7 Family-Friendly Small Backyard Patio Ideas

If you have a small backyard patio and a family that actually uses it, you want it to look good, but it also has to work hard. Ours does both, and I want to walk you through how we made that happen.

And there are other things like colorful summer fashion, our dining chairs on sale and more. It’s Sunday Faves time with Annie and Cindy.

Our grandchildren and and their parents are here for four weeks and here’s how we made our small covered patio here in Jacksonville work for all of us.

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1. Anchor the Seating Area With a Rug

The recent change in this space was the striped indoor-outdoor washable rug under the main seating area. It reads as natural fiber from a distance but wipes clean, holds up to wet feet, and is soft enough for the grandchildren’s knees.

2. Give the Kids Their Own Corner

This is the change I’m most happy about, and honestly the one I’d recommend first to anyone with young kids in the mix.

We tucked a small white table with two simple slatted wood chairs into the corner of the patio, right next to a chair. A coloring book, a cup of markers, Play Dough and a little cordless lamp with a rattan shade, and that corner becomes the most popular spot with Louisa and Leo.

A few reasons this works so well:

• It’s sized for them.
• It’s adjacent to the adults. Kids stay close and feel included.
• It keeps the mess contained. Markers and coloring books on a dedicated kids’ table means they’re not spreading out across the coffee table tray or the dining table.
• The lamp was the right touch. The small cordless lamp with a rattan shade is practical.

3. Have the Safety of a Pool Fence Installed Until The Kids’ Swimming Skills Are Proficient

This gives us some peace of mind with toddlers (not shown but trust me, it is there when little kids are here).

4. Keep the Main Seating Comfortable

The main sectional has clean-lined wood frame furniture with sand cushions and graphic black and white pillows (striped lumbar). We like that the arms are wide enough to hold a drink. The round concrete drum is a coffee table in Summer and a fire pit in winter.

5. Set a Simple Table For Casual Meals

The pair of slim cordless table lamps are restaurant quality from Quince (six colors).

They aren’t cheap but they hold a charge and provide a good amount of light. And I think they are worth the investment. They get good reviews in spite of the price.

The outdoor woven bistro chairs are on sale.

6. Use Hooks and Think Vertically

With a small patio, the walls are not wasted space. We installed a long wood hook rail below the outdoor television, and it’s one of the most functional things in the entire yard.

7. Consider An Outdoor Television

There is a lot of sports viewing going on out here. Especially with World Cup Soccer right now.

Our small backyard patio is our favorite place to gather throughout the day.

Also…

Our Dining Chairs Are On Sale

And the beaded chandelier is 20% off.

Louisa’s bathing suit • Alexandra’s hat (I have one and bought one for her) • Sardine sunglasses that really cut the pool glare and come in the cute Cabana travel Case + Microfiber Cleaning Pouch, 100% UVA and UVB Protection

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