The 10 Most Popular Patios and Decks of 2020
Get ideas for your outdoor lounging, dining and cooking spaces from this year’s top patios and decks
Annie Thornton
December 19, 2020
Houzz Editorial Staff
This Trending Now story features the most-saved patio and deck photos uploaded to Houzz since Jan. 1, 2020.
As many people spent more time at home this year, they looked for ways to stretch their living space to the max. And outdoor areas offered abundant possibilities to add space for lounging, cooking, playing and relaxing. Here, a countdown of the 10 most-popular patio and deck photos of 2020 shows various ways designers create stylish, hardworking areas to enhance and extend living space outside.
As many people spent more time at home this year, they looked for ways to stretch their living space to the max. And outdoor areas offered abundant possibilities to add space for lounging, cooking, playing and relaxing. Here, a countdown of the 10 most-popular patio and deck photos of 2020 shows various ways designers create stylish, hardworking areas to enhance and extend living space outside.
10. A Stylish, Compact Side Yard
Privacy can be a top concern in outdoor spaces, especially for folks in urban areas or with close neighbors. Here, a dark-stained cedar fence with horizontal boards in varying sizes adds privacy without closing off views in the side yard of a duplex in Basalt, Colorado, by AXIS Productions. Lanterns, stylish patio furniture and portable string lights fill out the otherwise blank-slate space, creating an inviting and comfortable outdoor living room.
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Privacy can be a top concern in outdoor spaces, especially for folks in urban areas or with close neighbors. Here, a dark-stained cedar fence with horizontal boards in varying sizes adds privacy without closing off views in the side yard of a duplex in Basalt, Colorado, by AXIS Productions. Lanterns, stylish patio furniture and portable string lights fill out the otherwise blank-slate space, creating an inviting and comfortable outdoor living room.
Find a landscape designer on Houzz
9. Breezy Lounge in the Shade
This covered outdoor area in Phoenix uploaded by Unique Landscapes and Custom Pool features an oversize pergola that shades a 480-square-foot patio under gauzy white fabric. The pergola structure secures the fabric pieces in multiple areas so the cover will stay in place even on windy days.
The inviting space designed by Iconic Design + Build also features an outdoor kitchen, dining area, gas fireplace and lounge. Brick pillars anchor the pergola posts, framing 14 linear feet of built-in seating. Opposite the seating, the outdoor kitchen has an easy-to-clean porcelain tile countertop and backsplash.
This covered outdoor area in Phoenix uploaded by Unique Landscapes and Custom Pool features an oversize pergola that shades a 480-square-foot patio under gauzy white fabric. The pergola structure secures the fabric pieces in multiple areas so the cover will stay in place even on windy days.
The inviting space designed by Iconic Design + Build also features an outdoor kitchen, dining area, gas fireplace and lounge. Brick pillars anchor the pergola posts, framing 14 linear feet of built-in seating. Opposite the seating, the outdoor kitchen has an easy-to-clean porcelain tile countertop and backsplash.
8. Outdoor Dining Destination
Interior designer Jill Sorenson transformed the covered outdoor area next to her midcentury ranch home in Los Angeles into multiple al fresco dining areas. A larger dining table with bench seating sits under a solid outdoor roof. Bar stools offer a convenient spot to sit outside a kitchen pass-through window, and an additional bar area overlooks the yard. Durable synthetic rattan black-and-white chevron weave furniture can handle being left out in the elements in Southern California.
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Interior designer Jill Sorenson transformed the covered outdoor area next to her midcentury ranch home in Los Angeles into multiple al fresco dining areas. A larger dining table with bench seating sits under a solid outdoor roof. Bar stools offer a convenient spot to sit outside a kitchen pass-through window, and an additional bar area overlooks the yard. Durable synthetic rattan black-and-white chevron weave furniture can handle being left out in the elements in Southern California.
Shop for outdoor dining furniture
7. Stepped-Up Backyard Deck
This space in Perth, Australia, by Outside In demonstrates how you can elegantly and effectively make the most of a grade change outside. Cascading decked terraces gradually lead to a covered outdoor lounge, dining and cooking area. The wide steps make the transition up to the deck an easy journey and can also double as overflow seating. The deck overlooks the entire backyard.
This space in Perth, Australia, by Outside In demonstrates how you can elegantly and effectively make the most of a grade change outside. Cascading decked terraces gradually lead to a covered outdoor lounge, dining and cooking area. The wide steps make the transition up to the deck an easy journey and can also double as overflow seating. The deck overlooks the entire backyard.
6. High-Drama Design
The eye-catching black-and-wood roofed structure in this design from KLH Custom Homes in Grand Rapids, Michigan, adds drama and contrast to the light-colored ground and patio furniture. The ceiling provides a beautiful contrast to the black frame, showcasing the sloped roofline and dramatically lightening up what could otherwise have been an overly dark space.
The eye-catching black-and-wood roofed structure in this design from KLH Custom Homes in Grand Rapids, Michigan, adds drama and contrast to the light-colored ground and patio furniture. The ceiling provides a beautiful contrast to the black frame, showcasing the sloped roofline and dramatically lightening up what could otherwise have been an overly dark space.
5. Cozy, Elevated Covered Patio
This covered patio by Fautt Homes brings many of the comforts of home outside. The vaulted wood ceiling protects the outdoor lounge and grill area underneath from rain and harsh sun, with its rich wood finish creating a warm and cozy vibe.
The covered area also features an outdoor kitchen, built-in storage, cushy furniture and a wall-mounted TV, adding to the comfort factor. With the large rock fireplace and mounted heaters, patio season could stretch year-round in this design’s California locale.
This covered patio by Fautt Homes brings many of the comforts of home outside. The vaulted wood ceiling protects the outdoor lounge and grill area underneath from rain and harsh sun, with its rich wood finish creating a warm and cozy vibe.
The covered area also features an outdoor kitchen, built-in storage, cushy furniture and a wall-mounted TV, adding to the comfort factor. With the large rock fireplace and mounted heaters, patio season could stretch year-round in this design’s California locale.
4. Backyard for Year-Round Enjoyment
To help a family get more out of their narrow outdoor space, Stephan Sardone of Sardone Construction divided their Dallas backyard into multiple zones, including this pergola-covered dining area and lounge.
The lounge is enclosed by a cedar structure that is vaulted but open, something the clients specifically requested. “They had a lot of shade already and didn’t want more, and the porch along the back of the house provides protection from rain,” Sardone says. He built the pergola so the clients can add a roof in the future if they want.
Learn more about this backyard project
To help a family get more out of their narrow outdoor space, Stephan Sardone of Sardone Construction divided their Dallas backyard into multiple zones, including this pergola-covered dining area and lounge.
The lounge is enclosed by a cedar structure that is vaulted but open, something the clients specifically requested. “They had a lot of shade already and didn’t want more, and the porch along the back of the house provides protection from rain,” Sardone says. He built the pergola so the clients can add a roof in the future if they want.
Learn more about this backyard project
3. Elegant, Hardworking Pergola
The substantial structure of this pergola from Magleby Construction in Lindon, Utah, creates a defined yet open outdoor lounge. A frosted glass ceiling covers the roof structure, allowing light to come in and maintain an open feel while protecting the area underneath from rain or intense sun.
The substantial structure of this pergola from Magleby Construction in Lindon, Utah, creates a defined yet open outdoor lounge. A frosted glass ceiling covers the roof structure, allowing light to come in and maintain an open feel while protecting the area underneath from rain or intense sun.
2. Rooftop Patio Hangout
This rooftop patio designed by Lifescape Colorado in Denver features not only an outdoor dining setup but also a lounge area around a fire pit, making it easy to transition from one area to the next throughout an evening.
Narrow potted Parkland Pillar birch trees (Betula platyphylla ‘Jefpark’) add greenery to the patio and maintain a compact, columnar shape — perfect for a rooftop garden.
This rooftop patio designed by Lifescape Colorado in Denver features not only an outdoor dining setup but also a lounge area around a fire pit, making it easy to transition from one area to the next throughout an evening.
Narrow potted Parkland Pillar birch trees (Betula platyphylla ‘Jefpark’) add greenery to the patio and maintain a compact, columnar shape — perfect for a rooftop garden.
1. Comfortable, Contemporary Outdoor Living
This year’s most popular outdoor space shows how to easily transition indoor living outside. EVOKE used glass double doors to connect the house to the patio, where a lounge area features a variety of comfy seating options.
The Denver patio also features a custom steel-framed shade structure with a retractable fabric canopy. Mounted lighting and speakers add versatility to the outdoor living space. The pergola sits on top of a sand-finished concrete patio, which leads to an outdoor grill station and other areas of the backyard.
More on Houzz
Read more stories about landscape design
Browse outdoor photos
Find pros in your area
Shop for outdoor products on Houzz
This year’s most popular outdoor space shows how to easily transition indoor living outside. EVOKE used glass double doors to connect the house to the patio, where a lounge area features a variety of comfy seating options.
The Denver patio also features a custom steel-framed shade structure with a retractable fabric canopy. Mounted lighting and speakers add versatility to the outdoor living space. The pergola sits on top of a sand-finished concrete patio, which leads to an outdoor grill station and other areas of the backyard.
More on Houzz
Read more stories about landscape design
Browse outdoor photos
Find pros in your area
Shop for outdoor products on Houzz
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Inspiring for our next project! Hot tub with gazebo!
Awesome cool decks and yards!
Gorgeous! such an inviting and relaxing area