Small Patio Ideas On A Budget | Design Ideas for Small Backyard

Check out our small patio makeover on a budget! The patio makeover has a few DIYs, some string lights & a rustic outdoor coffee table. You will love the before and after pictures of this budget friendly small patio makeover.

The warm days are *almost* here which means we’ll be spending more time outside. To say I’m excited would be an understatement. (Summer lover, here!)

Something I’m not that excited about? Our boring, ugly, blah, small patio…

Small Patio Makeover (the before):

It took me awhile to come up with a design plan for this space because there wasn’t a lot of room to work with and I was trying to keep this project budget friendly.

Just because you have a small patio space, doesn’t mean you have to break the bank to turn it into an oasis.

Here’s how we completely transformed this small patio area and turned it into a pretty and functional space. With the right patio furniture layout, some string lights and a DIY here & there – it’s now a space where we actually like to hangout.

Small Patio Ideas On A Budget

Here’s a look at our budget friendly small patio makeover with tons of ‘after’ photos to give you some ideas for your small outdoor area.

(Affiliate links are provided below for convenience. For more information see my disclosure, here.)

How to Turn Your Small Patio Into An Oasis

I was able to make great use of the limited space by positioning four chairs on each corner of the patio. This creates a sense of coziness by having all of the seating face toward the center of the patio and maximizes the small patio area available for seating.

Small Patio Furniture

I snagged these chairs on sale for 60% off! These patio chairs are no longer available, but here’s a similar option from World Market.

For a more budget friendly option (with a similar look), this 3pc set from Amazon is an amazing deal! It has great reviews and is an ‘Amazon’s Choice’ product so I feel like it’s a good option for any small patio space.

GET THE LOOK

Have a little more space? These sectionals and patio furniture sets look so comfy (& cute)!

Small Patio DIY Coffee Table

Since we this was a budget small patio makeover (keyword budget) we decided to DIY our outdoor table. You can get the full step-by-step tutorial on how we did that in this post: How To Build a DIY Coffee Table. Our design for the table was based off of this industrial style coffee table from Amazon.

Not in the mood for a DIY? Here’s a few outdoor coffee tables that would work great with a small outdoor patio area.

Related: DIY Raised Beds for a Small Backyard Garden

How Do You Style An Outdoor Area?

To create a patio area that feels like an extension of your living room, you gotta add some accessories. Wondering how to make your small patio more comfortable?

Here’s how I decorated our small patio to make it look nice, but also feel cozy too.

I picked up the outdoor throw pillows from Target’s outdoor clearance section. I didn’t specifically intend to go for the patriotic vibe in this space, but I also don’t regret it! Who says you can’t decorate with red, white, and blue all year long?

GET THE LOOK

The wicker lantern was, you guessed it, another clearance find. But there’s a ton of really cute options on Amazon. This one has great reviews and is an ‘Amazon’s Choice’ product which is always a good sign.

GET THE LOOK

Dual Purpose Items For Small Patio Design

Want an easy patio idea on a budget? Find some dual purpose patio furniture for your small patio!

I thought these side tables were perfect for this space because not only do they offer a place to set drinks, but they can also double as extra seating, if needed. Win-win.

Dual purpose pieces like side tables that can also be stools make a big difference when trying to style a small outdoor area.

I found these side tables at Target, and after being marked down by 70% they were a steal for only $11 each!

Here are a few end table / stool combos for your small patio!

GET THE LOOK

Outdoor Rugs for Small Patio

I arranged all of my small patio furniture around this woven geometric outdoor rug with the DIY coffee table in the center.  I love how the zigzag design, although neutral, adds a lot of interest to the space.

Related: 9 Outdoor Rugs On Amazon That’ll Transform Your Outdoor Space

Adding a rug to an outdoor space is a great way to instantly feel at home in your outdoor space. All the more reason to kick off the shoes for a relaxing night under the glow of the string lights.

How to Hang String Lights On A Small Patio

Curious how we hung string lights in a backyard with no trees? Here’s how we got the cozy outdoor patio lighting using two thin pipes. You can easily use this small patio string light idea for your backyard.

I ordered these shatterproof LED globe string lights on Amazon and enlisted the help of my handy husband to hang them using 1/2″ black iron pipe. End caps at the tops gave the pipes a nice finished look, and a fence-post-driver made for a quick and easy installation, driving them straight into the ground.

He drilled 1/4″ holes just below the pipe caps, and attached the string lights using eyelet bolts and S-hooks. Framing the patio with these lights was the perfect touch to get the cozy outdoor patio lighting I was after.

To finish off the entire my small patio budget makeover I planted some pretty flowers in mini whiskey barrels and framed the patio with one on each corner.

Bonus: the cedar wood gives off such a pleasant outdoorsy smell – yum!

I’m so happy to have an outdoor space where we can slow down and really live in the moment. We find ourselves talking about our days or laughing at the dog as she rolls around in the grass for 5 minutes straight.

Want my A-to-Z blueprint on how to design a room that’s beautiful and stylish?

For more outdoor & backyard ideas, checkout these posts:

• How to Build a Rustic DIY Coffee Table
• 9 Outdoor Rugs on Amazon That’ll Transform Your Outdoor Space
• How to Build DIY Raised Garden Beds That Will Last For Years!
• Best Raised Garden Bed Designs | Ultimate Guide
• How to Install Automatic Drip Water System for Plants

Do you have a small patio space you love? What’s your favorite way to enjoy the outdoors during the spring and summer? 

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Small Patio Design Ideas | Before & After Pictures