How to Make the Most of Your Petite Patio

Even if your outside space is limited to a petite patio or modest balcony, you can still get plenty of use out of it. With a few clever design ideas, you can transform a small outdoor area into an inviting dining room or a beautiful garden.

The trick is to be creative with storage and consider portable furniture to make a more multipurpose space. You can also use upcycling ideas to decorate on a budget or even grow plants and vegetables. Here are a few ways to make the most out of your petite patio.

Get everything foldable

Choose convenient Patio Furniture options to suit the space. You could either have corner benches fitted to the edges to border the area or even go for a foldable option. Get a foldable umbrella you can put up and dismantle when necessary. You could also consider a foldaway table and chairs. Even a small repurposed trolley would work nicely as a portable garden bar. Make your patio design as flexible as possible.

Create clever storage

For a patio or small balcony, you need practical storage ideas to get the most out of the space. Opt for seating that doubles up as storage for example, such as openable benches or boxes. This idea will also work for small coffee tables. You could even set up shelves and make the most of the vertical space.

Plant a potted mini garden

You can plant fragrant and colorful flowers or even vegetables with only medium-sized pots. If you’re feeling creative you could even make an entire miniature garden in just one pot. Check out this video on how to make a broken pot fairy garden, for example. This would make a quirky conversation piece. 

Use vertical space

When space is limited you need to go higher up. Make the most of the walls and roofing. If you want to update your backyard on a budget you could attach homemade planters to a fence or wall made from upcycled household items. You could also decorate your patio with hanging baskets or lanterns. Why not even plant a vertical garden for an impressive feature piece? This is quite easy using trellis and climber plants. You can DIY this yourself if you’re creative enough. Try using stacked wooden crates, or repurposing an old shelving unit. You can then add plenty of small plants and accessories.

Add texture

If you want to make the space a little more interesting, try adding a bit of texture. Get a decorative rug, which won’t take up any space. You could even invest in a couple of throw pillows or a blanket. These will also double up as warmth in the cooler months, so you can spend longer outside. There’s no reason why you can’t enjoy your petite patio all year round. Here are a few more small outdoor decor tips. There are plenty of fun ways to make the most of your outside space, however small. Choose the style that works best for you.