If you’re not enjoying your outdoor space, then are you truly getting the most out of your home? Your outdoor space is just as essential as your indoor space. It’s time to stop ignoring the overgrown shrubs and grass, and start coming up with a few ideas for patio designs at home.
When you take on a patio DIY, you can completely transform your entire patio space, turning it into an extension of your home. An outdoor living area is much more than wooden beams on the ground and a few patio chairs or two. An outdoor living space is a place where you and the entire family can spend several hours.
How can you begin to create an outdoor area you never want to leave? In the guide below, you’ll find several tips on how to decorate a patio. Continue reading to learn about some of the best DIY patio ideas!
1. Install New Patio Doors
If you want to extend your indoor living space and create a smooth flow between your home and the patio, then a great starting place is to upgrade the patio doors. Investing in a new door and partnering with a company that provides patio door installation can really enhance your space and add value to your home. Sliding glass doors or French doors make the transition from indoors to outdoors seamless. Both of these door options allow you to see the outside while inside and vice versa.
The great thing about upgrading your doors is that it’s a simple and fairly inexpensive upgrade. You’ll want to start by finding the best french door company near you. Browse through their options and then select the doors you’d think would look best on your patio.
Install them yourself or have one of the experts at the company quickly install them for you.
2. Illuminate With Outdoor Lighting
One of the best ways to get the most out of your patio area is to illuminate it with outdoor lighting. Rather than forcing yourself inside each time the sun goes down, give yourself the option of hanging out on the patio all evening long by installing a variety of light options.
There are several different ways to add lights to your patio. You can wrap fairy lights around nearby trees and hang them from the top of screen rooms, or alongside the roof of the house. You can use solar lights with stakes in them to border your garden beds.
If you have any walkways to or around your patio, then you can install tiki lights to help guide you during the nighttime. The more lights you have, the better your patio space will be after the sun goes down and the more you can enjoy it.
3. Lay Down an Outdoor Rug
You want to make your patio feel as warm and welcoming as possible. One of the best ways to make your patio an extension of your home is to lay down an outdoor rug in the center of it. Outdoor rugs bring that homey feel outside.
You can sit on the rug and play board games with the children, give your feet a comfy place to rest, and provide a soft area for pets as well. Take your time choosing an outdoor area rug that’s durable and cozy. You’ll also have many designs and patterns to choose from, so make sure it fits well with the rest of your decor.
4. Keep the Bugs Away
Annoying bugs can keep you and your family from enjoying your patio area. Rather than letting the bugs keep you from your patio, keep the bugs away instead. There are a few different things you can do to help keep the bugs away.
You can use candles made specifically for repelling bugs. If possible, place these candles inside mason jars and use them as a decoration rather than a bug-repellent eyesore. You can also use fans.
The strong winds from the fans make it difficult for bugs to fly in the area. When you place several fans around the patio, bugs won’t be as present, and you can enjoy your bug-free space.
5. Use a Tabletop Fire Pit
Another great way to add light to your patio and keep bugs away at the same time is to use a tabletop fire pit. Fire pits help keep you warm during the colder months, which gives you even more time out of your patio. The fire will keep the bugs away as well.
Aside from these great benefits, fire pits are also the perfect place for the entire family and friends to come together. Everyone will enjoy gathering around the fire and sharing stories, chit-chatting, and of course, making smores. A fire pit is a wonderful addition to any patio area.
6. Provide Optimal Seating Options
In order to enjoy your patio area on a regular basis, you’ll need to have optimal seating options for you, your family, and any guests you invite over. Be sure to add several different seating options all within the same area. For example, you can have bench swings around the fire pit.
You can then have a hammock, an outdoor couch, and a few outdoor chairs. The more seats you have, the more possibilities for everyone in the family to head outside and take a seat!
7. Upgrade Your Privacy
As you begin to enjoy your patio more and more, the last thing you want is to have prying neighbors looking over at you. There’s no better time than now to upgrade your privacy. You have a few different options for this upgrade as well.
For example, you can install curtain rods if applicable. Otherwise, you can install standing screens to help give you more privacy. If you want to keep your yard more natural, then use bamboo, trees, or hedges to add natural privacy.
You can also consider growing a vertical living wall. You’ll use a lattice to grow vines on. The vines will grow throughout the lattice, covering all openings and creating an ideal privacy wall.
8. Decorate With Greenery
Speaking of greenery, there’s no better way to decorate your patio than with plants of all shapes and sizes. You can choose from some of your favorite plants and flowers to decorate with. Try to think of plants that double as beneficial factors to your patio as well.
For example, some plants like milkweed will attract butterflies. Plants like citronella will help ward off mosquitoes. Plants like aloe vera can be beneficial for scrapes and burns.
Once you choose your plants, be sure to choose beautiful pots also. There are many different pots of all shapes, sizes, and colors. Find a few that’ll look great with the rest of your patio decorations.
9. Create a Dining Space
If you can’t eat on your patio, then you’re still not getting the most out of your patio area. You can create an outdoor dining area by simply adding an outdoor dining table and chairs. You don’t need to have an outdoor kitchen to enjoy a meal on your patio.
You can always cook inside and still bring the food outdoors to enjoy the meal on the patio with your family. Once you purchase your outdoor dining table, you’ll be surprised how often you choose to eat on your patio rather than inside your home.
10. Install a Canopy For Shade
Having a cover of some sort over your patio area is beneficial for several reasons. For starters, you never know what the weather conditions might be like. If it’s raining or snowing, can you still enjoy your patio?
You can if you have the right type of cover over it. If you don’t already have one, then now might be the time to build one. We understand this can be a big project for someone to do alone at home. Thankfully, you have a few other options to choose from.
You can consider purchasing a pergola, which is a fairly simple setup. You can also install a canopy over your patio. Canopies are easy to install and can offer lots of shade for your patio.
On days when the weather isn’t ideal, you’ll still be able to head outside and enjoy your patio setup.
What Will Your Patio DIY Look Like?
Who knew there were so many great patio DIY ideas? Transforming your patio area into a space you never want to leave has never been easier. Use all of the helpful ideas and advice listed in this guide above to get the process started.
Don’t stop here, however. Let these ideas inspire you to come up with some of your own brilliant patio designs as well!
For more household topics and many other topics also, don’t forget to check back here on a regular basis.
