The Makings of a Patio & Garden That Feels Like Home

Let me paint you a picture: It’s a brilliant, blue-sky sun-filled day. You’re brimming with optimism and eager to savor the readily available rays from the comfort of your patio. You take one step outside — armed with an iced coffee in one hand and your latest read in the other — and take one look at your well-loved (worn-down) and eclectic (mismatched) patio furniture before retreating to your impeccably-appointed living room to escape the chaos of your own creation.

Sound familiar? Fret not, friend — you’re in good company with this scenario. Even though I’m a commerce writer with nearly a decade of experience in the design and lifestyle world, I, too, am guilty of furnishing my outdoor spaces with trendy and inexpensive pieces that, without fail, succumb to the elements after one season.

The good news? Transforming a dysfunctional deck or patio into a place that looks and feels like a true extension of your living room may seem like a Herculean task, but it's easier than you think — and I'm here to show you how to execute using just a handful of products. Enter: Plow & Hearth.

Plow & Hearth, a US-based retailer founded in 1980, is my one-stop shop for scoring high-quality, expertly crafted outdoor furnishings and accessories. Below, I am sharing a step-by-step guide for transforming your porch or patio into an elevated and comfortable outdoor living room and entertaining space with carefully curated furniture and accessories that promise to withstand the test of time.

Create a Fresh Canvas Underfoot

First order of business? Roll out a neutral all-weather area rug to bring texture and interest underfoot. There are endless outdoor rugs available online, and while I’ve always been a fan of summery palm frond motifs and sand cabana stripes, I find that jute-inspired rugs are the superior option for cultivating an indoor-outdoor appeal. Jute and rope rug designs boast natural color variation and a rich woven texture that hides a multitude of sins (read: muddy paw prints, sneaker scuffs and apple juice mishaps).

The Indoor Outdoor Beachcomber Border Rug is a standout choice for creating a fashionable foundation for your patio or deck design. The neutral jute-inspired piece is weather-proof, UV-stabilized for fade-resistance and pairs seamlessly with warm or cool-toned outdoor furnishings. Plus, the polished border detail lends the Beachcomber an elegant look that feels in keeping with indoor area rugs.

Treat Yourself to New Seating

With your new rug in place, the real fun begins. Retire your worn-down patio furniture and treat yourself to a set that looks like an extension of your interior furnishings and will stand the test of time, physically and stylistically. Layer seating atop your rug to create an alfresco lounge that your loved ones will flock to year-round for happy hour drinks and cozy conversations over their morning coffee. The Montross 6-Piece Seating Set is my top pick for cultivating an authentic living room feel in an outdoor space. The timeless wicker set features a soft, smoky-gray finish and comes primed for summer entertaining, offering seating for seven of your favorite people.

Each Montross set includes a spacious sloped-arm sofa, two armchairs and a pair of cushion-clad ottomans that nest neatly below the contemporary coffee table between uses. All items are made to last, with stainless steel frames, all-weather wicker and weather-proof cream cushions.

Pack Patterns With Pillows

If I said it once, I’ve said it a thousand times — never underestimate the impact of a stylish throw pillow! And, yes, the sentiment applies indoors and out. Create cozy, inviting seating by adding a stylish accent pillow to your outdoor bench, sofa or lounge chair.

If you want to create an indoor-outdoor feel on your patio, I recommend choosing outdoor pillows that forgo kitschy seasonal patterns in favor of simple, streamlined designs you would happily incorporate in your living room or den. This blue-and-white hooked pillow design brings a traditional and elevated flair to outdoor furniture and a dynamic texture that shines against solid upholstery and wooden frames alike.

Add a Fiery Focal Point

String lights are stunning, and lanterns are lovely, but if you really want to up the ambiance in your outdoor space, nothing quite compares to the glow of an open flame. Fire pits and tables wash your patio with natural warmth and a dreamy golden light that draws people in for late-night entertaining.

Aesthetics aside, I recommend fire pits for outdoor spaces because they offer year-round benefits. The smoke they produce acts as a natural deterrent for mosquitoes during warm weather months, and the heat allows you to maximize your outdoor space for entertaining throughout fall and winter.

My top recommendation to bring the glow to your patio? The Gilbert Outdoor LP Gas Fire Pit. The streamlined, weather-resistant design is handcrafted from stainless steel and features a push-to-start button and a hidden control panel for smooth operation. Each Gilbert pit features a 30,000 BTU stainless steel burner powered by a concealed propane tank to provide long-lasting flames. Bonus: The slatted tabletop provides stylish parking for guests’ fireside cocktails or crudités at your next outdoor event.

Enliven Your Outdoor Walls With a Trellis

One of the first things I noticed when we bought our house was how bare the exterior walls appeared. Sound familiar? Follow my lead and breathe new life into your porch, deck or patio walls with a gorgeous garden trellis.

The Montebello Metal Tall Garden Trellis measures nine feet tall and makes a striking statement against any exterior wall with its romantic flourishes and burnished bronze finish. The Montebello is suitable for all outdoor spaces as it's designed to be staked in the ground, mounted onto a wall or used as a stand-alone structure. Better yet, the handsome trellis is steel-forged and features rustproof hardware to ensure it stands the test of time.

Once your trellis is in place, head to your local nursery and work with a gardening expert to determine the best plant to train based on your specific soil and sun exposure. If you need inspiration before heading to the store, I recommend inquiring about star jasmine. We employed star jasmine to climb our trellis because the evergreen vine is low maintenance, fast-growing and produces white blooms that envelop your entire yard in a creamy, dreamy fragrance each season.

Or, Install All-Weather Artwork

No green thumb? No problem. You can skip the trellis and still bring some flower power to your exterior with the help of this blooming outdoor artwork. This eye-catching canvas features a vibrant aqua, yellow and pink color palette and abstract peony and anemone blossoms that shine against any exterior wall. Another idea? Create a dreamy plate wall behind your patio table using durable and shatterproof melamine serveware.

Invest in Alfresco Dining

Does your dining room table creak and shift under your forearms between each bite? No, no it does not! Consider this your sign to part ways with your worn-down, wobbly patio table and treat yourself to an outdoor dining set that feels as enduring and elegant as the one indoors. The Claremont Eucalyptus Outdoor Dining Table & Chairs fits the bill – and then some.

The handsome, solid eucalyptus table provides comfortable seating for six guests. The Claremont is my top dining set recommendation because it features a timeless silhouette and a mid-toned stain that complements transitional, farmhouse, contemporary and coastal patios alike. The sturdy table features an X-leg, horizontal beam base that lends a craftsman touch to the design and enables you to tuck the armchairs tidily under the table without obstruction. Each table comes with six coordinating X-back armchairs with comfortable slatted seats that look dapper with or without cushions.

Bring the Drama With Drapes

Window treatments are an essential finishing touch to bring softness and privacy to all your indoor spaces. Why not bring those same perks to your covered porch, patio or pergola while you’re at it?

The Grasscloth Outdoor Curtain Panels are a water-, mildew-, and fade-resistant polyester design woven with a grasscloth texture that appears natural, yet elevated, outdoors. Each panel comes with a tie-back, a pull wand and a bottom anchor grommet. Create contrast and drama with the dreamy navy finish pictured below, or opt for the white or gray finish to bring a bright, airy look to your space.

Weave in Sentimental Touches

Your bookshelves, consoles and bedside tables are brimming with tchotchkes and touches that pack personality and sentimentality throughout your home. Don’t let the storytelling end outdoors! One way to make your deck, patio or porch feel like an extension of your indoor spaces is by investing in accessories and sculptures that honor meaningful family lore.

Mother of three? This darling mother duck and trio of waddling ducklings would add charm a-go-go to your deck-side flowerbeds and earn compliments aplenty as the focal point of the patio table during your annual Mother’s Day brunch. Other ideas include a classical bust that pays homage to your Italian honeymoon or a stone dragonfly sculpture that honors your late grandmother.

Lead the Way to Your Garden

Your home uses hallways to transition from one room to the next, and your garden would benefit from some built-in direction, too. Take the guesswork out of the equation and guide guests throughout your outdoor space using thoughtfully placed garden arbors.

Arbors are one of the most overlooked outdoor additions that create an established and elegant feeling in your garden. Install an arbor over your stepping stones or pea gravel path to lead the way to your yard's most prized corners. The structures make a stunning first impression when installed in front of a garden gate, near a paved patio or just outside a fenced-in pool.

The Bronze Montelbello Metal Garden Arbor is a natural choice for all outdoor spaces. The stunning arch measures seven feet tall and features a timeless pattern that brings beauty to your yard with or without climbing blooms.

Set Up a Songbird Spa

Cultivate a relationship with your local feathered friends and bring beauty to your flower beds in one fell swoop with a new bird bath.This whimsical bird bath stand is a stunning option to tuck into the corner of your porch or nestle between the blooming bushes on your patio-adjacent flower bed.

The free-standing metal bath can hold up to two inches of water and features a 360-degree design that looks good from any angle in your garden.

Create Symmetry With Planters

From bedside dressers and living room side tables, to built-in bookshelves flanking your family room fireplace and wall-mounted sconces illuminating your bathroom mirror – symmetry is at play in every room in your house. Use symmetry to bring a familiar polish and elegance to your outdoor space using planter duos.

Framing your front door with flower-filled planters is one of the quickest ways to crank up your curb appeal and create stately symmetry on your front porch. The Lexington Tall Self-Watering Planter is my pick to get the job done. Each planter measures 32 inches tall and features beadboard-inspired paneling that pairs seamlessly with transitional and traditional exteriors. The Lexington planter is waterproof, UV-protected and features a sub-irrigation reservoir to cater to established plants. It even has a double wall for temperature regulation and comes in two classic colorways: white and black.

Brighten Your Flower Beds with a Flag

If you love the idea of installing wall art on your exterior, but have zero energy to locate or purchase the hammer and nails necessary to get the job done, this is for you. Add vibrancy and seasonal style to your flowerbeds with a staked garden flag like this cheerful hydrangea and butterfly design. These affordable accents are inexpensive and easy to swap out throughout the year to reflect upcoming holidays and add personality to your outdoor space.