• New Orleans has a look and feel that you can re-create in your own home.usa image by TEMISTOCLE LUCARELLI from Fotolia.com
  
  An outdoor patio is a must-have in New Orleans because of its high temperatures and humidity levels. The patios are typically made with brick pavers or stone tiles, laid flat on the ground, with the patio attached to the house. The patio provides extra space for entertaining guests and makes it easy to transport food from the kitchen to the outside and then back again. New Orleans patio ideas can fit any home, regardless of whether you live in the city or just want to re-create the same look and feel.
  
  

Add Arches

• Create an arched entrance to your patio. This works well on homes with an overhang or a roof over the patio. The arched entrance is popular with New Orleans homes and, because of the roof, it creates an extra space in your home. The roof blocks out the sun, while the open arches still let light into the area. Use thick columns to highlight the arches and provide more stability to the roof. You'll likely need an architect or professional to install the arches on your own home. Have the arches sit on one side of the patio, overlooking the lawn or garden.
  
  

Make an Outdoor Haven

• Build an outdoor patio that feels isolated in order to give yourself a quiet place. New Orleans is well known for loud parties, but citizens still need a place to relax and wind down at the end of the day. For your own patio of this kind, lay down clay tiles, stone or brick pavers as the basic flooring. Surround the patio with leafy green plants, such as ferns. Fill planters of different sizes with the ferns and arrange those around the sides, blocking off much of the outside. The ferns need little watering to thrive, which is why the plants are so popular in the city.
  
  

Use the Right Accessories

• Finish off your New Orleans--style patio with the right accessories. Mix and match bright colors, using purple, green and yellow, which are the colors of Mardi Gras. Use soft fabrics that have a luxurious feel, such as satin and damask. Look for old-fashioned style or old-fashioned-looking wrought-iron pieces, including chairs and tables. Wrought-iron tables topped with glass are also popular in New Orleans. If you prefer wicker furniture, look for pieces in white and those made to look older, such as wicker pieces with intentional fading and peeling.