoor rug
Ruggables are an excellent option when I am looking for a wide selection of more distinctive outdoor carpets. They are water-resistant and machine washable. I’ve also found that they stand up to foot traffic well. I like their durability and contemporary design options and use them to add that extra layer of interest that completes the look of an outdoor space. Ruggables offer surface protection for hardscaping like patios or decks, while also shielding the underlying material from damage caused by weather, furniture legs, and foot traffic. There are a great number of styles to choose from, but one of my favorites is the Outdoor Gemma Lattice Natural Rug (pictured), available in seven sizes and three colors. I love the cool boho style, which is a contemporary take on a classic design.
Finally, a high-quality pillow cover that will stand the test of time
Accent pillows provide a great highlight to an outdoor seating space. I use RH pillows and covers in many of my designs, and appreciate that they carry several indoor/outdoor waterproof pillow covers with architectural design elements. Various similar patterns come and go, but my current favorite is the Nazaré Block Print Outdoor Pillow Cover—Lumbar in charcoal.
This particular design comes from the Nazaré collection, which I love for its timeless and modern motifs that could work in outdoor living spaces of all kinds. Made of quality jacquard fabric, these pillows stand up to rain, sun, debris, and daily use remarkably well, and best of all, are machine washable. Pillow inserts are sold separately. I use them as the jewelry to adorn an outdoor space, while also adding that comfort element that encourages guests to stick around for a while.
Add this simple piece of décor to complement any design
Both attractive and useful, candle hurricanes complete the look of an entertaining area. They can come in an array of neutral colors, but right now I’m loving the Kent Wire Hurricane Candle Holders from Crate & Barrel, which have the distinctive look of a bamboo mat. The largest model, a 12-inch-wide version, holds a pillar candle up to 4 inches in diameter to bring a warm glow to any living space. There are other sizes available, down to a 4-inch-wide tea light holder. These handcrafted products are made of iron with a powder-coated finish, making them suitable for indoors or out. Their monochromatic exterior accentuates their vertical-lined structure, while the gold interior enhances the candlelight’s glow. They work wonderfully as focal points on their own, but I also like to place them in groups of three or more to add another level of interest. In addition to being elegant, these hurricanes are lightweight and easy to move around.
These extremely sturdy pots are pretty as statuary, yet perfect for planting
It’s no secret that I love color, and the Marcel Planters from Campania International come in a set of four with finishes of different shades to choose from. Each set includes containers of varying heights and widths, which allow them to be arranged in groupings for a dramatic effect. I chose the Bayou Bronze color (pictured) to place adjacent to this pathway as a fun way to add height and interest on the journey to the chartreuse front door. These containers can also be dispersed throughout a garden as colorful focal points. Adding aesthetic pots like these to a design is a great way to incorporate a more aggressive plant like mint (Mentha spp. and cvs., Zones 3–11) that might otherwise take over. These high-quality, handmade, and hand-glazed clay containers handle freeze/thaw cycles very well and are perfect for year-round outdoor use.
Natural fibers make this doormat tough and built to last
I always strive for function first, beauty and aesthetics second. If it doesn’t serve the purpose it’s designed for, then I won’t include it. In the case of the Knot-ical Doormat from Entryways, it checks off all the boxes. Handmade from durable coconut coir, its sturdy knot design fits multiple styles from classic to contemporary. Due to its chunky texture, it’s ideal for knocking off extra dirt and trapping it in the fibers. This is the perfect doormat if you have a gravel pathway or patio near your entryway and you want to be sure you don’t track small rocks and flecks of dirt into your home. It’s easy to clean by shaking it out or vacuuming it, and comes in two sizes for differently sized doorways. This simple mat is a hardworking classic you won’t regret.
Elegant and sleek outdoor furniture that can take weather on the chin
I’m fortunate to call the Pacific Northwest home, where we maximize and enjoy every second of our lovely mid-seventies summer weather. However, it’s well-known that we also endure months of rain. Recommending outdoor furniture can be a challenge, given that traditional options must often be dragged in and out of storage or covered with unattractive materials to preserve them. Luckily, Loll Designs created an entire collection of furniture (including the Lollygagger Lounge Chair, pictured) made from ultra-durable high-density polyethylene, which is partially sourced from recycled materials. There’s no need for stain or paint to keep them looking good. With colors like leaf green, chili, apple red (top), driftwood, and ash blue (inset), you can go bold or stay neutral, depending on your style. If you’re interested in low-maintenance, durable furniture with a contemporary design, look no further.
An eye-catching rain chain that is tailor-made to fit your needs
This Origami Rain Chain from Nutshell Stores was just the right choice for a downspout on a prominent corner of a new home addition. The area is visible from a large living room window, so I wanted a chain that was attractive but also able to handle heavy rain. Nutshell Stores conveniently provides a “water flow index” to indicate how much rain a chain can handle, and this one is rated a 5 out of 5—the largest capacity. The model I chose comes in black powder coat (pictured), copper plated, or brushed stainless steel and in lengths from 8 to 20 feet. This versatility allowed me to select black to match the trim of the house and a longer length to accommodate the tall roof. The customization and contemporary look made it an excellent fit.
A.M. Leonard Deluxe Soil Knife & Leather Sheath Combo
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MULTITASKING DUAL EDGES: a deep serrated edge and a tapered slicing edge ideal for tough or delicate cuts. DURABLE 6-inch stainless steel blade withstands 300 lbs of pressure. TWINE CUTTING NOTCH, DEPTH GAUGE MARKINGS & spear point – no need to switch tools when using this garden knife. LEATHER SHEATH: heavy duty, protective, clip on sheath to keep your knife convenient and secure. LIFETIME WARRANTY.
Buffalo-Style Gardens: Create a Quirky, One-of-a-Kind Private Garden with Eye-Catching Designs
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Buffalo-Style Gardens is a one-of-a-kind, offbeat garden design book that showcases the wildly inventive gardens and gardeners of Buffalo – and offers readers “the best of the best” ideas to use in their own small-space gardens.
X3 Stainless Steel Midi-Mod Fountain
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3 feet high, it’s a more compact version of the larger X3 Fountain
-9.5″ w by 9.5″ d
-Powdercoat over stainless steal
