Blog Outdoor
Modern Patio Styles and Design Trends
Patios have become outdoor rooms. Here are the design trends we see most in Los Angeles and Orange County backyards, with real project examples and tips for bringing them home.
Key takeaways
- Outdoor rooms: zones for dining, lounging and fire, defined by pavers and built-ins.
- Large formats and warm tones: big slabs, mixed with wood and stone textures.
- Layered lighting: step lights, wall lights and accents instead of floodlights.
- Sustainable and smart: permeable pavers, drought-tolerant plants and app-controlled features.
A few years ago, a patio was a place for a grill and a couple of folding chairs. Now it’s often the favorite room of the house. In Southern California, where you can be outside most of the year, homeowners are designing patios the way they design living rooms.
Here are the trends we see most in Los Angeles and Orange County backyards, with real examples.
1. The outdoor room
The best patios are organized into zones: dining, lounging, a fire pit corner, a cooking area. Pavers define each zone through changes in pattern, color or level, and built-in seating and planters in matching materials tie it together.
2. Large-format pavers
Large slabs with tight joints create a clean, modern look and make small spaces feel bigger. Porcelain and textured concrete in neutral tones are the most requested.
| Material | Look | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Large concrete pavers | Clean, modern, many textures | Cost-effective |
| Porcelain pavers | Sleek, stain-resistant | Needs a very flat base |
| Travertine | Warm, natural, stays cooler | Popular around pools |
| Wood-look pavers | Warmth without wood upkeep | Pairs well with stone |
3. Mixed materials and warmer colors
Minimal doesn’t mean cold. A Newport Beach client combined wood-look pavers with dark stone for a patio that felt modern and cozy. Texture contrasts, like smooth pavers with rough-cut stone planters, make spaces more inviting.
Color is shifting too: beyond gray and sand, we’re seeing more charcoal, clay and slate.
4. Multi-level patios
Many Southern California homes sit on slopes. In Laguna Niguel, we split one yard into three levels, dining, a kids’ play area and a fire pit nook, connected by wide steps with built-in LED lights. Even a single step adds a sense of separate rooms, and grading often improves drainage.
5. Layered lighting
Floodlights are out; layers are in:
- Step and wall lights for safety
- LED strips under caps and benches
- Uplights on trees and architecture
- Warm, dimmable fixtures for dinners
A Studio City family had us build lighting into the seat walls around their fire pit. At night it feels like a boutique resort.
6. Built-ins
Benches, planters, BBQ islands and outdoor kitchens save space and make a patio feel permanent. In North Hollywood we built a full-length concrete planter wall that matched the patio floor. Benches with lift-up lids hide cushions and toys.
See what to include in our BBQ island features guide.
7. Sustainable choices
- Permeable pavers that let rain soak in
- Drought-tolerant and native plants
- Drip irrigation instead of spray near hardscape
- Low-VOC sealers and solar or LED lighting
A Costa Mesa family chose recycled-content pavers for their entire backyard.
8. Smart features
Smart lights, outdoor speakers, weather-based irrigation and motorized shade are becoming standard. In a Bel Air project, lights shifted color temperature through the day and music played from a phone. Read more in smart patio upgrades.
9. Comfortable furniture
The finishing layer is comfort: modular sofas, upholstered loungers, outdoor rugs and earthy pillows. A Santa Ana couple wanted their patio to be “the coziest part of the house,” so plush seating, lanterns and a low fire table surrounded by native plants did the job.
The bottom line
Modern patios are about how you live outside: defined zones, warm materials, good lighting and features you’ll actually use. See how we build them on our patios & pavers page, learn what pavers are, or browse our outdoor projects.
