At its best, your patio provides an extension of your home. A patio can provide additional living space to entertain, dine and relax. With a few simple tips and tricks, you can create an outdoor space that adds to your home’s living and that you love spending time in.
Tip 1: Bring the indoors outdoors.
What makes your home comfortable? Plush furniture, throw pillows, blankets and rugs. Bring some of these indoor elements to you patio to make the space inviting and comfortable. You can bring some regular indoor elements outdoors, but you also can find couches, pillows, blankets and rugs manufactured for indoor/outdoor use.
Tip 2: Provide easy access.
Nothing can make your outdoor space seem less inviting than a rickety, hard-to-use patio door. For easy access to your patio space, make sure you have a patio door that’s in good repair. Whether you prefer a traditional sliding screen door or a retractable screen door that hides away when it’s not in use, make sure you equip your outdoor space with a beautiful and functional door.
Tip 3: Create a focal point.
Just like your indoor spaces, your outdoor space needs a focal point to anchor it. A fire pit, outdoor fireplace, bar or seating area can help define your outdoor space. The item you choose to build your patio décor around will depend on how you intent to use the space. If you have a large patio space, you also might prefer to use several focal points to create separate “zone” on your patio, such as a fire pit for relaxing and an outdoor kitchen space for entertaining.
Tip 4: Tie the outdoors to the indoors.
Your patio should serve as a transition between your yard and your indoor living space. While your furniture and décor help to bring the indoors outside, natural elements tie your patio into the backyard. Plants, flowers and décor that incorporate natural materials, such as wood or seashells, can all help to blend the outdoors and indoors on your patio space.
Tip 5: Don’t forget the lighting.
To enjoy your outdoor space into the evening, don’t forget to add some lighting to the space. Of course, there are traditional porch lights, but these can be harsh. Consider torches, outdoor lanterns, solar-powered landscape lighting and a fire pit or fireplace to add soft, inviting ambient lighting to your outdoor space.
Tip 6: Add privacy and shade.
Some privacy can make your outdoor space seem more intimate and secluded, while shade can make your patio more functional. Without adequate shading, your outdoor space can become uninhabitable during the heat of the day. Consider roll-down patio shade. Roll-down shades can cover any patio archway or opening. They can be rolled down for privacy or to block the sun, and rolled back up when you want to enjoy your backyard view.
If you’re ready to finish your patio space to make it a cozy and inviting addition to your home, call A to Z Window Screens today! We can rehab your patio screen door or outfit your patio with roll-down shades to increase privacy and comfort.