Decorate the outer edges of your patio with colorful rocks from the desert. You may have some of these in your yard already, but you can also purchase rocks at your local home improvement store. Choose rocks with desert inspired coloring and marble-like texture such as the one seen in the picture. Place large rocks on the four corners of your patio.
Install brown patio shades along the exterior of your patio. This will give you additional shade from the sun during the hot summer months. Adjust your shades when you want more sunlight to come in. Patio shades also give you more privacy so you can have your morning coffee on your porch without worrying about the neighbors peeking in.
A desert patio would not be complete without an assortment of various cacti. Place a cactus on the ledge or in a corner of your patio to prevent anyone from accidentally getting pricked by the thorns. You can also place cacti along the border of the patio. Just keep them away from chairs. Choose small barrel or globe flowering cacti.
Decorate your desert patio with hanging pots that contain ivy, Arizona poppies or other plants that grow well in the desert. Hang one or two plants depending on your desired look. Too many plants can obscure the view if you intend to sit on your porch and watch the sunset.