Beautiful Covered Patio Ideas to Inspire A Cozy Outdoor Space

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Collage of outdoor patio ideas, featuring cozy seating areas with stone fireplaces, chairs with cushions, and lush plants. Text overlay reads "Covered Patio Ideas" with a website link.

Looking to have a shady spot where you can relax in your backyard? These covered patio ideas provide the perfect space for chill summer days!

Covered Patio Ideas

If you’re looking to spend time outside in the summer in your backyard, then shade is a must! Umbrellas and pergolas can provide some protection from the sun, but what I like best is a covered patio.

The shade protection on a covered patio is usually permanent or semi permanent so you’re not having to move around to find shade as the sun proceeds across the sky.

A sunny backyard offers the perfect outdoor space inspiration with a white pergola draped in green vines. Beneath it, a round table adorned with pink flowers invites relaxation. In the background, a swing set and wooden playhouse complete this unique patio design on the grassy lawn.

From fireplaces to relaxing furniture and potted plants, there are lots of features you can incorporate into a covered patio to make the most of the space.

Keep reading for some fun covered patio ideas to use in your backyard this year!

Covered Patio Attached To House

Explore unique covered patio ideas with this cozy outdoor space, featuring stamped concrete, a stone fire pit, and a grill with smoker. A dining set for four sits beneath wooden ceiling beams, while large potted plants add charm. Slide open the glass doors to bring the indoors out.

One of the first things to decide with a covered patio is if it will be a permanent fixture that is attached to your house.

Some permanent covered patios involved constructing open ended outdoor rooms against the side of the house. Another idea is to have an attached roof installed along the back of your house to cover your patio or deck.

Both of these options are pricey, but will provide you with years of shade cover and will help create a lovely outdoor space for you to use often. Those that are handy might want to take this on as a good DIY project.

If a permanent roof over your patio is not an option, keep reading for a few more covered patio ideas that are cheaper and less involved.

Covered Patio With Retractable Awning

A sunlit backyard deck with a striped awning and potted plants sits alongside the wooden railing. This inviting outdoor space, featuring patio ideas like a table with chairs and an umbrella, is surrounded by lush trees and a fence for a cozy atmosphere.

If you love the idea of a covered patio, but don’t want the expense of building one, consider installing a retractable awning along the side of your house. The awning can then be pulled out for more shade or left retracted for some sun.

These awnings provide plenty of shade in the summer months and help make an open deck or patio space feel more like an “outdoor room”.

Come the colder months, many retractable awnings can be removed and stored, helping to preserve the canvas material for longer. I love that they come in lots of different colors and patterns as well!

Covered Pergola Patio

A wooden patio with a shaded pergola shelters a dining set, offering covered patio ideas. The table is adorned with pink and white cushions and accents. Wooden slats cover the windows in the background, while lush green foliage frames this inviting outdoor space.

Another option for those looking for a cheaper way to create a covered patio is to consider installing a pergola against your house or even as a detached fixture on your patio.

Pergolas by themselves can provide some shade, but using a shade cover on your pergola will help block out the sun even more. Similar to retractable awnings, pergola shade covers can be moved out of the way when you prefer more light.

Lots of premade pergolas are available on the market these days in all different spaces and sizes. If you’re handy, consider building your own. Here’s a few ideas on how to use a pergola on a patio: The Best Patio Pergola Ideas For Remarkable Outdoor Spaces

Detached Covered Patio Ideas

A cozy outdoor space at dusk with string lights overhead. The area features cushioned seating, a firepit, a barbecue grill, and potted plants. Under the deep blue sky, this unique patio offers a warm and welcoming ambiance.

Finally, consider using a portable pergola or sun canopy as a way to create a covered patio on the cheap. These canopies are available for a few hundred dollars and provide more shade than a basic patio umbrella.

I like how they also help create the feel of a “room” within the space. In the photo above, a sun canopy provides shade over a sitting area with a fire table, while an umbrella is used for shade in the outdoor dining space.

Potted plants, portable heaters and string lights help create a cozy hangout spot at night.

Covered Patio Ideas With Fireplace

A cozy outdoor space features a covered patio with four cushioned chairs around a black metal table. A stone fireplace stands in the background. The table boasts a potted plant and a tray of lemons, while a patterned rug adds charm, offering inviting patio ideas for relaxation.

I love having an outdoor fireplace in my yard. The soft glow in the evening hours makes for a relaxing summer night outside.

It may seem like outdoor fireplaces are only for backyards or uncovered patios. But you can incorporate an outdoor fireplace into a covered patio as well. You just need to provide for the ventilation. Or consider using outdoor rated electric fireplace inserts.

For some ideas on having an outdoor fireplace in your backyard, check out this article: Popular Outdoor Fireplace Ideas For Awesome Backyard Evenings

Covered Patio With Fire Pit

A unique outdoor space features green-cushioned chairs and a small table around a cozy fire pit. A grill rests nearby, sheltered under a pergola with climbing plants. The grassy yard blooms with flowers against a backdrop of houses and a bright blue sky.

If a fireplace is too much or too expensive for your covered patio, consider using a fire pit as a way to get a nice glow instead. Fire pits come in all shapes and sizes, so you’re sure to find something that will work well for your space.

In the photo above, a small covered fire pit sits in the middle of this covered patio seating area. Another good option for this space would be a fire table or small fire bowl.

I discuss lots of ways you can use fire pits on a patio here: Fun, Unique Patio Fire Pit Ideas You’ll Want to Try

Covered Patio Lighting Ideas

A cozy, unique outdoor patio at sunset features cushioned sofas and glass tables adorned with lit candles. String lights hang above, and beyond the deck, a serene lake reflects the colorful evening sky—a perfect example of covered patio ideas that enhance your outdoor space.

Another way to get a warm glow on your covered patio at night is by using outdoor lighting. One nice thing about covered patios is that you can usually hardwire lighting fixtures in the space.

This gives you a wider range of lighting options for your backyard. If you don’t want to hardwire lighting on your covered patio, then string lights, lanterns with LED candles and LED strip lights are all good options.

Check out a few more patio lighting ideas here: Magic Patio Lighting Ideas to Create Your Dream Outdoor Oasis

Covered Patio Furniture Ideas

This unique patio features wooden furniture, including cushioned sofas and chairs, arranged around a coffee table. A patterned rug covers the terracotta floor while potted plants and large windows bring life to this cozy outdoor space beneath the wooden pergola.

One thing to consider with your covered patio is the furniture you’ll use on it. Because of the protection from the sun and rain, covered patio furniture cushions will generally last longer than cushions used in open patio spaces.

There’s lots of different outdoor furniture pieces you can use on a covered patio. Here are a few covered patio furniture ideas:

Outdoor conversations sets (sofa, loveseat, chairs, coffee table)
Outdoor dining table & chairs
Hammocks & swings
Daybeds
Chaise lounge chairs
Cafe bistro chairs and tables

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A unique wicker patio furniture set with vibrant orange cushions sits beneath a wooden pergola, creating an inviting outdoor space. The scene showcases lush greenery and trees in the background, inspiring covered patio ideas for any nature lover.

For a big list of color schemes to use for patio furniture, don’t miss this article: The Best Patio Furniture Color Schemes For Your Backyard Oasis

Modern Covered Patio Ideas

A modern outdoor patio showcases unique designs with wicker furniture and cream cushions under a wooden pergola. This inviting outdoor space is encircled by desert-style landscaping, with large sliding glass doors in the background leading to an elegant house.

Many of us think of outdoor areas as having a bit of a rustic vibe, but you can create more modern looking backyard spaces as well.

If you’re looking to create a sleek, contemporary look on your covered patio, then modern outdoor furniture in shades such as dark grey, dark brown or black is a must. Cushions can be neutral colors or brighter shades for a bit of fun.

These straight forward furniture pieces help create a modern, clean looking space on your covered patio. Pair them with lanterns, a fire table and potted plants in chic containers to complete the look.

Covered Patio Ceiling Ideas

A unique outdoor space features white wicker chairs and a glass table on a turquoise deck. The back wall boasts blue and wooden elements, with greenery flourishing in the background. This area offers relaxed, tropical vibes, ideal for those exploring covered patio ideas.

Does you covered patio have a ceiling that could be decorated? If so, this might be an area where you can express some creativity and bring some design elements to the space.

In the photo above, the wood beams on a covered patio ceiling are painted a fun turquoise green shade. The patio furniture and other accents pieces complement the ceiling color scheme – very relaxing!

Covered Patio With Potted Plants & Hanging Baskets

A unique patio with wooden furniture features green-cushioned chairs and small tables. A vibrant basket of pink and white flowers hangs above. This sunlit outdoor space, surrounded by lush greenery and trees, boasts a wooden ceiling that enhances the natural look.

Another way to bring color to a covered patio is through the use of potted plants and hanging baskets with bright colored flowers.

I love to garden in the summer and I enjoy watching potted plants grow and change as the season progresses. It may seem like a covered patio has too much shade for plants to grow. But you might be surprised at what will grow in part sun or even full shade.

In the photo above, gorgeous hanging baskets line the top part of this covered patio. Shade loving hostas are used to outline the space.

What are some of the covered patio ideas you’re thinking of using in your outdoor space? Share them with us in the comments below!

More Outdoor Patio Ideas

For more outdoor patio decor inspiration, tips and styles, check out these posts:

Beautiful Covered Patio Ideas to Inspire A Cozy Outdoor Space