• Small patios can have a big impact.table with a view image by Cathy Kovarik from Fotolia.com
  
  Homeowners who are challenged with small-space living have options for decorating their patios. Though space is limited, it can have a big impact. Be inventive, use your space effectively and use designer tricks to make your patio appear more spacious. The result will be a patio that invites your guests to stop and enjoy.
  
  

Color is Key

• A neutral garden palette allows your patio to take focus.white image by fumie from Fotolia.com
  
  Use a neutral palette in your furnishings so your landscape will stand out. Or flip flop this technique and choose bright, saturated color for your patio furnishings and let your garden be the neutral backdrop with white and pale yellow flowers. Continuing the color palette from your patio’s adjacent indoor space will make your inside space feel extended and harmonious.
  
  

Architectural Helps

• Glass doors help extend the feel of your small patio.pending a rain image by terex from Fotolia.com
  
  The larger your patio’s flooring is, the larger the space will appear. Use the same flooring from your adjacent indoor space or extend your patio’s foundation into the surrounding flowerbed allowing plants to drift over the edge if necessary. Installing sliding patio doors or French doors that open into your home allows the interior room to be an extension of your patio.
  
  

Furnishing Strategies

• Adding a mirror to your patio wall with enlarge your views.traffic mirror image by Vonora from Fotolia.com
  
  Keep your patio furnishings consistent with your indoor room to create flow between both spaces. Increase your views by adding a mirror or two to your patio wall, which causes your small patio to appear larger. Choose furnishings that fit the scale of your patio. Purchase a rectangular table for a long, narrow patio, for example. Or better yet, purchase two square tables to increase the flexibility of your dining area. Place a small table against your home’s exterior for seating on three sides. The seat opposite the wall may be moved when not in use to aid in traffic flow around the table. Bench seating or a bar built into your home’s outer wall will increase the available free space on your patio. Use solid color cushions or small-scale prints to fit the scale of your outdoor space. Look for double-duty furnishings like a coffee table with telescoping legs to accommodate dining or a bench seat with storage. A rounded table is easier to navigate around in a small space than one with angled corners.
  
  

Use Your Landscape

• Add a water feature at the back of your patio to extend the view.rocky fountain image by Alex Kazeitchev from Fotolia.com
  
  Add a fountain feature, bench, statue or bright flower bed to draw the eye to the most distant point in your yard. This technique adds depth to your view and increases the perceived size of your patio. Add flowers spilling from wall pots to save floor space and still have plants on your patio. Train a bougainvillea or Carolina jessamine to a trellis next to your patio to provide shade and privacy.