I think you will desire someway to control the sun or rain.

We have two stands for umbrellas, they are hard to see in photo. Rarely need them because of how we are located and breeze and coolness by the creek out back. Also have a second upper deck that’s covered so never sit below in rain.

Since it’s a walk through, I wouldn’t add anything else. Have you tried the seating on the far right (also reverse seating set up), which will provide uninterrupted access to yard. To create balance and interest, add a large planter on the left.

Not sure of your climate but an ornamental tree in a large pot would be pretty and add some texture softness to the area

Fire is the one thing people enjoy sitting around. The smoke of a wood fire pit some find prohibitive. A gas flame can be relaxing which would mean a different table which doesn't respond to your question exactly. Maybe a tall water feature. Many are free standing. You have plants in your pots...if they were vining they would climb the posts and give you a softness and color.

^ good ideas, I will say we got a Solo fire pit for the patio and once it heats up (5-6 min) there’s no smoke

Not sure what you want from us . It is in my opinion an awkward space but I need to see the whole outdoor area.I like outdoor design to be like a house a space to cook, a space to eat and a space to sit you have the sit part. Maybe something moveable behind the chairs like a planter on wheels . To me it looks like you could add more seating but hard to tell.It is hard to tell how this space even relates to the house

You might want to add a water feature--a waterfall, pool, pond. The sound of trickling water is very soothing and refreshing.

Unless of course it's coming from a leak!

How about move center table closer to edge by your golden, couch with back to stairs and chair on either side

How will you utilize the space? Answering that question should lead you in a direction for the design.

A colorful rug. Weatherproof of course. You can buy plastic-type polypropylene rugs.

Thanks everyone. To give a bit more context. We have a creek in the backyard already so a water feature is redundant. We hear the creak all year round. We also have a fire ring up on the deck and another fire ring we put out with Adirondack chairs closer to the creek. This is a secondary seating area. Up on the covered deck we have our bbq and a sectional and coffee table as well as a table that seats ten.

We sit in this spot in the afternoons and after dinner when it’s warm, when we have company over, when kids playing in yard.

We live in Vancouver so we use this lower part misty spring/summer but it rains a lot in spring so it’s hit or miss. We keep the cushions in the basement which is very close so no need for storage outside.

Someone said the space was awkward and didn’t know what I wanted. I asked if there was more needed and specifically if we should add anything to the right of the chairs. A planter with a tree of some kind was on my mind.

Below are a couple of additional pics.

And here is one with me standing in the backyard facing the house . It is raining and the veggie garden is not set up yet

I suggest you paint the 2 wood posts in the same black as the posts on the deck. then perhaps a tall plant on the right side of the stairs (there seems to be something on the left side), and grasses surrounded by flowers in the 2 black containers in the foreground of the picture.

Painting the posts is an interesting idea we had not considered! I also like the idea of a taller plan in front of the cement planter. On the left of the stairs is our veggie garden. It’s not set up yet so just pots and chaos while I get myself organized.

Why did you feel the need to have this patio? The one that the kids like seems larger and very inviting. I think I would take it out leaving a nice walkway to the cement patio.

Thanks for the additional info now that space makes more sense . I still think planters filled with seasonal plants can add so much to an outdoor area and I would like to see the cushions to see what colors they are .

I think the seating there is awkward. it dies seem like it should remain more open as a walkway. sitting at the bottom of the stairs doesnt seem very inviting and add to it that the stairs have open risers looking into storage.

We feel the need to have this patio as it’s a planned space we put in and wanted from the get go. We use it regularly in the summer. I’m not sure if the space is just not showing well in pictures or seems smaller but there’s ample walkways around the area. Not sure why we would have a large patio open with nothing on it. The stairs get sat on regularly by the kids as well in a go to fashion. We’ve casually discussed closing in the risers of the stairs but may move to composite instead in the next few years so it doesn’t make sense to make a change till that is resolved. Cushions are light grey and we have a green centrepiece we normally put on the table when weather is consistent.

The entire backyard would benefit from some colorful flower beds. Have perennials and annuals along the fence, and perhaps some beds rimming the patio.

Maybe some of the landscape architects could weigh in here.

It’s March, in Vancouver. It’s not colour time. There are hydrangeas in the back and two different magnolia trees, a large rhodo on the other side of the fence and a flowering bush that I don’t know the names of. With shade the trees etc so haven’t had luck with too many flowers, other than the hydrangeas. I just planted pansies in various colours in the black pots that the posts are in and the rhodo in tue pot by the deck will flower too. We often get seasonal pots and place on the stairs do added colour but it’s too soon right now for that.

Also remembered there are two calputta trees that flower all summer!

I like the idea of focusing on plants though. Perhaps a few taller prices and then colour in smaller containers. This is totally doable and easy.

The furniture arrangement feels too formal to me. Since your string lighting appears "portable" I might shift everything over 45 degrees and maybe face the sofa at an angle towards the backyard, with the chairs flanking either side, as opposed to opposite the sofa?

Interesting idea. We aren’t really looking to change the furniture arrangement. We are wanting to know what else to add like plants or a tree etc. The furniture location works quite well for us right now.

If you can't grow colorful plants due to lack of sun, there are lots of shade plants that add more subtle touches--Japanese painted ferns have a silvery gray green color and grow in deep shade. Astilbes, Solomon's seal, and hostas also are great in shade--they add texture and come in lots of variations of green.

Yep. We’ve got lots of those guys in there too but they aren’t up in March. Hostas love it back there

Not sure what other suggestions there are to make…

Not sure your budget and probably not needed accept just for aesthetics but perhaps adding a pergola with the curtains pulled back like this? Or just a two sided or three sided, giving some backdrop for your furniture.

La_la Girl the suggestions of painting the posts, adding more plants and taller plants, maybe an ornamental tree are all just the kind of thing that would work for us. Not every dilemma requires completely changing it all. The

So I guess you have your answers. Now you can decide what to do.

Yep. I see a trip to the local garden store in my future.

You already have an attractive and charming outdoor area.
Black stained/painted posts would enhance the tableau.
I would keep the present configuration of the seating...as it is nice to see the sitters there while you are walking down the stairs.
That way nobody has to crane/contort their neck .
I imagine you are already an accomplished gardener.
My tomatoes while beautifully formed got blossom end rot the first year .
You probably already know,but the problem went away once I put a few pieces of broken eggshell into the planting hole.
The calcium boost helped,all gardening friends swear by this now.
A cardboard collar about an inch high inserted into the soil a few inches from the stem also eliminated predations by cutworms.
Best wishes for future developments...your space is enviable as it is .