Small back patios always seem to force us to choose between seating for eating OR lounging- there’s just not enough room to accommodate both.  But after much thought and scribbling on napkins, my husband and I actually came up with an idea that will allow us to do both.

The first thing we did was get rid of the planting area surrounding the actual patio floor. This area receives almost no sun, so our options for greenery were limited anyway. We filled those tracks with small, white stones instead.

Next my husband made 4-60″ wide X 20″ deep benches. These are long enough to lay down on, especially when configured in a row. Thanks to pillows, you can comfortably lean back against the wall or move them away for a quick afternoon nap.

He also made a 60″ wide table for dining which can also be moved under the window or onto the rocks for a buffet. We stained the table with a traditional, somewhat reddish, color and added black stain along the edges for dimension and to help tie the table in with the black benches. I’m still looking for two small “cubes” which can be used for seating and to put your drinks on- but other than that, we are now finally able to enjoy this outdoor space.

Cushions are from Walmart.com-solid pillows from Costco-striped from Amazon.com