I'd consider how my neighbor(s) felt about chimes before hanging them. Can be divisive.

Do you find it ok to walk around the pergola support to get to the seating because the hammock is blocking?

Nice space! I would not do chimes. You don’t want to be ”that person” on the block. How about a lantern or string of lights?

Goo on you, nice work!

neighbors may not appreciate the chimes.

It looks great as is, I would just elevate the plant by a foot... fill a large container with a bucket and add the planter... to be taller than a human standing next to it. goup them together to create a screen on the end. forget symmetry, make it natural, not staged.

The glider could join the party on the right side under the pergola. An outdoor chandelier would be a lovely addition to the pergola, as well as a group of varied “filler/spiller” green plants grouped and hanging from the right corner. A raised garden in the alcove in front of the window, where the glider is now, would add some greenery to the space that can be viewed/appreciated inside and out and could provide fresh herbs, greens, or ?. An outdoor dining table would be a nice addition to the patio. The hammock should be moved to a hammock stand in another spot on the patio or better yet..under a tree if possible.

@pban thank you, I actually updated with picture, the hammock is only temporarily hooked when we use it.

@jennz9b Yes, thank you, we are planning to add string lights. I not sure what looks better, around border only or also underneath the pergola?

@Susan Thank you for all these ideas! I wanted to add. I do plan to have curtains on both sides but starting with the opening where the plant and the hammock post meet. Also, I updated post, the hammock is just hooked on and mostly roped to the side not always wide open like that. Unfortunately, no trees to place it in but that would have been awesome. Regarding the glider, you don't think the glider would clash if I put it so close to the couch, since is so different in style, height? I like the idea of the herbs but do you see a way of me keeping the glider where it is but maybe doing something around it so is not just a glider in front of a window?

@Lyn Nielson Thank you so much Lyn! I think Houzz has rubbed off on me a little. I happen to have these planters so I used them and unfortunately couldn't make them any higher, but I will be looking around for something bigger so I can elevate. I'll keep the natural not staged look, thanks for that!

Wicker baskets (in natural) and fake trees work too. I love your furniture and pergola!!

@RedRyder, thank you! The plant is actually not real! It is extremely sunny back there, didnt want to chance it.

Is the plant real? It looks way to top heavy for it's pot. Only real plants outside please. When appointing an outdoor space remember it's OUTDOORS so bugs/spider webs/dirt/ tree debris blow in, TAKE OVER in one evening. Less is more as you will be forever trying to keep it looking as it does in your pictures.

Would suggest some exterior lighting fixtures so that your space is usable at night and to add some drama and interest.

@arcy_gw, thank you, agree, am getting bigger pots. I‘ve had it like this for about 2 months and not much to do, everything there is for the outdoors including the plant. Winter comes and all accessorirs and cushions will be cleared out. But i’m still looking for wall decoration.

OMG - This hatred of wind chimes is ridiculous. Why all of the drama. Hanging a single, mid sized wind chime should not be cause for some neighborhood war. If their church bell sized wind chimes or if you hang 14 sets of windchimes your neighbors have a right to be upset.

There are hundreds of things that add sound to our environment. Your neighbors dogs bark, their kids scream and laugh and get loud while playing. You hear cars and lawn mowers and sometimes music from a bbq or pool party. In my last neighborhood one of the kids belonged to a band, and they practiced in the neighbors garage several nights a week.

Instead of being jerks and complaining about some background noise you only heard if you were outside and listening for it, we asked that they open the garage doors every Friday evening and all 7 families on our street went outside and socialized with each other while enjoying the free concert.

You really do have a choice - you can concentrate on being miserable and finding things to complain about or you can choose to be happy and find things to be happy about.

Do you have any outdoor interests that you could represent? Like boating, or golf, or cycling? Something personal rather than mass-produced?

Or let the plants be your decor.

@Norwood Architects, Thank you, yes, I would really like that since this area is pretty dark at night. Do you recommend hanging the string lights under the wood beams under the pergola or just around the border?

@P Banos, we actually don't. I was thinking of having a custom round metal plate made with our initials in a sort of a creative type way. I came across a local business who makes them for outdoors and they can do it in any color including gold and silver. I was thinking to place this round plate in the middle of the wall but my couch is not in the middle, so I wasn't sure if that was the way to go. Hence my dilemma :)

The glider does feel a bit lonely and too close to the house. I would get two chairs to compliment and make a second seating area or replace it with a dining table and chairs.

Do you have a prep table for next to the BBQ?

Solar string lighting on the pergola, if it is very hot where you are a misting system is also nice.

As for décor, their are many things you can add: Outdoor wall art, a fountain, statues, planters, vases, fire tables, solar globes, a chimenea or other pottery.

I love the color pops from talavera pottery pieces and have several pieces on my patio.

(Not as nice and new as yours, but I enjoy it).

Want to add a gecko or lizard to the wall on the left above.

Hi Dee, the glider will look better as part of the grouping rather than its current position. Yes, it’s a different style and not matchy-matchy, but that’s ok. And it’s generally the same colors as the patio/other patio furnishings. A pair of thin one-piece seat & back cushions could be attached to the glider to give it a bit of a makeover…either in a grey, to visually expand the seating grouping or a complementary color. The alcove is a sweet spot…for a raised garden/bar/bar cart/beverage station/serving area/party decor/staging area for whatever the occasion might call for!

Get a freestanding stand for the hammock and move it out of that space. Move the glider over to where the hammock is. Lights. Maybe canvas across the top so neighbors are not looking into the space from their upper windows

@Jen Hogan, thank you. I see your point. We do have a dining area already so i will look into adding it in. i like the color pop you shared. i do think iy could use a little something. Thanks for those pictures. i looked into solar string lights, didn’t know they existed but it looks like they have 2-3 year life span. Hsve you heard of ones that are longer? .

All the hatred of wind chimes is totally justified!!

By the way, you did a great job.

If it were my space, I would want one comfortable outdoor chair facing the sofa for conversation. I'd want it to be very easy to move -- either lightweight or on wheels.

I also think one can never have too many small tables. There are ones that stack that are useful and compact but my favorites are ones with handles that are more like movable trays.

From IKEA

Shade cloth comes in rolls too..it can be stretched across the top ..will catch debris ..leaves..even dust ..helping to avoid upholstery being soiled..and lastly if you like a sound element..I think everyone enjoys the sound of water…a little water fountain is very relaxing..plus adding a refreshing moisture to the air in hot weather

At our house we live completely outdoors in the summer..watching tv..entertaining…etc..so we realized that a little grouping of very lightweight chairs are so handy to have on cooler days..so we can scoot the chairs around to the sunny spots

Comes in handy

They are surprisingly comfy

@btydrvn, Thank you for all the feedback! I am going to look into the shade cloths and funny, I actually have 2 similar looking chairs, although mine are old with little bit of rust. They actually used to be together with the glider, but I just put them back in the garage for when we need extra seats. I am going to move the glider back under the pergola and see how it looks. It is so comfy sitting there we didn't want to let it go :) We do have a dining area on the opposite side as well and I do like the idea of a water fountain but I was a little afraid of it attracting bugs, so not sure, we never had an outdoor one. But it is definitely worth looking at, the sounds would be so nice!

@mytwo cents, thank you and for sharing the table pic. I like that they stack. I wasn't planning to add more tables, but maybe it could replace the left little one. I'll check it out. I do have two chairs that are lighter that I keep for just in case. I'm going to play with the glider and the chairs and see what looks good next to the furniture.

Maybe something like this for your stringlights?

Don’t know if you can tell but our water feature is huge…but there is a predictable time of day that mosquitoes are bothersome whether or not you have a water feature…because just having any plants that get watered are an attractive draw..at our house late afternoon and early evening are prime time..for mosquitos…if you have limited time to be outdoors a screened porch is great…as a child we had screened in porches …as kids could even do sleepovers in the screened porch in the summer…still remember that as the most fun thing to do in summer..

I got a couple of strings of solar lights for my patio. It took 30 minutes to put them up and they are on year 4. When they die I will replace them. I also have some small solar ground lights that I placed here and there in my gardens.

https://www.amazon.com/Aogist-Solar-Ground-Lights-Landscape/dp/B07GZNJHK6?pd_rd_w=65cNK&content-id=amzn1.sym.c15e5526-d433-4ac0-a393-a3f3f7218fab&pf_rd_p=c15e5526-d433-4ac0-a393-a3f3f7218fab&pf_rd_r=H8127TXQBQ4CE721XTHZ&pd_rd_wg=FZwgc&pd_rd_r=219d428a-dc89-489c-9fdd-e896e7e9ee78&pd_rd_i=B07GZNJHK6&psc=1&ref_=pd_bap_d_grid_rp_01_ec_t

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07XDB84RZ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

@btydrvn Screened porches are great, at some point we were looking to screen in our other side but its on hold for now. Thank you for all your input. After this post I have a bit of more shopping to do, no complaining :)

@jennz9b, I do like it. From this angle of pic, i prefer this over just the border. Thanks!

I have tried a couple of different outdoor artificial flowers, but really like the ones made by Oakridge - look good and don't fade.

https://www.amazon.com/stores/page/917EBF2D-C89A-45CE-BB28-A4329F09432A?ingress=2&visitId=cf677a62-c48c-4932-a06f-77cc41038e54&ref_=ast_bln

The pic Jen posted has the kind of annuals I usually get at Walmart in the spring…they are in full bloom at purchase and fully bloom all summer…I keep empty pots around the garden that I just drop them in…instant flowers..all summer…i do the same at our winter home in Palm Springs…

And in the mountains