25 Before-and-After Patio, Porch and Deck Makeovers

Could your outdoor spaces use a refresh? We've got you covered with our best ideas for turning your plain patio, porch or deck into a lounge-worthy alfresco spot where you can relax away the day.

By: H. Camille Smith

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Turn Your Outdoor 'Before' Into an 'After'

Sunny times — and the outdoor livin's easy. Each spring, summer and fall, our outdoor spaces become the spaces we most love living in. Keep reading for our best outdoor inspo and makeover tips to transform your patio, porch or deck.

Before: Over Exposed + Under Accessorized

While a spacious, stamped concrete patio is a wonderful spot for soaking up the sun, this patio — with no pergola or umbrella — receives a little too much sun exposure for comfort on hot summer days.

After: Shady, Cheery and Ready to Relax

This patio is now a shady oasis for both people and pups with an 11-foot cantilever umbrella. A durable outdoor rug adds comfort underfoot while a colorful mix of weather-resistant pillows and throws cozy up the cheery turquoise Adirondacks. Shop our picks, below, that have this patio made in the shade.

learn more: Patio, Perfected: 11 Amazing Amazon Finds for a Shady Outdoor Oasis

From: H. Camille Smith

Before: A Drab Slab

Does this concrete pad look familiar? You may have one just like it in your backyard. A good pressure wash, tips below, can work wonders — or, click to the next slide to see this small concrete patio earn major style points on a barely-there budget.

See More Photos: How to Pressure Wash Almost Everything Around Your House

After: Totally Transformed for Under $100

Has your concrete patio seen better days? You could cover it with an outdoor rug or try this long-lasting DIY. With a can of concrete stain, a cement tile-inspired stencil, a high-quality stencil brush and a few hours of work, you can totally transform the look of a porch, sidewalk or patio with a stylish, custom tile design — we'll show you how, below.

get the how-to: How to Stain & Stencil a Concrete Patio

Before: Gathering in the Grass

The friends renting this Minneapolis home are lucky to have backyard space, but with no patio, porch or deck, they resorted to placing the fire pit and seating directly in the grass — which creates an extra hassle when it's time to mow.

After: Paver + Pea Gravel Patio, FTW

A budget-friendly DIY paver and pea gravel patio now anchors the space, with more pavers creating a path back to the house. Flower-filled planters fitted with wood posts create a DIY solution for swagging bistro lights over the renovated patio area. Learn more about this rental makeover plus get some tips for fixing up your rental property, below.

See More Photos: Bare Backyard Becomes a Stylish Outdoor Oasis for Gathering With Friends

Before: Century-Old Charmer (Minus Some Charm)

Built in 1925, this bungalow features great architectural bones, but the wood deck has suffered storm damage and is in need of repair.

From: WINN Design + Build

After: Freshened Up for the Next Century

Rot-, mold- and termite-resistant composite materials now create a nearly maintenance-free deck that features an expanded footprint for extra entertaining and relaxing space. Wide stairs, with a central landing, lead down to the beautifully landscaped backyard that boasts beds filled with colorful perennials for year-after-year color.

See More Photos: Cozy Cottage Gets a Total Makeover Inside and Out

From: WINN Design + Build

Before: Stained Concrete and Trampled Turf

With two small children — who need room to roam — this backyard, even in its sad, 'before' state, is what sold the current owners on this home.

From: HGTV Magazine

After: Ready for Relaxin'

More than just space for the kids to run, the transformed backyard features fresh landscaping surrounding the existing concrete patio that now boasts this pretty seating area. The homeowners also freshened up the fence with a coat of paint and added a row of Japanese blueberry trees to soften the fence line.

See More Photos: A Run-Down Ranch Gets Totally Revamped

From: HGTV Magazine

Before: Weathered Wood Cart

Just three years old, this outdoor acacia wood cart is really showing its age with a dull overall color and rough areas where the original warm brown finish has faded to a mottled gray.

After: Ready to Party

With a fresh finish, this old acacia wood bar cart looks like new again and is ready to ditch the gardening gear and go back into service as a patio bar cart that makes outdoor entertaining easy. Learn how to refinish your acacia wood outdoor furniture, below.

get the how-to: How to Refinish Acacia Wood Outdoor Furniture

From: H. Camille Smith

Before: A Cement Desert

Homeowner Brooke Ueberroth lovingly referred to her sunbaked Newport Beach backyard as a cement desert prior to the renovation. As you can imagine, this much dark-stained concrete generated a lot of heat under the California sun.

From: HGTV Magazine

After: A Welcoming Oasis

Removing the existing dark-stained concrete was the first step to cooling down this previously "hot as a furnace" backyard. Next, they welcomed Mother Nature back into the mix with fresh sod and layers of plantings — from star jasmine vines covering the lattice fence to dwarf magnolia and willow trees surrounding the cozy fire pit area. Learn more about this home's transformation, below.

See More Photos: A California Home Gets an Impressive New Look

From: HGTV Magazine

Before: A Pile of Pallets

Frequently available for free from local big-box, hardware, garden or furniture stores, wood pallets are a great source of lumber for upcycling projects.

From: Sam Henderson

After: A Space-Saving Outdoor Bar

In just a few steps and following our tutorial, below, you can upcycle free wood pallets into a space-saving outdoor bar that — bonus — folds securely closed to keep beverages and glassware protected from the elements when not in use. Now you can raise a glass to happy hour anywhere — even small outdoor spaces.

get the how-to: Build a Hanging Outdoor Bar

From: Sam Henderson

Before: Spacious but Sparse

This massive deck is in great shape with wood decking and rails that were recently freshened up with paint. Surrounded by mature shade trees that provide total privacy, seems a shame to not put this space to use.

After: Artfully Accessorized

Designer Georgia Zikas turned this sunny deck into relaxation central with an oversized outdoor rug and bronze-finished metal furniture, fitted with extra-thick cushions. The round coffee table resembles furniture you'd typically see used indoors but the powder-coated base and stone top can stand up to the elements. A neutral color palette, that shifts subtly through shades of gray and tan, lends a restful feel.

Before: A Decidedly Dark Door

This '50s front porch is unique in that the front door is tucked into one side, rather than street-facing and centered. Like many things, there are pros and cons to an offset front door. Pro: The door's out-of-the-way location leaves plenty of room for seating, like a long bench. Con: The door's sheltered location makes the entryway feel even darker when the door itself is painted a saturated shade, like this traditional dark red.

From: H. Camille Smith

After: Brightened Up With Blue

The easiest (and cheapest!) fix for a dark front door: paint. A fresh coat of cheery blue paint (Carolina Skies by Valspar) dramatically brightened up this small front porch and created a pretty backdrop for other blue accessories. Ready to pick up your paint brush? First, ready our front door painting tips, below.

learn more: Read This Before You Paint Your Front Door

From: H. Camille Smith

Before: Untapped Potential

This Birmingham, Alabama, backyard is spacious, but the weathered wood deck needs repairs and, with no sheltered areas, the small exposed deck doesn't do much to draw homeowners outdoors.

From: HGTV Magazine

After: Indoor/Outdoor Living at Its Finest

A massive new cedar deck above features a covered open-air porch, complete with comfy furniture and an outdoor ceiling fan. Below, the homeowners added a screened porch that's ideal for enjoying their backyard — without the bugs enjoying them. Learn more about this beautiful backyard overhaul, below.

learn more: How to Overhaul Your Backyard

From: HGTV Magazine

Before: A Scrap Sheet

Honestly, who doesn't have a spare plywood sheet taking up space in their garage, shed or workshop?

After: Easy Outdoor Art

Does your patio, porch or deck have a case of the blahs? We'll show you how to easily stencil a plywood board to turn it into colorful outdoor art that can stand up to the elements. Plus, learn an artist's trick that makes hanging a painted board easy, below.

get the how-to: Turn a Plywood Board Into Easy DIY Outdoor Art

From: H. Camille Smith

Before: Unused, Livable Space

Located in sunny southern California where space is at a premium and outdoor living truly is possible most of the year, this small, level backyard has potential that isn't currently being tapped.

After: Expanded and Accessorized

The team at Exteme Makeover, Home Edition max out the usable square footage in this small California backyard by extending the concrete patio to create space for both an outdoor living room and outdoor dining room. A wide, wood pathway leads to the new hot tub while fresh landscaping softens the fence line and creates a living backdrop to the new fire pit area. Take a tour of this total home transformation, below.

See More Photos: Transforming a Basic Ranch Into a Modern Beach Dream House

Before: Sheltered but Sad

Located in an inside corner between two areas of the home, this small patio takes advantage of a sheltered location that's protected from cold winds on two sides. But, with a stained concrete pad and drab overall appearance, the homeowners aren't taking advantage of this well-situated outdoor spot.

From: Susannah Watts

After: Chic Corner Café

The old, stained concrete pad is removed to make way for a geometric pattern of pavers, interspersed with grass for a little softness underfoot. Industrial-inspired mesh metal seating and a long wooden table get this sheltered patio ready to party. Take a tour of this home's midmod makeover, both indoors and out, below.

See More Photos: Midcentury Rancher Gets a Modern, Colorful Update

From: Susannah Watts

Before: Small Board for Serving

Small wood cutting boards, like this cutie, are great for serving snacks but not much use for everyday meal prep.

From: H. Camille Smith

After: A Cheery Welcome for Your Front Porch

Is your cutting board a bit too small to make the cut? No problem. In just a few steps, you can upcycle it into a stylish stand-in for a front door wreath that also doubles as a pretty address plaque. Learn how we did it, below.

get the how-to: How to Upcycle a Cutting Board Into an Address Plaque

From: H. Camille Smith

Before: Pretty but Purposeless

With a tall privacy fence, lush green grass and established plantings, this open backyard is certainly pretty, but the seating options are sparse ... and hard.

From: Vernich Interiors

After: Sitting Pretty (en Provence)

Channeling timeless French Country style, the small concrete pad was replaced with a pea gravel patio and outfitted with a rustic, bleached wood table and burnished brass chairs for a backyard makeover that's as pretty as Provence. Take a tour of every remodeled space of this cozy cottage, below.

See More Photos: Chic Remodeled Cottage

From: Vernich Interiors

Before: Forgettable Front Porch

A recessed entry ensures this front porch is protected from the weather, but while the niche offers lots of privacy, it's short on style.

After: Attention-Grabbing Accents

Reno pro Mina Starsiak beefs up this porch's architecture by framing in the opening with a pair of square columns, topped by a beam and decorative corbels. She also swapped out the too-small lighting fixtures for larger lanterns and painted the front door a cheery shade of bright blue. Learn how to frame in your entryway, below.

get the how-to: How to Add Columns and Corbels to a Front Entry

Before: Last Season's Leftovers

Spring has brought new life back to this front yard's perennial landscaping but the front porch planters, filled with overwintered (and now deceased) annuals, is looking pretty bleak.

After: Prettied Up for Another Year

A good scrubbing and fresh coat of paint took the century-old concrete planters from nearly invisible to style stand-outs. All new potting soil and plants brighten them up for another year, while a new outdoor rug and pillows give this porch a cheery case of the blues. Learn how to give your concrete planters a colorful makeover, below.

get the how-to: How to Paint and Replant Concrete Planters

From: H. Camille Smith

Before: Spacious but Underwhelming

Built in 1906, this farmhouse-style charmer boasts a spacious front porch that offers up ample outdoor living space. Sadly, the uninspiring gray and white color palette and the more recent addition of screens on all sides make the front porch feel cramped and dark.

After: Wide Open and Welcoming

The screens were removed from the left side of the front porch, creating a more welcoming approach to the front door and letting the sunshine in. Home Town's Ben and Erin retained the screens around a small area so the homewoners could enjoy bug-free evenings while fresh shades of earthy green draw attention to the home's century-old architecture.

See More Photos: Life's a Porch: Great Porch Transformations from HGTV's 'Home Town'

Before: Barren Apartment Balcony

While many apartment dwellers will tell you that any outdoor living space is a bonus, this 9-foot-by-10-foot balcony is clearly not being used.

See More Photos: Small Space Gardening Tips for Apartment Dwellers + Urbanites

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

After: Outdoor Living Room

Designer Brian Patrick Flynn takes this balcony from unused square footage to a cozy spot for lounging, entertaining or just watching the world go by on the Brooklyn streets, below. An outdoor sectional offers up plenty of seating while a large coffee table, made from reclaimed lumber, provides a wide surface for everything from pizza boxes to laptops. Plant-filled baskets line the railings to provide a natural break between the outdoor living room and the view of lower Manhattan beyond.

See More Photos: Design Ideas for a Small Outdoor Space

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Before: A Creepy Corner

Dark and totally uninviting, this small covered porch has potential but the shabby mix of random stuff makes it feel like a disorganized catch-all.

After: A Private Getaway

Home Town's Erin and Ben Napier give this porch some much-needed polish by cleaning the existing concrete slab, then bringing in a potting bench, more lighting, a pretty outdoor rug and a pair of all-weather wicker chairs. Shutter-style closet doors along one side add privacy while filtering the late-afternoon sun.

See More Photos: Life's a Porch: Great Porch Transformations from HGTV's 'Home Town'

Before: Barren Bistro

A too-small bistro table, mismatched chairs and total lack of privacy (Hi, neighbors!) make this outdoor dining area unappetizing.

After: Outdoor Dining Room

A much larger table with seating for six gets this deck ready to party. To add privacy to the existing pergola, outdoor drapery panels were hung using metal drapery rings and galvanized steel pipe that makes it easy to shift the fabric around to filter the sun or block a nosey neighbor. Learn more about this outdoor dining room's makeover, below.

See More Photos: 13 Ways to Transform an Outdoor Dining Room for Spring

Before: A Case of the Browns

Reddish-brown brick and tan stamped concrete are each great on their own, but when paired with dusty-toned siding, all the muddy colors combine for an unexciting patio color palette.

From: Marie Flanigan Interiors

After: Modernized and Ready to Chill

A cooled-down palette of creams and pale grays in the new stucco exterior and sandstone patio contrast beautifully against the modernized home's steel-framed new windows and folding glass wall system.

See More Photos: Before + Afters: Serene, Resort-Like Residence

From: Marie Flanigan Interiors

Before: Unsafe and Unusable

With a rotten deck, crumbling patio and an old oil drum as a fire pit, this barren backyard was lacking any real lawn and was sadly deficient in seating or other comforts.

After: Safe, Stylish and Ready to Party

Under the capable hands of landscaper Chris Lambton, the dangerous deck is replaced by a new, much larger deck that includes an outdoor dining area and clever space-saving shelves that can offer storage or double as a bar.

See More Photos: Backyard Transformations From Landscape Designer Chris Lambton

Before: Rustic (But Not Necessarily) Chic

This woodsy Georgia cabin is fortunate to have such a large deck with an area dedicated to outdoor entertaining but the central support column makes furniture placement tricky. Plus, the fireplace's stone surround has seen better days and could use a freshen up.

After: Modernized for Outdoor Living

Completed in just a week and for around $6,000, this remodel turned the little used porch into an outdoor living room complete with a sleek fireplace surround that includes a recessed flatscreen TV for alfresco binge sessions. Redirecting the roof's weight to the corners allowed the central column to be removed, opening up access to the porch and making it much easier to move in cozy outdoor furniture. Learn more about this makeover, plus get the designer's tips for creating this rustic-chic look, below.

See More Photos: Designer's Deck Gets a Modern Mountain Makeover

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