When summer's in full swing, there is nothing Europeans like to do more than get outside, soak up some sunshine and enjoy some al fresco dining. No matter how small their home might be (and European homes often are quite small) you will always find Europeans trying to carve out a piece of outdoor space wherever they can. Whether for a croissant and coffee on a quiet morning or a summer barbecue with a glass of chilled rosé in the evening, outdoor patios are perfect places for unwinding.

You can claim any outdoor nook or corner as your patio. Pull together some outdoor seating, set out some planters with pretty flowers and find an umbrella to offer a little shade. Voilà: You have the makings of a great outdoor space.

Whether high up on a rooftop, tucked away in a courtyard or overlooking lush fields or a beautiful sea view, these European-style outdoor patios are sure to inspire your summer space. Sutton Suzuki Architects French farmhouse. This Northern California setting has a very relaxed, informal French farmhouse feel. Can't you imagine sitting down to a lunch of crusty French rolls and a fresh salad under this shady tree?

Create your own French farmhouse–style patio by adding natural wooden furniture with neutral linens and simple white plates. Add finishing touches to your table with a simple vase of wildflowers and a large bowl of oranges or deep purple figs. Grow pots of lavender for a heavenly scent, and add complementary aubergine (deep purple) throw pillows to your seating. Alice Masin Italian apartment. This stunning Italian patio feels chic and sophisticated, with a simple black and white dining set and a beautiful city view.

If you want an Italian-style patio of your own, grow tall shrubs — such as yew or privet — near a fence or a garden trellis to create some privacy from your neighbors. Use black iron furniture, and if you can, splurge on a white marble or stone top table. Accessorize with plain white seat cushions and a white umbrella to keep the look simple and classic. Add some warm terra-cotta planters with bright flowers like geraniums for color. Use a single color such as pink, red or white so they don't overwhelm the space. If you want to add table linens, use crisp whites. Bellissimo! Hugh Jefferson Randolph Architects Spanish-style villa. This classic Spanish-style villa has lean whitewashed walls, warm terra-cotta tones and a cool, shady inner courtyard.

If you have the luxury of a wall you can paint, whitewash it to give the space a clean, cool backdrop. If you can't add warm terra-cotta tiles to the floor, try using oversize terra-cotta planters and fill them with vibrant-color flowers, like red geraniums or bright bougainvillea. Select furniture in dark brown or black and create contrast with bold red cushions. Add black iron light fixtures or accessorize with black metal candle lanterns to add to that Mediterranean feel. Gast Architects Modern Scandinavian chic. The Scandinavians are masters of clean and simple design. The look here has been achieved by layering varying soft shades of modern gray in different textures, such as bleached wood, simple stone and clean painted lines. The designer has also added some contrasting warmer wood tones for an unexpected twist.

To achieve a modern Scandinavian look on your patio, go for uncluttered, simple furniture pieces with clean lines in black or gray wood. Choose a simple palette of one or two colors — grays or whites would work well. If this feels too sterile for you, try adding a little warm, colored wood (such as a reclining sun chair) or brightly colored (such as burnt orange or mustard yellow) seat cushions. For a touch of something natural, grow pots of simple green plants in black containers. Lisa Borgnes Giramonti English cottage. This garden is reminiscent of the English classic book The Secret Garden. Lush vines, rich color and quiet nooks for reading and relaxing give it a peaceful feel.

If you're inspired by the Brits' beautiful gardens, start with a table and chairs in painted white iron or go for a fun color such as sage green, dusty pink or baby blue. Use floral chintz for your table linens and crockery; mix, match and clash those patterns! You can pick up odd pieces of china tableware and old silver cutlery sets at your local antiques market.

Add lots of different herbs and colorful flowers. Even though an English garden looks all romantic and natural, there is a little planning involved. First work out what flowers and herbs will thrive in your climate (and when they bloom). Then think through different heights you will need to get those lovely layers of color. Delphiniums and lupines (blues) give some height, then add upright campanulas (white), geraniums (pinks or red), cosmos daisies (pinks and whites) or agapanthas (blues or white). On the final lower layers, consider something like bedding dahlias and begonias with some trailing plants such as cacopa or verbena. Plant in groups and pack everything in close.

You can also try climbing plants such as creeping roses to cover railings or exposed walls, and add a small water feature to create a relaxing sound of running water. Don Ziebell Spanish finca. Tucked through an archway, this rustic warm stone farmhouse feels every inch the Spanish finca. The large stone animal trough makes a great water feature.

To create your own little patch of Spain, grow pots (or a trough) of desertworthy succulents. If you don't have lovely sand-colored stone walls, paint a surrounding wall in a rich mustard yellow or a warm terra-cotta red. Use iron or wood garden furniture with olive green cushions. If you have space, add an additional comfortable chair or two with an ottoman so you can put your feet up and relax. Keep a wicker basket nearby with a handy supply of magazines to read and, of course, a side table with a nice jug of chilled sangria. McDugald-Steele Mediterranean-style palazzo. For a Mediterranean feel, even in Texas, add fresh blue and white textiles to your outdoor furniture and a bowl of citrus fruit as a colorful table centerpiece. Potted Italian herbs — such as rosemary, oregano and thyme — will create wafts of fresh Mediterranean scents. Make sure you use an umbrella to get some shade and add glass storm lanterns for romantic evening lighting. SoCal Contractor Spanish revival. Vibrant Spanish tile adds quirky color to this outdoor space.

Try using Spanish tile on a wall, the floor or the kickboards of a staircase. You can even find iron tables with Spanish tile tops. You can get a similar effect using bold-patterned fabrics on seat cushions, throw pillows, tablecloths and possibly drapery. Play with differently scaled prints from the same color palette, such as this great combination of navy, light blue, orange and white.

More European-style patios