When it’s springtime in the Susquehanna Valley, homeowners everywhere start increasing their living spaces by maximizing outdoor hotspots such as decks, porches and patios. While it’s fine to throw a chair on your patio and call it a day, why not spruce up this outside real estate with some décor? You don’t have to spend tons of money to create a place to relax and dine — you just have to put some of these clever ideas to work:
- Devise a theme for the patio.
Your patio is a modest space, so choose a simple theme such as a monochromatic palette with a pop of color or a brighter theme with tons of patterns. Having a theme in mind will help you decide how to decorate, because you’ll avoid adding anything that doesn’t fit with the theme. Consider it a guideline to keep you focused and give the patio a pulled-together look.
- Offer a variety of seating arrangements.
Why stick with one kind of seat when there are so many to choose from? You can offer conversational loveseats, standard outdoor chairs, reclining chairs and even a hammock! Each seat should be comfortable in its own right, and it should allow you to maximize the enjoyment of sitting on the patio and taking in the sunset. Don’t forget to add some outdoor-fabric pillows to complete the cozy space!
- Provide some shade.
Some patios are automatically shaded depending on whether your Central PA home window company installed replacement windows with awnings, or your patio area is under a porch that juts out. However, if you don’t have any shade, you owe it to everyone to offer some. You can always purchase an umbrella to use alone or as part of a table. If the patio is surrounded by trees, you may even have some built-in shade that captures some coolness.
- Light it up.
You might use your patio at all times of the day, so include some lights. Some families hang up outdoor-style Christmas lights for a lovely, twinkling look. Other options include hanging lanterns as well as stand-alone lights. Solar-powered garden lights may be perfectly suited for your patio — just make sure they provide enough light. If you decorate with candles, follow all safety guidelines and ensure they are kept away from any flammable materials.
- Accessorize the space.
If you’re treating your patio like a room, remember to accessorize it just as you would a kitchen, living room, dining room or bedroom. Visit any home improvement, garden or craft store and you’ll find hundreds of decorative items. From wall clocks to ground ornamanets, you can get deep discounts on the accessories that will make your patio the talk – and gathering place – of the neighborhood!
No matter what, make sure you have fun creating the right patio for your needs. After all, you can always turn it into something completely different for next year! That’s the beauty of having a changeable outdoor living space.
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