10 Exterior Column Design Ideas: How To Accent Your Outdoor Living Space Using Decorative Columns

1. Porches

Porch pillars are the most common type of outdoor support columns. The style of your house, the existing columns and your personal taste will determine which porch column ideas will work best. There are a lot of exterior column design ideas that help define the style of your home and make your porch more inviting.

If you have thin or unsightly columns, upgrading them with decorative outdoor columns will create modern and stylish appeal without a huge investment.

You can also swap out wood porch columns for stone columns or budget-friendly faux stone column wraps to completely transform your home's façade.

2. Wall Endcaps

If you want to create a showstopping backyard feature, add a wall around your patio or deck with outdoor patio columns as endcaps. It defines the area and adds a luxurious ambiance to your outdoor living space. Patio pillar ideas, like incorporating light fixtures or hanging string lights, create an inviting sitting area both day and night.

3. Steps and Stairs

Create a show-stopping entry to your home with outdoor support columns. Whether you add stone or ironworking, it's sure to add elegance and appeal to your house. Unique exterior column design ideas for your front steps include a mailbox, house numbers or flower planters.

4. Walkway Columns

Lead guests to your front door in style with eye-catching walkway columns. They are also a functional addition to the backyard when you install them along the pathway to a fire pit, hot tub or sitting area. Adding lighting not only creates nighttime beauty, but also enhances safety.

5. Fences and Gates

You can incorporate outdoor columns in your fence design as structural elements or purely decorative features. A pair of walkway columns flanking a gate create a stunning entrance to your home or pool.

6. Arbors

Some patio column ideas work in other areas of the yard, too. Using outdoor patio columns to create a pergola or arbor adds instant appeal to your outdoor living space. The outdoor decorative columns can be enhanced with vining plants, potted plants or hanging baskets of flowers.

7. Outdoor Kitchens

Today's trending patio pillar ideas often include an outdoor kitchen. You can combine patio column materials, such as a stone base with a wood pillar, for a custom design that will make you want to dine al fresco all year long.

8. Pavilions & Patio Roof Supports

One of our favorite patio pillar ideas is to create an open-air entertainment area. If you have a detached garage, you can use outdoor support columns to create a covered seating area. Outdoor decorative columns add extra style to a backyard pavilion that is perfect for parties and picnics.

9. Freestanding Columns

Freestanding landscape columns are an easy way to add a focal point to your yard or define an outdoor living space — no roof needed! We love to see them positioned at the end of a driveway or the entrance to a terrace or porch.

10. Seating Options

Did you know that exterior column design ideas can include adding seating? You can use landscape columns to create a sturdy bench or even a structure to hold a swing.