Your patio space can add greatly to your quality of life and the value of your home. To keep your space as usable as possible, start with temporary items to develop an idea about how you want to use the space. There are fixed features you can pivot around, but don’t make a permanent investment until you know exactly what you want.
Make a Spot to Relax
Comfortable seating will look different for everyone, but if you like to dine outside, you’ll want taller seating. For lounging, consider investing in furniture that’s a bit lower and roomier. Incorporate a storage bench into your design to store cushions and protect them from excess sunlight, moisture, and dust.
In your relaxation space, go ahead and invest in furniture that fully suits you. If you’re tall, get something with a bit more height and a longer cushion from hip to knee. For those who are a bit shorter, treat yourself to a shorter, smaller chair. Be aware that much outdoor furniture tends to be a bit low; you may need to look for a carpenter if you’re looking for a taller wooden chair, such as an Adirondack.
Pay Attention to Height
If your patio area is fenced, do what you can to put some color up a bit higher. If you can’t hang pots on the fence, drape it with colored solar lights or put them in buried crooks where you can hang a pot. The most beautiful patio plantings against a boring, static fence will not be as eye-catching as adding a bit of color along the fence.
Another option is to plant something taller along the fence or border. If you need plants that will be taller but won’t spread out too much, you might consider ornamental grasses or bamboo. Carefully review the best plants for your region. One gardener’s ideal ground cover is another gardener’s invasive nightmare.
Use Pots for Variety
Many of us have brick or concrete patios without a lot of planting space. To make space for plants, consider adding outdoor pots. Your pots will need good drainage, some gravel in the bottom, and good quality potting soil. Once filled, they’ll be quite heavy, so make sure you are happy with their location before you fill them up.
Outdoor pots are an ideal spot to put:
- exotic plants that need a bit more water
- invasive plants that will go crazy in a pot but not invade your landscaping
- a water feature
- a solar light fixture
You can also take your flower pots and paint them with solar glow in the dark paint. This paint may need updated occasionally, especially if your pots are a bit older, but the update isn’t terribly time-consuming and will add visual interest to your yard at any hour of the day.
Add Solar Lights
Solar lights are an extremely easy way to increase visibility of your patio features and add visual interest at nearly any time of the year. For example, if you want an outdoor dining area, consider adding solar lights to the border of your eating area.
Hanging solar lights can be strung over your table, even if you have a canopy. Because solar string lights have a charging panel that can be placed outside your canopy, you can easily brighten your dining table under a shade cover.
Keep Pests Under Control
If you are concerned about wildlife, consider putting in motion detector solar lights so any approaching wildlife will trip the light. Raccoons, skunks, and armadillos may be interesting to consider, but once they’re near your home, you will want them gone.
Pay special attention to areas that will draw bugs. Wet wood and mulch may draw spiders, while any waste left by pests can draw flies. Standing water breeds mosquitoes. Talk to a service that provides pest control in Redding, CA, or professionals in your area about necessary treatments to keep destructive and dangerous pests off your patio and out of your living area.
Whether your patio is the front porch to a large yard or your only space for outdoor living, spend some time out there while the space is empty. Determine the best location for your dining area, your lounge spot, and your favorite plants. Add solar lights to brighten the space and stay on top of pests before they get a foothold.
