About

OutsideModern was started in late 2015 by patio designer Eric Clark and friends. It began as a fun project celebrating outdoor lifestyle, modern design, and small-space living, and has grown into a resource for anyone looking for ideas, inspiration, and practical strategies for making the most of their outdoor spaces.

Many homeowners neglect the space outside their walls — especially those of us in dense, urban areas without much lawn or garden to work with. But the possibilities of these spaces are significant. Even a small patio, balcony, or yard can become a real asset: by using it creatively, you essentially add living space to your home without building a single wall. Clean up an old patio, lay some new flooring, put up a pergola — none of it is terribly expensive, and the result is room you can actually live in for a good part of the year.

And yes, in many climates the weather makes the patio a hard sell for months at a time. But with the right fire feature, shade, and furniture, even northern households can enjoy their outdoor rooms far longer than they'd expect.

So dig around the site, gather some inspiration, and start thinking about how to upgrade your own space. Whether you'd rather not spend a dime or you're planning the ultimate outdoor extravaganza, there's plenty here — tips, guides, product recommendations, and maintenance know-how to turn a patio into an Outside Modern space.

How we work

We test, compare, and curate the furniture, fire, shade, and finishing touches that make a patio worth living in. Our recommendations are made on the merits; the affiliate links that support the site never change which products we choose to feature. Questions, corrections, or a product we should consider? Drop us a line — we'd love to hear from you.