2. Mediterranean
A Mediterranean-style patio evokes sunny days in the Old World, with a warm color palate and traditional furniture and accessories. This look complements any Mediterranean- or Spanish-style house, as well as traditional homes.

Outdoor Mediterranean furniture is traditional and sometimes rustic, made of sturdy materials like pine or iron. Most traditional furniture in wicker, teak or aluminum work as a base for the Mediterranean style, Voyles says. Cushions and pillows cement the look. "Base your color palate on warm apricot, rust, cream, and ivory, and accent with greens," Bartron advises.

Complete the look: Outdoor-grade terra cotta floor tile will dramatically change the space into a Mediterranean oasis, and it's relatively inexpensive to lay over concrete, Bartron says. If it's in your budget, brightly-colored decorative tiles inlaid into a wall is another option. Accent patio furniture with inexpensive terra-cotta planters filled with boxwood topiaries or Mediterranean plants like rosemary and lavender, which require little water.