Outdoor Living Spaces: Updating the Patio with Summer Color

In this post: Do your outdoor living spaces look the same year after year? Here are tips to update your patio decor using inexpensive accessories in summer colors.⇒

Is your patio decorated exactly the same every year?

Several years ago in our old house, we bought an outdoor dining table with floral printed chair cushions. It was very pretty the first year. And kind of nice the next few years. But after a while, it got really boring. The same print. Every. Year. And it was too busy to style much else.

So I began to hate it.

If this is you or you’d like to avoid a similar experience, read on. Today I’m talking about how to update your outdoor living spaces with accent colors, particularly what I perceive as the colors of summer.

Outdoor Living Spaces

Now to start off, it certainly helps if your large furniture purchases were bought in neutral colors. Our sectional couch has a rattan frame and natural cushions. The tables are cream and teak wood, which allowed us to go in any direction color-wise.

At first I was non-committal and for each event I chose a completely new palette, allowing the pillows to drive the color direction. Mostly I dragged outside a selection of indoor pillows and needed to put them away when the event was over. You can see the patio styled that way in sunbaked colors HERE, in lilac and yellow HERE, and in florals for fall HERE.

But ultimately I wanted outdoor pillows that could stay out all summer and I made the commitment to go with blue and white. I bought planters to match and eventually added a blue rug to really pull the space together. It looked fabulous and much like an outdoor living room and you can see the result in my OUTDOOR LOUNGE post.

Still, as pretty as blue and white is, I began to worry that I would get bored with this pairing year after year. When it was just pillows they were easy enough to swap out, but now I had committed to a rug, too.

The simple solution was to find accent colors that could work with my palette and I enjoy picking a color story each year to update the look. Last fall I updated with BURNT ORANGE accents, but this year I chose to use vivid summer brights in yellow and fuchsia.

Here are 6 ways to add summer color to your outdoor living spaces.

1. Flowers

Ok, this one’s the most obvious and, in my opinion, the most fun! It’s also where I always start. If you pick your color palette and buy all your accessories first, only to get to the nursery and find that nothing blooming fits your scheme, you’re kind of stuck. So I flip it: I let the flowers lead the way. I chose cheerful fuchsia impatiens and sunny yellow begonias, knowing they’d pop beautifully against my blue and white chinoiserie pots.

Helpful tip: When shopping for plants, bring a photo of your patio or even one of your key accessories, like a pillow or planter, to help visualize how the flowers will coordinate in your space.

2. Books and magazines

Books and magazines are such an easy and unexpected way to add a splash of color, both inside and out. I love curling up with a good read on the patio, so having a little stack nearby just makes sense. But when I’m entertaining, I take it a step further and pick titles that are not only fun to flip through but also coordinate with my seasonal color palette. Whether it’s a glossy garden book or a vibrant travel magazine, the covers add a pop of color while setting the mood.

Helpful tip: Try placing a few books or magazines in a woven basket or on a small tray table to make the space feel styled and intentional without being fussy.

3. Tabletop items

You’re going to be serving anyway, so why not let your dishes and drinkware pull double duty by adding to your color scheme? A bright yellow pitcher is perfect for sangria or lemonade, while pink glass bowls are just right for scoops of ice cream or fresh berries. You can mix in colorful stemware, patterned plates, playful napkins, and serving platters that echo your accent colors. It’s such an easy way to reinforce your palette while keeping things functional and festive.

Helpful tip: If you entertain often, consider building a small collection of inexpensive seasonal tabletop pieces you can rotate each year to keep things fresh without overhauling your entire setup.

4. Throw blankets

One of the simplest ways to bring in a burst of color, and make your patio feel extra inviting, is with a throw blanket. I added a fuchsia throw to the seating area, and not only does it tie in beautifully with the flowers and accessories, but it also adds a soft, relaxed vibe to the space. Plus, when the sun dips and the evening gets a little chilly, it’s nice to have something cozy within reach.

Helpful tip: Look for lightweight, washable throws that are easy to toss in a basket or drape over a chair so they stay pretty and practical all season long.

5. Fruit and other food items

Never underestimate how much color and charm food can add to your patio decor. A bowl full of lemons, a pile of peaches, or even a tray of vibrant appetizers can become an eye-catching part of your setup. I wouldn’t limit the entire menu to a color scheme, but for that first impression when guests arrive, a thoughtfully placed platter in your accent hues can make the whole space feel pulled together and intentional.

Helpful tip: Use simple white or neutral serving pieces to let the color of the food shine, and place them where they’ll catch the light for the biggest visual impact.

6. Pillows

Pillows are probably the easiest and most impactful way to change up your patio color scheme. Even though I already had a group I loved, I still added one or two new ones to bring in fresh accent colors and tie everything together. Just a few colorful cushions can make the whole space feel updated, layered, and thoughtfully styled without a major investment.

Helpful tip: Mix solids with subtle patterns for a curated look, and consider outdoor-friendly pillow covers so you can easily switch them out with the seasons.

What I haven’t yet mentioned, but also needs to be considered, is the color in your natural setting, from the exterior of your house to the trees and natural elements nearby. If you have a huge red bush, you’re not going to be able to ignore it, so better to work with it as part of your design.

In our case it’s all green trees and natural siding, so it’s not a major issue that limits our styling.

And what if you have floral cushions like I had with that early dining table? 

What I didn’t realize then is that you could simply work the same concept but do it in reverse. Rather than using several colors to add interest to a simple palette, instead pull out one individual color from the pattern for your accent, using a different one each year to highlight in your patio decor.

If you love summer as much as I do and enjoy spending time outside, these inexpensive tips and tricks will keep your outdoor living spaces looking fresh and new, year after year!

Please enjoy my friends’ posts linked below!

Town and Country Living | Shabbyfufu | Sand and Sisal | On Sutton Place

A Burst of Beautiful – StoneGable – Maison de Cinq – The Wicker House