If you are just talking about the landing get large pots and fill them with seasonal flowers.

Here's some from grandinroad.com

Thank you jck910!

Can anyone else provide some additional much needed advice? Thank you :)

Maybe some stone planters?

Yes, large pots filled with evergreen shrubs. Place them at transition points -- top and bottom of stairs, moving from one section to another and corners. Use them to define spaces. I like to stick with one or two complementary pot colors -- cobalt blue, bronze, black, etc. Choose pots and plants that can remain outside all year because they are HEAVY. Don't skimp on size. Then you can get some smaller, less expensive pots and fill them with colorful annuals. Group them together near the larger pots.

Your furniture is attractive but is it comfortable? Can you add some colorful cushions? And how about a large umbrella near one of the tables or the chaise? The planting area near the patio is an opportunity to add plants with texture. I'm a big fan of ground covers.

A birdbath and some garden art would be fantastic on the patio or in the planting beds. There is an article in the April edition of Fine Gardening magazine that uses garden art exquisitely (IMO) if you can find it.

Don't overdue it. A handful of beautiful pieces would transform your already gorgeous patio. Take your time and have fun.

I think a beautiful cedar or redwood pergola/arbor or patio cover is a must!

I'd attach it to the house on the part where the back door is located

basically like some of the these. (but I'd have it coming off your home, not freestanding like some of these pergolas. I posted them so you could see the wood and the style)

In the interim, here are some other idea

Beautiful. You might consider an awning over your patio door.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/40-x-80-Door-Window-Canopy-Patio-Awning-DIY-Overhead-Door-Clear-Decorator-/192387040987

Especially like the materials you used for the steps and landing/patio as well as including the fountain/bird bath but do take care not to decorate to the point of adding clutter your space.

Potted plants flanking your door could add a welcome vibe.

You might add other plants and/or wind chimes with posts that can be mobile: a wide holiday tree stand can also hold a4"x4"x6' post for hanging brackets and solar lights to be put where you want them when you want them.

Since you have multiple sections in the southern sun, you might consider which one you could add the shade of a pergola over it (or gazebo by it) without blocking the sunlight to the other sections (likely the western most area) and decide if a small pergola or gazebo would suit your plans for the use of the patio.

While cushions could be stored out of the sun when not in use, as you choose your furnishings, so please remember that the southern sun will bleach/fade the color fabrics and even furnishings such as wicker whereas your black metal furnishings could easily be repainted as needed so you can avoid making decisions you might well regret.

Even if you prefer new furnishings for your summer use of your patio, your metal furnishings could be repainted and set in another, perhaps shady, area of your yard with their legs on individual pavers with their tops at ground level.

Your view from your patio will matter so consider what you can do to improve any areas you might prefer looked better even if it is only adding a green hedge visual around the edges of your yard. Pick shrubs that will look good year round. If you are in Zone 7, consider Aucuba or Camellia or the type of Abelia bushes that keep their leaves year round and provide color and/or blooms.

Looking forward to your after pics.

You’ll need sun cover if you want to use this space - it will be hot. Silver lining is flowers like it hot mostly. So you have lots of plant options.

Thanks everyone for the great ideas! Sounds like the overwhelming advice is not to over decorate - good thing, since I'm not good at it - LOL!

@einportlandor thank you :) all of the misc furniture on the lower patio is going to be replaced with a wicker sectional. & fire pit coffee table Once fabric is chosen for that, then I'll get cushions/umbrella for the dining set. As mentioned, the covered item is a fountain.

@Beth H. :- that's a great idea! It's not in the budget now, but will definitely consider the pergola in the future.

@suezbell - I was trying to think how I was going to attach string lights over the the lower patio, so the tree stand is a great idea! I will definitely look into that. And I will have to check on the fade resistant warranty on the wicker furniture - didn't even think to do that. Fabrics will be Sunbrella. I don't have the funds right now for a canopy over the door, but will definitely consider that in the future. We are definitely going to do some sort of hedge in the beds too :) Thanks so much!

Other than plants in large pots on each side of the steps to make the door welcoming, beware clutter on the patio.

Adjacent to the patio, focus on shrubs around the area that keep their beauty year round and some that bloom (preferably w/o briars too near the patio) Check into Aucuba which look good year round and don't attract bees.

A bit farther away, Camillia bushes usually bloom only once and smell great ... but can attract bees. when in bloom.

Still farther away, the variety of Abelia bushes that keep their leaves year round also seem to keep their blooms all summer.

Add some bulbs that will produce colorful flowers in between the shrubs to add some of your favorite flower colors.

Farther away from the yard, you could add flower beds from seeds that attract humming birds and butterflies ... understanding that they will also attract bees (which is why you want them in the distance rather than in pots or beds adjacent to the patio).

Check thrift stores for donated beach umbrella stands and Christmas tree stands. I found several $20 stands for $2 and $4. It is a good idea to paint the stands with 2x spray paint that will adhere to plastic to help block the sunlight that can dry out plastic over time and eventually cause it to crack/split.

Two of the three tree stands I bought are still in good shape and they're at least five years old. The only one that split was knocked off the side of the hill by a bear grabbing the black oil sun flower seed from the bird feeder from it. That bear (didn't see it but it left tracks in the garden) swiped a couple feeders and damaged all but one of the rest. That said, the entertainment value of seed and humming bird bird feeders and a plain concrete bird baths (kept filled with clean water) in the yard that would be visible from the patio are worth having as long as you place them remembering that birds poop wherever they land ... so a post nearby (a half dozen feet or so from it) with hanging brackets would be useful if there is not a tree nearby on which they can land.

Have fun preparing and using your patio.

These are the three places I could see you putting tubs of color. Don't pay any attention to the exact color in the pics as it's schematic. Use whatever color you want. All the the other areas surrounding patio look like landscape beds. We can't tell what's going, or should go on in them, but they can be planted with something promising for the patio. Most of the pictures do not show these bed as viewed from the front ... from the yard (as they are part of a foundation planting, with background, so it's hard to guess what they might need.