25 decorating ideas to make your outdoor space awesome this summer

With summer upon us and the holidays looming, we’ve been thinking a lot about how to spruce up our outdoor spaces at home. And it looks like we’re not alone – if you’re like us, you’ve probably noticed that patio decorating is selling out fast online. But we’ve rounded up dozens of options here – suitable for small apartment balconies, large backyards and townhouse patios – all still in stock and all shippable to your 40s.

Attached are our favorite ways to amp up your outdoor space this summer.

Invest in an outdoor sofa *with* cushions

It’s hard to overemphasize the difference cushions make on outdoor furniture. They make seating more comfortable, of course, but they also make a patio or deck feel like a true extension of your living space.

Add a spot for an outdoor coffee or cocktail

The key to turning even a small apartment balcony into a pleasant escape from indoor quarantine? A bistro set.

Upgrade your socially distant pendant lights with a fire pit

A way to make sure you stay at least six feet from your friends? Put a fire between you.

Take a nap in a hammock (because your next tropical vacation is probably far away)

Island breezes and ocean views can’t be delivered to your doorstep, but they can. Just add frozen cocktails.

Hang twinkle lights, since every date night is now at home

It can be hard to make takeout romantic, especially after 10 weeks of quarantine with a raging global pandemic. But somehow, fairy lights always make a patio more special. (Don’t forget the wine.)

Add some kind of entertainment

Because binging Netflix can be quite depressing when the weather is nice.

Senior Writer

Marisa M. Kashino joined Washingtonian in 2009 as an editor and became editor in 2014. She oversees the magazine’s real estate and home design coverage and writes feature films. She was a 2020 Livingston Prize finalist for her two-part investigation into a wrongful conviction stemming from a murder in rural Virginia.