Spruce up your patio this summer with these neutral summer patio decorating ideas. Glean a few outdoor living tips to help you make the most of your backyard space!
Neutral Summer Patio Decorating Ideas
From spring until late fall, we love to take advantage of all of our beautiful outdoor spaces! We have two porches in the front, a deck off of the barn/shed, our back patio, and our rustic fire pit. Out of all of our outdoor spaces, the back patio is by far the most popular! It is where everyone seems to gravitate, so I like to switch up the look a few times during the season just for fun. Today I’m sharing our neutral, everyday look with you. This look is pared down and comfy like a good pair of chinos and wedges!
Outdoor Living Tips
One of the best tips I have regarding keeping your outdoor living area looking fresh all season is to store your cushions and accessories when not in use. It may sound like a pain to put it all away, but with the help of child labor it’s very easy to tear down and set-up in a flash! We have open shelving units in the shed/barn which hold all of the cushions. The boys know where everything goes and with their help I’m able to put it all away when needed. I leave our outdoor rugs outside all summer, but all of the cushions and sometimes the umbrella get stored during inclement weather.
Define Your Rooms and Make Them Cozy
I love a patio that feels more like outdoor rooms! Define your sitting area the same way you would indoors with a smart space plan and cozy accessories. A sectional sofa, additional chairs, poufs, and garden stools can all be arranged to provide conversational seating. 
Use Texture to Add Interest
When decorating with neutrals, it’s important to layer textures to keep the space from looking too flat and boring. Cable knits, macrame, and tasselled accessories in neutral tones are all great options to consider! You can shop all of the items I used in this space at the end of the post if interested.
Take Advantage of Container Planters
Planters are a fantastic way to add small pops of color to your otherwise neutral palette! I love to rotate my planters and move them around to suit my mood. Ferns, topiaries, and florals are all beautiful accessories that enliven a neutral space.
Use Outdoor Rugs
Indoor/outdoor rugs are one of the best inventions ever! They help ground your outdoor space, clean up easily, feel great under foot, and look beautiful. I prefer not to spend a lot of money on our outdoor rugs since I tend to change the look of our space often. If your patio is full sun you can get away with keeping your rugs out all season. If you’re in the shade, you may have to store the rug when not in use. Consistently wet rugs will mildew and rot.
Rugs in darker shades obviously will stay cleaner looking for longer. I use an outdoor blower once a week to keep the patio clean. I also use a broom between blowing as needed.
Creating the Perfect Al Fresco Dining Space
We eat most of our dinners outdoors during the summer. Our patio is typically shaded during dinner time and it’s a beautiful spot to dine! The metal chairs are stackable and can be easily moved around to accomodate guests. I like having the bench on one side of the table for kids.
I often fill a bucket with clippings from the yard for a quick, easy, and free flower arrangement. It looks great and stays put on the table until it needs freshening. 
On hot summer nights, I use an oscillating fan to keep us cool and blow the bugs away. We store it in the shed when not in use. It’s a great investment to keep guests cool outdoors when entertaining!
Shop My Patio
All source links for my patio furniture and accessories are listed below. Click on the thumbnails for the products which interest you.
For more outdoor living inspiration, please click on the following links below to visit my blog friends’ beautiful outdoor spaces!
Ella Claire & Co. | Zevy Joy | Inspired by Charm
City Farmhouse | Rooms for Rent | French Country Cottage
Maison de Cinq | Boxwood Avenue | Home Stories A to Z
Your patio sectional looks so beautiful!
Curious question: how has it lasted outdoors since you’ve gotten it? I’ve contemplated getting it but the mixed review on the website sway me (i.e. rusting/resulting in it bleeding and staining the ground, waterlogged pillows, etc).
Sorry for the delayed response! For the price I’ve been incredibly impressed with the look, comfort, and quality. That being said, the cushions do take awhile to dry out if you allow them to get soaked in heavy downpours. I store the cushions on rainy days. I also prop them up on a corner of the pillow when they accidentally get wet and they dry quicker. I haven’t had the bleeding/staining issue this year, but when we first had them a weird rust color would leak from the legs when it rained heavily. It never stained my patio and I wasn’t sure if it was rust or an interior paint running off. Fortunately that hasn’t been an ongoing issue. We use this sectional daily and it’s withstood the wear and tear beautifully so far.
Hi Beth, I am new to your blog but after visiting it I learned several ideas about Neutral Summer Patio Decorating. I must say you have done a lot of hard work and finally successful. Thank you for sharing your own experience with us and want like this regularly.
Wow, Beth, you have such a beautiful yard.
Thank you so much!
Awesome idea! It is just beautiful!
Your backyard space is beautiful! I love the neutrals…so calming & relaxing. =) My jaw dropped when I saw your rug under your outdoor dining table…can you please share the source? Thanks so much!
Sorry so late in responding! The rug is just an inexpensive Walmart rug by the Mainstay brand found in-store. I couldn’t find a link for it online.
What a yard! And beautiful space you created Beth!!
Thanks so much Jen!
When I first saw the picture of your yard, I gasped! It is so beautiful and peaceful! I can almost hear the birds chirping. Such a beautiful job, Beth!
Beth your yard is SO stunning! It’s absolutely a favorite of mine – and I love your neutral decor and rug!
Wishing you lots of fun summer days and nights out here!
Sheila
xo