Mid-season is a great time to make changes or additions to spruce up your patio – while there’s still lots of time to enjoy it. Here are a few of our budget-friendly ideas to help you enhance your patio for the balance of this season and for summers to come.
Path Polka Dots. Do you have a plain gravel path leading to your patio area? An easy and affordable way to give it personality is to randomly add concrete circles along the way. Be sure you learn correct installation so that they are stable for walking.
Feng Shui. A fountain may be out of your budget but what about a birdbath? Water adds a wonderful quality to any patio area and it’s so soothing to watch bird visitors splashing about!
Trellis. What a great way to add prettiness and privacy to your patio. Flowers like wisteria and clematis quickly create a wall of colour on a trellis. Add them now and enjoy the rest of the summer – and next year they will be spectacular.
Colour. If your patio is largely stone and concrete, punch it up with colour! Add a bench or twin chairs in a bright colour like red or yellow. Bring out some throw cushions in gorgeous florals for comfy, beautiful bench seating.
Wicker. While we’re talking about colour and seating, wicker is a charming and low cost way to provide both. Flea market wicker finds can be easily repaired and painted bright or in pastels (don’t you love this season’s mint green?) for the shabby chic look. Don’t be afraid to mix and match colours.
Repurpose. This theme is common in our blogs – and why not? It’s good to give an item another “life” and what a great way to save money. (Not to mention adding style to your space!) Consider galvanized tubs for planters or as an ice bucket for a party, soup cans as small flower pots, an antique high chair or wooden step ladder as plant holders, a wine cask halved as the base of a coffee table.
Lighting. Of course you need proper outdoor lighting for safety, but accent lighting adds so much atmosphere. My favourite are strings of fairy lights – little Christmas lights that twinkle – consider them in colour as well as white. There are also beautiful paper lanterns for special events – check Asian shops for great ideas. And here’s an idea. Bring out a lamp from inside and throw a sheer scarf over it to soften the glow. Perfect for a late night chat!
Shell Table. This is a project I saw online and think it is just gorgeous. If you have a plain, boring patio table or side table, make it one of a kind just by gluing on sea shells. You may have shells from your travels, but they can also be bought inexpensively. Just glue them on around the perimeter and even down the legs if you like. Add lots!<
Rocks. Beach rocks, jagged rocks, coloured rocks – they all add personality to your outdoor space. Rocks are a great divider for different areas of your yard or can be grouped as an artful display.<
Art. On a patio you ask? Why not! I have a deck attached to my house and hanging on the side of the house, which serves as a “wall” for my deck, are 4 beautiful plates made of concrete and etched with patterns. Hang anything you like, making sure of course, that’s it’s either protected from weather or weather safe.
However you dress up your patio this season, the important thing is to gather friends and family, make some memories and enjoy! Have fun.
When it comes to home improvement, it is important to know which types of improvements will add to the value of your home and which will not. This will be important when it does come time to sell your house. Such general maintenance such as sealing the driveway and replacing the roof will not add to the value, however, an additional bathroom or a patio may.
Adding a dash of color in the patio area is a great touch, I also love the idea of painting an outside wall a vibrant color as well. Otherwise the easier suggestions of a piece of colored furniture or accent pillows can go a long way.