One of everyone’s favorite areas in their home is actually outside, on the patio – sipping your drink of choice and relaxing after a long day at work. There is something uniquely wonderful about being outside, unwinding, and breathing fresh air.
Patios should be a sneaky retreat where you and your family can get together for barbeques, spend some time in the pool, and enjoy the outdoors. If yours is looking a little worse for wear, now is the perfect time to start planning your outdoor renovation project before next season.
Below are five patio decorating tips from designers to get your creative juices flowing:
1. Plan First
As with any design project, planning is one of the most crucial stages. Gather ideas from friends, family, and Google –then put together a mood board of what you would like to incorporate.
Design elements are crucial to the success of your project, as is measuring the space before you start. Choose your ideal color palette and what materials you would prefer to use.
2. Lighting
Patios are the perfect space for string lights. They are gorgeous little bulbs that bring atmosphere and light to your outdoor area at night. You can choose to hang as many as you like but, depending on where you live – insect populations may need to be considered – the last thing you want is for your outdoor area to get inundated by creepy crawlies.
If string lights aren’t your thing, consider using a large pendant – woven ones look incredible on patios. It’s all about getting your patio to look like an organic wonderland with natural materials.
3. Furniture
Comfort is a vital component of any room, especially if it is to be used for entertainment purposes. You want your friends and family to be comfortable when they come around to visit, so choose your modern outdoor furniture wisely.
Unless your patio is completely covered, keep in mind that the furniture you choose needs to be able to stand up to the elements. If you live in a hot area, choose outdoor fabrics that are made to handle the beating sun.
4. Accessories
You may think an outdoor area needs to be simple and low-key – that doesn’t have to be the case. Use your imagination and incorporate elements you love, even if they’re bright colors and unusual materials.
Accessories are an easy way to bring instant style to your outdoor area. Think pot plants, baskets, wall art, and scatter cushions. Choose accessories based on your personal style, and remember that experimenting with a vibrant color palette works a charm in a newly renovated and paved patio area.
5. Plants
An outdoor area is effortlessly tied together through careful and considerate use of greenery. Lush plants, beautiful flowers, and even citrus trees can look fantastic when used in an outdoor setting.
By bringing the outdoors into your patio area, you can create a serene atmosphere which is perfect for relaxing. Don’t shy away from using real plants – they are always the better choice, but if you don’t have a green thumb, don’t fret. There are so many faux plants on the market that look as good as the real ones – and they are extremely low maintenance too! Just don’t try and water them; a gentle wipe with a damp cloth is all that is required.
Good luck, and have fun creating the patio area of your dreams!
