Outdoor patios are perfect for warm summer nights. With a canopy overhead and some dividing custom window treatments to keep the bugs at bay, they're a lovely area for entertaining, or just curling up with your loved ones. Nature-inspired patios blend into the scenery, and, when done right, will barely create a blip in the horizon. Here are some tips for cultivating one of your own.
Create your color palette
Decorating with natural colors sounds as though you'd be sticking to earthy browns and greens, but in order to integrate your patio into your yard, you should think about pulling colors directly from your specific landscape. For instance, if you have clusters of birch trees within sight of your outdoor living room, use off-white and deep brown furnishings and decor. If you have patches of lavender in your yard, draw out some of the purple hues and bright greens in your fabrics and cushions. You don't have to use all the colors you see, but by having the shades used in your patio largely to reflect those of the outdoors, you're creating sort of a mirror effect that's sure to be noticed.
Materials to use
If you'd rather use materials to reflect nature than color, you don't have to stick to wicker and wood. While those are viable options that will contribute a lot to the scenery, you have more choices than that. Think about fabrics that look as though they might belong in nature. Canvas, suede and linen are all materials to strive for when decorating outdoors. Canvas may be the best, as it's easy to clean and fairly inexpensive, and its roughness matches that of nature. That being said, mixing the two can be beneficial as well. You can also choose to paint the wood or wicker to match the fabric instead of leaving it raw. 
Roller shades provide additional protection from the sun and privacy.
Bring nature into your patio
To truly blur the line between your yard and your nature-inspired patio, bring elements of each into each other. For example, place a grill or firepit just outside of your space, and bring some flora and greenery into the patio. You can also light up your landscape by using standing candles or tiki torches - just be sure they're a good distance away from anything flammable.
