11 Editor-Loved Finds for a Summer Patio Revamp

Having an outside space, especially in NYC, is definitely a blessing. My boyfriend and I moved in the fall of 2020 after having very little outdoor space at his old apartment, and we decided a backyard was imperative for our mental health. That, and we knew we wanted to rescue a puppy (which we would, a couple of months later), and wanted her to have space to run around. 

We were lucky enough to find an apartment with about 1,000 square feet of a walled-in patio that we didn’t have to share with anyone, and felt exceedingly giddy (as we still do!). Since then, we’ve been adding decor and furniture to our backyard to help to spruce it up and make it our own, and this year I especially wanted to give it a post-winter refresh, as we host a good amount during the summer. 

To help you suss out your own outdoor space, I’m sharing some of the pieces I’m eyeing—from the big (a new deck box for storage) to the small (outdoor throw pillows), plus my favorite pressure washer for cleaning up the deck and rugs, and a highly-recommended plant that basically takes care of itself. 

11 Editor-Loved Patio Products 

• East Oak 180-Gallon Storage Box, $270 (was $350); amazon.com
• Ruggable Aster Soft Blue Re-Jute Rug, from $160; ruggable.com
• Serena and Lily Outdoor Riviera Dining Chair, $411 (was $548); serenaandlily.com
• STIHL Rea 60 Plus Pressure Washer, $420; acehardware.com
• Article Marais Tall Outdoor Planter, $159; article.com 
• Allsop Home Outdoor Lantern, $50; amazon.com
• Daylilly Nursery 3-Pack Berry Smoothie Heuchera, $29; amazon.com
• Covers & All Deep Seating Chair Covers, from $11; coversandall.com 
• West Elm Iron Wall-Mounted Trellis, $89; westelm.com 
• The Inside Outdoor 16-Inch Throw Pillow, $36 (was $49); theinside.com 
• Hati Home Bali Afternoon Lounge Chair, $780 (was $975); hatihome.com 

East Oak 180 Gallon Storage Box

While I might have a generously sized patio by NYC standards, the footprint of the inside of my apartment isn’t quite as large. This, of course, presents a bit of a storage conundrum, as we have a considerable number of outdoor items that need to be stored during rainy weather and wintertime. We’ve had the same outside patio box for a couple of years, and it sadly really didn’t hold up. We realized that this year we needed something sturdier and much larger, so we tried out this storage box from East Oak (ours is actually the 230-gallon option, which is currently sold out). It’s wonderful! It keeps all of our stuff safe and sound, and pests don’t seem to be able to get in, plus the size means there’s plenty of space to store everything without it getting too crowded, which also makes it easier to organize. 

Ruggable Aster Soft Blue Re-Jute Rug

I’ve been a long-time fan of Ruggable, especially for outdoor rugs, and I’ve been eyeing this one recently. The material is akin to jute, but it’s made to withstand the elements, and the pattern reminds me of a rug my mom has, which is perhaps what drew me to it. I’ve found that outdoor rugs are especially important on our patio since it’s so open and quite large—I put them under clusters of furniture to establish “zones”. For example, we have a loveseat and folding bistro chairs on one side of the deck, a picnic table with an umbrella near the front, and two large loungers, a coffee table, and dining chairs on the right side. Without the rugs, the seating areas seemed a little random and “floating”, but adding outdoor rugs has really grounded them. Plus it gives that indoors-but-outdoors feel, cozy and welcoming for guests.

Serena and Lily Outdoor Riviera Dining Chair

Serena and Lily is one of my favorite resources for outdoor dining chairs—they’re of unparalleled quality and classic, beautiful designs. I added one of these chairs to my mix of furniture this year, and it’s so comfy. I usually default to using it when I decide to work out on my deck, as the back support and arms are ideal for supporting you while you’re WFH. It’s also great for inside use—I’ll usually bring it in after a quick wipe-down when I need extra seating for a game night or dinner party. Plus, it’s currently on sale!

STIHL Rea 60 Plus Power Washer

While a power washer isn’t decor, it’s something that is absolutely necessary for refreshing a deck or patio. Our outdoor flooring is made of some sort of manufactured composite and has been desperately in need of being power-washed for much longer than I’d care to admit. The walls also need it, so I contacted STIHL about borrowing a pressure washer to test out. This one is great for what I needed to get done—it’s a lightweight but still powerful pressure washer that’s easily portable, so you can bring it with you as you’re working on tasks around the yard. It’s also really user-friendly, so it won’t just end up in a utility closet, unused, because you’re too intimidated to try it out. The smaller size is particularly important here, especially for those with limited storage space. If I buy one for myself, I’ll definitely be able to fit it in my deck box! 

Article Marais Tall Outdoor Planter

Since our outdoor space is all planked without any dirt, I only have a container garden, which is ok by me! In some ways, it’s easier, and in other ways, it’s restrictive, as not all plants can withstand a NYC winter in just a container. Another issue I have is that some of my ceramic planters have cracked due to the extremely cold winter we had here last year. I’ve been eyeing something a little sturdier, like this raised planter, as it’s made from powder-coated steel. We already have one raised bed that my boyfriend made a few years ago, but most of our plants sit on the ground, so I like the idea of having varying heights of plants along the walls. It’s also lightweight, so even when you have soil and plants in it, it would be easy to move around without hurting your back!

Allsop Home Outdoor Lantern

These are the best of the best for hanging outdoor lanterns that look like the classic indoor paper version. I’ve had a few hanging in our tree for about four years, and they look the same as the day I hung them—really! Even without taking them down between seasons, they’ve held up beautifully. I had three, but sadly, one blew away last year during a particularly strong windstorm, so I’m looking to replace it. Aside from how amazingly they’ve held up, my other favorite thing about these is that the cutout design casts the coolest patterns on my patio when they light up at night, which is so lovely. My dream is to fill the tree with a few more so that they light up the space even when our string lights aren’t on. 

Daylilly Nursery 3-Pack Berry Smoothie Heuchera Plants 

These heuchera plants, also known as coral bells, are an absolute must for your outdoor space if you want a super reliable but low-maintenance plant that’s quick-growing to boot. We first acquired some similar coral bells when we moved in in 2020, and they have endured all the winters since then. Once the warm weather hits, they burst back to life and seemingly overnight spring back up in our raised planter—it’s amazing! I barely have to do anything to them. This year I bought a few sunset-colored juvenile coral bells to fill out the very edges of the container, and I can’t wait for them to get bigger and mix in with my plum-colored ones! 

Covers & All Deep Seating Chair Covers

Being a home editor, I really should be a lot better about covering up my furniture during rain and the winter season. Since I’ve recently gotten some new furniture that’s much better quality than other pieces I previously had, I’ve been toying with getting these custom chair covers to protect my larger lounge chairs and help them last for years to come. I love the concept of this brand—not only do they do custom sizing, but the prices are also super reasonable, especially when you consider how much it would otherwise cost to replace weather-damaged furniture! 

West Elm Iron Wall-Mounted Trellis

When we first moved into our apartment, there were some lovely vining plants (morning glories, ivy) that were partially covering our outdoor walls. Sadly, due to some construction next door, the original vines were destroyed. I’ve been growing morning glories from seed for this summer season and need a trellis like this to help support them as they climb! I like this one because it’s simple and doesn’t require any floor space. 

The Inside Outdoor 16-Inch Throw Pillow in Vert Woodland

One of the easiest ways to refresh any indoor or outdoor space without spending a ton of money is to switch out your throw pillows or other textiles. I actually have a tablecloth in this same fabric, and it’s lovely—the scale is perfect and the pattern is timeless. I often consider leafy prints like this as neutrals, the same way I do animal print. If you do it correctly, you can pattern-clash and really pull it off beautifully! I’d love to mix a couple of these in with my pre-existing patterned outdoor throw pillows this summer. 

Hati Home Bali Afternoon Lounge Chair

In my pursuit for high-quality outdoor furniture that would both stand the test of time and look great in my backyard, I was introduced to the new-to-me brand, Hati Home. They make the most beautiful furniture and accessories, and these chairs are an absolute dream. While they are more of a splurge, I think that a pair would work perfectly in lieu of a smaller outdoor sofa or loveseat, and could easily be brought inside for extra seating when needed. Most importantly, they’re just as comfy as they are beautiful—the roomy type of lounger you want to curl up in and read a good book.