Moroccan Patio Ideas: 13 Ways to Build a Courtyard Feel on a Budget
Moroccan patio ideas for small backyards and courtyards: low seating, a patterned floor, lanterns, potted citrus, shade and a simple water bowl.
In this guide · 18 sections
The best Moroccan patio ideas copy how a riad courtyard is built: an enclosed space, a patterned floor, low seating around the edges, something in the middle, plants in pots and lantern light at night. You can get most of that on an ordinary concrete patio without laying a single tile.
Here are 13 ideas, starting with the ones that change the most, plus a layout, a color guide and a budget order.
What Makes a Patio Feel Moroccan
A riad is a house built around an inner courtyard. Four things from that courtyard carry over to a patio:
- Enclosure. Walls, screens or tall plants on at least two sides, so the patio feels like a room.
- A center. A fountain in a riad; a tray table, a fire bowl or a bowl of water on a patio.
- Pattern on the floor, plain walls around it.
- Seating at the edges, low and deep, facing the middle.
13 Moroccan Patio Ideas
1Build a low seating corner
An L-shaped corner is the heart of the patio. A low outdoor sofa works, and so does a row of pallets or a low timber bench topped with thick outdoor cushions and a line of back cushions against the wall. Keep the seat low and deep.
2Lay a large patterned outdoor rug
A flat-woven outdoor rug with a geometric pattern stands in for a tiled floor. Buy it large enough for the front of every seat to sit on it; a small rug floating in the middle looks lost.
3Stencil the concrete
If you own the patio, a tile stencil and exterior floor paint turn plain concrete into a patterned floor for the cost of paint. Clean and prime the slab as the paint maker directs, and seal it. It will need touching up over the years, and a rug still helps in the seating area.
4Give the patio a center
Put one thing in the middle and arrange the seating around it: a round metal tray table, a low tiled table or a wide bowl. Round shapes are easier to walk around. Our DIY tiled coffee table is a cheap way to make the tiled version from a secondhand table.
5Add water without plumbing
A wide glazed bowl of water with floating flowers, or a small solar fountain pump set in a pot, gives the courtyard reference and a little sound. Change standing water every couple of days so mosquitoes don't breed.
6Group lanterns at floor level
Pierced metal lanterns throw patterned light across the floor and walls. Group three or five in mixed heights beside the seating and on the table, with LED candles so wind isn't a problem.
7Hang a lantern or string lights overhead
One pendant lantern from a pergola beam or a tree branch, or warm-white string lights zigzagged above the seating, lowers the "ceiling" and makes the patio feel enclosed after dark. Solar strands avoid running a cable; our lighting guide for rooms without ceiling lights covers more plug-free options.
8Plant in large terracotta pots
Citrus, olive, jasmine, rosemary and mint are the plants most linked with Moroccan courtyards, with bougainvillea where winters are mild. Check each plant's hardiness for your area. A few large pots look better than many small ones, and one pot painted cobalt blue is a classic accent.
9Make shade with fabric
A plain canvas shade sail, a length of outdoor fabric over a pergola, or outdoor curtains on a tension wire give the filtered light of a covered courtyard. White and sand tones stay cooler and suit the look.
10Paint one wall a warm plaster color
Riad walls are plaster in warm white, sand or terracotta pink. One painted wall behind the seating changes the whole patio. Our Moroccan color palette guide lists the shades to look for.
11Screen the open sides
Reed fencing, a slatted timber screen or a row of tall planters closes the patio in and hides the neighbors. Enclosure does more for the courtyard feeling than any accessory.
12Layer cushions and a striped throw
Keep the big seat cushions plain, then add smaller cushions in terracotta, saffron, deep green or blue and one striped cotton throw. A lidded storage bench or deck box keeps them dry.
13Add poufs as spare seats
Two outdoor poufs move wherever guests sit and double as footrests. Leather poufs belong indoors; outside, choose woven or outdoor-fabric ones.
A Simple Moroccan Patio Layout
- Seating in an L along the two most sheltered sides.
- Rug in front of it, tray table or bowl in the middle of the rug.
- Large pots in the corners and beside the door.
- Screen or tall plants on the open side.
- Lanterns low, string lights or a pendant high.
On a very small patio, use a single bench, one pouf, the rug and three pots. If your outdoor space is a balcony, our Moroccan balcony ideas scale the same look down further.
Where to Start on a Budget
Buy first:
- A large patterned outdoor rug.
- Three to five lanterns with LED candles.
- Seat cushions for a bench or pallets you already have.
Add later or find secondhand:
- Terracotta pots, a metal tray and a small table.
- Reed screening and a shade sail.
- Stencil and floor paint, if you own the patio.
The lanterns, poufs and tray come indoors for winter; see our Moroccan living room ideas for where they go.
Practical Takeaway
A Moroccan patio is a courtyard in miniature: enclosed sides, a patterned rug or stenciled floor, low seating around a central table or water bowl, big terracotta pots and lantern light. Start with the rug and lanterns, then add shade and screening.
FAQ
How do I make my patio look Moroccan?
Arrange low seating around a central tray table, lay a large patterned outdoor rug, group pierced lanterns on the floor and add large terracotta pots. Screen the open sides so it feels like a courtyard.
What is a Moroccan courtyard called?
The house built around an inner courtyard is called a riad. The word is also used for the courtyard garden itself.
What plants suit a Moroccan patio?
Citrus, olive, jasmine, rosemary and mint, plus bougainvillea in mild climates. Check hardiness for your area and grow tender plants in pots you can move.
Can I get a Moroccan tile look without tiling?
Yes. A patterned outdoor rug is the quickest way, and a tile stencil with exterior floor paint works on concrete you own.
What furniture works on a Moroccan patio?
Low, deep seating with thick cushions, a round metal tray table, and poufs as extra seats. Wood, wrought iron and woven materials all suit the look.
