As the mercury on the thermometer continues to rise heading into summer, you’ll want to make sure that your patio is ready. Outdoor space provides homeowners with the chance to expand their living area, and what better way to enjoy life than amongst the gifts of Mother Nature?
Here are a few easy and affordable ways to make sure your patio is ready for endless summer days and nights.
1. Create Ambience With Outdoor Lights
One of the most important yet overlooked parts of outdoor design is lighting. While many homeowners may focus more on fundamental elements of exterior landscaping, many forget that lighting is the final piece that creates an unforgettable feeling to their outdoor space.
Perhaps it’s the potential price tag associated with lighting that has homeowners fearing the addition of lighting. But while it can be expensive, there are plenty of other options available in the lighting realm that don’t have to break the bank.
A simple string of lights overhead or along fence lines can create a wonderful effect for a fraction of the price of fully installed lighting systems. They can easily help make an outdoor space feel cozy and welcoming. Having a gloriously-lit patio will entice you and your guests to crave your outdoor space.
2. Add an Outdoor Area Rug
Something as simple as placing an outdoor area rug on your patio can add an incredible element of design. Choosing the right one can easily pick up color from your home as well as those in the surrounding landscape.
Area rugs are multi-tasked: they soften the hardscape, add a sense of style, create a focal point, and tie the entire scene together. They also add texture under your feet, and help to keep debris from being tracked inside.
3. Add Color & Height With Striking Containers
Flat surfaces beside doors and along walkways or stair railings are the perfect spots for tall planters that add vertical decor and even a little privacy. Add full floral plants with tall ornamental grass in the center to compliment the height of the planters and add even more height to them. Mix up annuals and perennials together, and choose bright, vibrant colourings for your flowers that add a punch of color to your outdoor space.
4. Screen Your Space For Shade and Privacy
Unless you enjoy being fully exposed to the scorching sun and the prying eyes of neighbors all day, you’ll want to add some shade to your patio. While oversized umbrellas work well, you can also get a little more creative with the use of decorative screens. Installing visually appealing structures that use complementary materials can help you conceal what you don’t want to be put on display, while shading from the sun.
You can also opt to hang decorative fabrics to do the same job, which is another option if ease and affordability are an issue. There are plenty of all-weather fabrics that come in a wide range of stylish colors and patterns. They’re relatively inexpensive and simple to switch up whenever you’re in the mood for a change. A simple rod and curtain can do just as good a job to create a shaded, private oasis on your patio.
5. Don’t Forget the Details
It’s easy to get caught up in the major pieces that go into creating an outdoor space, from the furniture, to the hardscaping, to the flowers, and beyond. But it’s important not to forget about the little details. Often the smallest things can have the biggest impact.
It could be something as simple as placing candles around a walkway, or adding colorful throw pillows to your furniture, or even hanging fancy picture frames on a wall or the fence. Careful thought-out details like these can really bring your patio to life, and add a whimsical feel to your outdoor space.
Just like any room inside your home, patios deserve seasonal makeovers. Gain some design inspiration from the above suggestions that will help you create a stylish, affordable, and comfy patio.
