Patio Refresh: A Dreamy Escape

Merilee's HomePatioRefreshBefore & AfterMakeover
Written By Merilee Benson

This is my “after”. Check out the before, and the process it took to get here.

Our Patio, Reimagined

When Mark and I bought this house over six years ago, one of the biggest draws was the spacious patio. At our last place, we only had a small deck that looked straight into the neighbor’s windows — not exactly inviting. We even passed on the option for a third car garage just so we could have this outdoor space. We imagined summer evenings with friends, family BBQs, and slow mornings with coffee in hand. A little staycation spot just steps from our back door.

But reality didn’t quite match the dream.

Early on, I bought a patio set made from plastic wicker. At first, it looked nice. But it didn’t take long to realize how frustrating it was to keep clean. Dirt would settle into the crevices and become impossible to wash out — even with a power washer. Eventually, the wicker started cracking and flaking off. The whole set turned brittle and sad. We stopped sitting out there altogether. In fact, we didn’t use the patio at all last summer. That space we’d once prioritized started to feel forgotten.

My old patio set. The plastic was breaking down and the dirt was hard to wash off.

This year, I decided that needed to change. I’ve grown more and more passionate about design — not just inside, but outside too — and this felt like the perfect first refresh project for our blog. I teamed up with my sister Martie, and together we talked through what I wanted this space to feel like. I landed on three words: comfort, modern, oasis.

The Refresh Begins

The first step was furniture. I’d been casually stalking Costco’s outdoor sets for a couple years, and I knew what I didn’t want: no wicker, no plastic, and nothing high-maintenance. I finally landed on a metal set with plush beige cushions, two chairs that both rock and swivel (major win), and a small matching end table.

To complete the setup, I found a coffee table on Amazon that matched perfectly — not too bulky, and just the right size for snacks, drinks, or a game of cards. I also added a coordinating storage bin to tuck everything away during the off-season. I also brought in a fountain to give it that “oasis” vibe.

With the furniture in place, I moved on to the greenery. I love the look of plants, but not the upkeep, so I sourced a few realistic faux plants and found modern pots that brought in some visual interest. Still, the patio was feeling a little sterile... plain, beige, with cooler colors. It felt a little safe. It needed life, warmth, and layers. I had kept the plant-printed pillows from my previous outdoor furniture but I realized I had to replace them because I feel like pillows were the first thing to really change up this look.

Furniture set with a coffee table, greenery, and green & blue tropical pillows.

First attempt: I loved it, but felt like something was missing.

That’s when the fun really began.

Adding Warmth and Whimsy

Martie and I did a little Amazon deep dive and found just the right mix of things to cozy up the space. I brought in more terracotta planters — it’s a classic that never goes out of style — and swapped out my old outdoor pillows for new inserts with soft, washable covers in earthy rusts and warm tones. One of them even matched one of the little terracotta planters I had, which made me way too happy. We also stained our wooden stairs that you can’t really see in these pictures except for a tiny corner in one photo. I also replaced the rug from an ornate, traditional pattern to a more modern one. I’ll always recommend an outdoor rug, it really grounds the space and brings everything together.

I added a couple throw blankets for chilly evenings, and some subtle lighting to set the mood. A few solar-powered lanterns and a small rechargeable light on the coffee table gave the space a soft, glowy charm. Everything, with its matching patterns and colors, really started to come together… it looked layered, lived-in, and relaxed, like it all belonged.

And just like that, we got a brand new patio.

Our Summer Ritual

These days, we’re always out here. Breakfasts in the quiet morning light. Weekend lunches fresh off the grill. Dinners by firelight under the string lights, our BBQ and pizza oven working overtime. It’s calm, cozy, and finally feels like the dreamy retreat we’d hoped for when we first moved in. Our patio staycation, steps away from our living room.

If I could bottle up the way this space makes me feel, I would.

But for now, I’ll settle for soaking up every last bit of summer out here, even cooler fall nights by the fire pit, and maybe inspiring you to carve out a little outdoor escape of your own.

Merilee Benson
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Cozy Corner #1: The Forgotten Spot That Finally Belongs