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The weather is getting warmer, and you know what that means: it’s patio time. On summer days, an outdoor patio is a perfect place to get together with friends and family. However, many homeowners find that their patios are not equipped to be comfortable spaces for gathering.
Keep reading for a list of seven easy ways to upgrade your outdoor space. You’ll have the patio of your dreams just in time for the summer.
1. Simple String Lights
One of the easiest ways to improve your outdoor living spaces is with a simple set of string lights. This is one situation where less is more. You don’t need fancy light fixtures or multiple colors. Opt for small bulbs of yellow or white light.
These add aesthetic value to your space and allow you to use it well after the sun goes down. Environmentally-conscious homeowners can even find affordable solar-powered or LED lights. Make the most out of your space without wasting energy.
2. Install a Pergola
Pergolas are one of our favorite outdoor space ideas. Not only are they nice to look at, but they can provide opportunities for shade and plant growth.
Pergolas are freestanding structures that you can install anywhere you need them. You can plant crawling vines like wisteria and let these plants create a natural shady spot on your patio.
3. Swinging Patio Doors
Changing the doors to your patio is one of the simplest home renovations you can make, but it has a big impact on your outdoor space. Too often, patios feel fragmented from the rest of your home.
This creates unnecessary separation during group gatherings.
These swinging patio doors are an easy way to link up your indoor and outdoor spaces. By leaving them open, you have an aesthetic entryway between your two spaces. This expands the square footage of your entertainment space and makes group gathering easier than ever.
4. Invest in a Fire Pit
A fire pit is one of the best additions to your outdoor living space for a number of reasons.
First, it provides a focal point. Guests in your home will intuitively gather around it, whether it is on or not. Design-wise, having a focal point also helps you decide what does and doesn’t work in your outdoor space ideas.
Second, it proves itself useful all year round. In the winter, a fire pit can be the thing that makes your patio usable. In the summer, evening bonfires will keep the mosquitos at bay.
For an easy upgrade, you can buy a portable fire pit and design your patio space around it. For a more complete home renovation, you can build your fire pit into your patio. A built-in stone fire pit is a great way to make your patio stand out!
5. Build an Island Garden Bed
Many patios are defined by an expanse of flagstone or brick. There are obviously a lot of advantages to having a big patio. But the downside is that so much paved space can become monotonous.
Installing an island garden bed is an easy solution that will look great. Pick a section of your patio to install a small square, oval, or diamond-shaped insert.
Plant shrubs or ground covers that will stay low to the ground. Ornamental grasses are also great choices.
Make sure to avoid annuals or other plants that won’t look good in the winter. Island garden beds will grab the eye, so you want them to always look their best.
Whatever you decide to plant, island garden beds are a great way to break up the monotony of a large patio and add visual interest to your outdoor space.
6. Spruce Up Your Outdoor Furniture
When choosing outdoor furniture, a lot of people opt for metal-framed chairs and other items that won’t show damage easily. But there’s this myth that having furniture outdoors means you can’t have soft items like pillows or seat covers, and that just isn’t true.
You just have to make sure you are choosing materials and colors that will be able to endure the elements.
For example, choose darker colors that won’t show dirt as easily, and materials that won’t be damaged by the sun or the rain. Outdoor furniture doesn’t require a lot of care if you shop wisely.
Adding softness to your outdoor furniture makes your patio a more visually appealing and physically comfortable place to be.
7. Plant a Vertical Garden
If your patio is surrounded by walls, consider planting a vertical garden. This is where you plant things in hanging or built-in pots along a wall. This brings a couple of key benefits to your patio space.
First, it provides an accent to the area. It will pull the eye, and add visual interest in comparison to the other walls.
Second, it can give you some privacy, if one of the “walls” is actually a fence between you and your neighbors.
And third, it can make a world of difference for small patios. Not every patio has a lot of square footage. Vertical gardens are a great way to bring some greenery into the patio area without taking up precious floor space!
Bring Your Outdoor Space to Life
As the weather gets warmer, make sure your outdoor space meets its full potential. By making any of these simple upgrades, you can transform a drab outdoor space into a prime patio for summertime hangouts. For more tips on how to get the most out of your home spaces, visit our Home Improvement section and keep reading.
