Step Into My Backyard: A Tour of Our 3 Favorite Outdoor Spots

By Diana Elizabeth Steffen

The weather always lets us know when it’s time to entertain—and when it is, we make sure our patio spaces are wiped down, clean, and ready for guests at the drop of a hat! Sometimes friends pop in unannounced, and we love being ready for those spontaneous catch-up moments.

My number one tip? Always keep your furniture blown off and dusted. Whether you do it every morning or every other day depends on the season, but staying on top of it means you're always ready to host—or simply enjoy your space yourself, which is just as important!

I’d love to give you a little tour of our outdoor patio areas and how we’ve maximized every bit of space. Just like the rooms inside your home, your outdoor areas should be loved and lived in! Once we replaced our small-scale, big-box furniture from Target with pieces from Paddy O’ Furniture, it truly transformed our outdoor lifestyle.

An Intimate Spot in the Backyard

We call this area "the island"—it’s a cozy zone that floats on its own in our yard, apart from the main entertaining areas. A cement bench offers extra seating, and a pair of Patriot low-back swivel chairs provide the perfect perch for lounging and chatting. I love how they rotate so you can easily face friends, the yard, or each other.

This is the space where baby shower and birthday gifts are usually opened. It’s a relaxed, tucked-away nook. Bonus: our neighbor keeps his side of the house beautifully painted, which we appreciate since it's always in view—great neighbors really do make a difference!

I chose green cushions here to blend with the background greenery. Cushions don’t need to match throughout your outdoor areas—if you stick with neutrals, green is a perfect outdoor neutral.

The Main Backyard Patio

This is where we gather daily—sometimes for dessert, sometimes just to hang out after dinner. We have the Rancho Collection here, anchored by a rectangular fire pit. I consider a fire pit a must-have. When the sun sets, even in warmer months, it adds that perfect glow (just keep it on low if it’s hot!).

When it’s not in use, I top it with a charcuterie board or a tablecloth for a simple tabletop moment.

I went with Bliss Spa cushions to bring a burst of color, especially during times when the flowers aren’t blooming.

That said, green was a strong contender—it's a beautiful neutral and would’ve worked just as well. But as a color lover, I leaned into the spa blue. Still, you can’t go wrong with green.

Another favorite feature is our 13’ cantilever tilt umbrella. You can safely keep it open above the fire pit as long as there’s enough distance and it’s a gas fire. The umbrella creates a sort of ceiling effect that keeps the warmth in—a clever tip I learned from a Paddy O’ Furniture designer. And when it comes to umbrella size, my motto is: the bigger, the better!

The Kitchen Garden

Guests enter through our kitchen garden, so it’s the first impression of our backyard. This spot used to have a small, uninspired set that felt purposeless. We’d sit facing each other on tiny outdoor couches and that was... it.

Then everything changed when we added in the Inverness Collection. This set is smaller in scale, perfect for the tighter space. I added swivel chairs for easy movement (a must!), and of course, another fire pit—because I just can’t live without one.

When it's just a couple joining us, this is our go-to. It’s intimate, cozy, and practical. We even roll out a portable TV on a stand so Benjamin can enjoy a cigar while we all unwind. It’s proof you don’t need a huge space to create a wonderful outdoor moment.

Must-Have: Storage Carts on Wheels

For buffets, garden parties, cocktail bars, and more!

A recent game-changer for us has been the Asheville Storage Cart with optional wheels. I used it for a cocktail bar during a garden party, and at nearly 36” high, it’s the perfect height for serving drinks and food.

Here are a few other fun ways to use it:

• A cocktail bar

• A planting station or pot display

• A buffet station 

• A poolside essentials station

• A yard sale display or a mobile storage unit

The wheels are a must—they make moving this solid, durable cart a breeze. And with a 25-year frame warranty, it’s a long-term investment for all your outdoor hosting needs.

I hope this gives you ideas for how to use every inch of your outdoor space! No matter how big or small, you can create pockets of joy that are just as special for solo relaxation as they are for entertaining.

Happy entertaining!
—Diana

Diana Elizabeth Steffen is a Phoenix-based lifestyle blogger at dianaelizabethblog.com, where she shares her home and garden projects, camera in hand. Follow her on Instagram @dianaelizabeth_.