Decorating your outdoor patio doesn’t have to be complicated. With just a few smart changes, you can bring style, comfort and durability to any backyard area. See how easy it is to create an enticing and inviting extension of your home. Here are 5 ideas to get your patio ready to entertain friends and family for years to come.
Choose the Right Furniture for Your Backyard Space
Picking the right furniture for your space is essential for modern outdoor living. Take your particular entertaining needs and the size of your patio into account when deciding on the best option. Large families or those who regularly entertain larger groups of friends and family should emphasize seating options that meet those requirements. Also decide on a focus for your patio entertaining. Are you interested in creating more of a dining space or a place for social gatherings around a fire pit, for example? Large patios may meet both of these requirements when executed properly.
A multi-piece dining set is great for hosting outdoor dinner parties, while comfortable seating sets work well for casual chats and outdoor entertaining. If you lack space, versatile bistro sets are perfect for entertaining on the fly.
Incorporate soft cushions and colorful throw pillows that complement your décor. This will add to the impression of an outdoor living room. Don’t forget to include touches like indoor/outdoor rugs that coordinate with your furniture and décor to add both comfort and color to your outdoor space.
Light Up Your Patio
Set the scene on your patio with a combination of decorative and landscape lighting to illuminate it. Use solar path lighting to accent and brighten up areas around your patio and along walkways. Path lighting can consist of either stake lights planted directly into the ground, or light fixtures and lanterns installed on decorative posts. Use outdoor wall lanterns combined with string lights to create a warm, atmospheric glow to welcome and comfort guests.
Helpful Tips
Strategically placed patio lanterns can be attractive centerpieces and accent items that illuminate at night and add charm to the space during the day.
Use candles and torches to provide extra patio ambiance. Citronella candles and yellow bug lights can help keep insects away during summer evening get-togethers.
Accent Your Patio with Landscape Features
Backyard landscaping can significantly increase the appeal of your patio. Consider how intuitive and creative landscaping provides both form and function to an outdoor area. You can incorporate landscape foliage and mulched flowerbeds, as well as well-placed planters, flower boxes, and hanging baskets with eye-catching plants to form a cohesive, natural feel.
Use outdoor yard accents to complement your patio design. Items such as fountains, birdbaths and statuary provide visual interest, and fountains and other water features in particular, can add a soothing ambiance to your yard.
Add a small bridge or arbor to act as a gateway from your lawn, garden or secluded water garden to your patio area.
Add a Fire Pit or Patio Heater
Purchasing or building a fire pit, or adding a patio heater are great ways to extend the enjoyment of your patio into the cooler months. Fire pits are popular backyard additions because many people enjoy sitting around a blazing fire on a cold evening. Some models can even be used as a grill.
Safety Alert!
Remember to follow all safety guidelines when using a fire pit to ensure safe enjoyment.
Gas fire pits and fire pit tables are a convenient and relatively hassle-free way to add ambiance to your patio area. They provide the warm glow of flames as well as a decorative element. Gas patio heaters are a great option to help you enjoy your patio even when it’s cold outside.
Save Room for Your Grill
Everyone loves a cookout, so be sure to include a grill in your patio revamp to create an outdoor kitchen. Barbecue up your guests’ favorites—as well as your own—using one of the many types of grills available. Choose from gas or charcoal cooking, ceramic grills or smokers. Incorporating your grill with outdoor countertop space means you can prep, cook, and serve your guests completely outside.
These are just a few ideas for how you can update your patio, but the options are limitless. Head on into your neighborhood True Value store and find all the help and supplies you’ll need to turn your backyard into an outdoor oasis.
Project Shopping List
Here’s what you’ll need to complete this project successfully.
- Patio dining set
- Patio seating set
- Bistro set
- Indoor/outdoor rug
- Solar path lighting
- Outdoor wall lanterns
- String lights
- Patio lanterns
- Citronella candles and torches
- Yellow bug lights
- Planters
- Flower boxes
- Hanging baskets
- Fountain
- Birdbath
- Garden sculpture or figurine
- Fire pit
- Patio heater
- Grill or smoker