As winter starts to fade, we find our minds turning once again to outdoor living, barbeques and relaxing on the patio. But wait! Has neglect throughout the winter months left your patio sad and tired? If so, read on for some top tips to improve your patio’s ambience – or why not forget sprucing up your old patio and get in touch with Additions Building – get them to build you a whole new patio area instead.
Furniture
Outdoor furniture is exposed to all manner of harsh elements such as wind, rain and hail. It gets treated way more roughly than indoor furniture yet we offer it little to no TLC. Give your wooden furniture a coat of protective oil every now and then. Put new cushions on the sun lounges each year when spring-time rolls around. Small touches can make a big difference to your patio area and if your furniture is looking tired then spend some time rejuvenating it. Or throw it out and upgrade. Any excuse will do.
Create spaces
Use your furniture to create specific areas. For instance, large potted plants can help create natural screens to section off different parts of your garden and patio. Big cushions casually thrown onto a day bed will create a vibe that’s conducive to lounging around while a classic wrought iron table and chairs placed elsewhere (laid with some fun games) will encourage guests to lazily spend some time over a board game or a round of cards. And if you live in a region prone to summer showers or your patio turns into a suntrap during August, you could also invest in patio awnings from Caribbean Blinds to protect you and your guests from the elements, creating an intimate, enclosed space for hot days and cool nights.
Think outside the box
A small garden or patio doesn’t necessarily mean small ideas; think laterally and work upwards and outwards – a good trellis system will allow your plants to grow skywards while an espaliered fruit tree will take up very little room. Keep plants from becoming messy and invading your limited space with regular pruning and containment in colourful pots. Don’t forget to consider how you enter your patio, such as refreshing it with french and sliding patio doors on the inside, or new fencing, gates and stairs from the outside.
Accessorise
This could be as simple as throwing some colourful cushions on to your existing furniture, or you could go wild and paint your terracotta pots all manner of magnificent colours. You don’t have to buy expensive garden ornaments; you can make colourful mobiles or create fantastic sculptures with all manner of household items – by making your own decorations, you’ll also add a unique, personal touch to your patio.
Blend your spaces
An interesting approach is to merge the outside with the inside. By a gradual blending and softening of the space between the patio and the back door, you can create one big area instead of two distinct smaller areas. Bring some plants in from the garden and put some traditionally ‘inside’ objects outside. Make sure that you use objects that you don’t mind becoming weathered. For instance, old egg-cups and ornaments can make interesting garden bed decorations. Plant up an old watering can and put it just inside the back door. Try to blur the lines between your kitchen and your patio – try to see the inside and the outside as one big creative space!
Have you recently completed a makeover of your outdoor area? Leave your styling suggestions in the comments below.
