Make Your Patio More Inviting

by Amanda Cook

Do you watch home decorating shows on TV and envy the people who transform their boring patios into beautiful outdoor entertainment centers? The truth is you can spend a fortune on patio furniture; lighting, barbecues and hot tubs, but there are also many inexpensive ways to make your patio more inviting. With a few accessories and a little effort, your patio can become a fun place to entertain friends and relax.

Before you begin making over your patio area, take a pad and paper and sketch out the space you have available. Then make a list of any existing outdoor furniture, accessories or plants you want to include. Visit a nursery or home center to get additional ideas. If you don’t have any patio furniture, check out used furniture stores and garage sales for old picnic tables, wicker chairs or wrought iron furniture sets that you can refurbish. Many stores carry nostalgic ice cream parlor style table and chair sets that are perfect for a small patio or balcony.

Also shop flea markets and used furniture stores for occasional tables, deck chairs and lounge chairs that are in good enough condition to be refinished or reupholstered. Canvas and vinyl umbrellas are available at discount stores, home improvement stores and sometimes even drug stores and supermarkets for as little as $39.

Try to place your barbecue grill in a place far enough away from the sitting area so that smoke won’t bother your guests. If you can’t afford an expensive grill there is a wide range of models to choose from. Even if you only have room for a hibachi or an old-fashioned kettle-style grill, you and your guests will savor the experience of cooking and eating outdoors.

One of the fastest ways to dress up a patio is with plants. Place several large pots filled with blooming flowers and lush foliage around the perimeter to create a garden atmosphere. If you are crafty, you can buy inexpensive terra cotta or plain white ceramic pots and paint them to match your decorating scheme. Multi-tiered plant stands and hanging planters add a decorator touch without taking up much space.

Portable canopies are an easy way to add a covering for your patio. Available at discount and home improvement stores, they can be assembled easily and stored away during bad weather months.

A couple of tall, leafy plants, such as ferns or philodendrons, can give your patio a tropical feel. Check with your nursery for recommendations on plants that are easy to maintain and best for your climate. Hang a rope hammock from nearby trees and install a couple of tiki torches to enhance the tropical mood.

Solar accent lights are a nice touch. They can be installed in-ground or mounted on a deck or railing. The solar-powered lights come on automatically at dusk and create soft lighting for a patio or deck area. Each lamp features energy-efficient lifetime LED lights. Color inserts allow you to choose bright white for strongest illumination or candle-like amber or blue for a softer effect. The lights illuminate up to eight hours if they are charged in full sunlight for 48 hours.

If you already own a wicker or wooden patio set, it’s easy to create a new look by changing the cushions. For a nostalgic feel, use classic stripes or floral prints. Add a wicker planter bursting with pastel flowers or twine cascading ivy around a white trellis or lattice style wall.

Cast aluminum and wrought iron furniture looks terrific teamed with topiary and accent pieces such as weathered looking pottery, classical urns and lanterns. Wood furniture such as cedar and redwood looks best surrounded with other natural materials. Terra cotta pots, wood planters and baskets brimming with flowers or fruit create a warm and casual outdoor ambience.

Hanging sun spheres add beauty and pleasant fragrances to your patio. As the sun shines through the decorated glass, rich colors of blue, green or red sparkle while heated oil releases a scent from a smaller glass bubble inside. The spheres cost around $20 with fragrant oils sold separately. Bird feeders are also available in a wide range of styles and can be mounted on a patio railing or a nearby tree, or hung from a tall metal stake inserted in the ground.

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