Make Your Patio a Paradise: 3 Easy Steps

If you're a homeowner, a patio is essential.  In addition to costing less than a deck, it provides you with a comfortable, social outdoor environment for entertaining friends, family and new acquaintances.

The only thing about patios is that they have the tendency to look bland without the proper furnishings.  If you have a patio and you're not happy with how it looks, or you just haven't decorated it yet, don't worry.  We're going to tell you how to make it irresistible.  After taking our advice, every time it's beautiful out you're going to think of your patio. 

Implement these 3 steps to enhance the appearance of your home, confidently entertain guests, and provide a source of outside comfort.

Step 1: Furnish it, Piece by Piece

So your patio's built.  The only this is ... it's bare.  Or just out of touch with its surroundings – in other words, decorated poorly. 

If the latter, clear your patio completely.  That includes chairs, tables, fire pits, wet bars ... everything possible.  Don't get rid of these though.  You still might be able to use them down the road. 

What you're doing by clearing off your patio is getting a sense of how it looks as is.  Without any decoration, how does it compliment your house and yard?  After you get a good sense of how the things around your patio compliment each other, go out and start looking for your patio's cornerstone pieces – a large table and chairs. 

After you have these, look for other furniture accessories – benches, swings, ottomans, end tables, outdoor rugs, etc. 

After this, move to non-furniture accessories – fire pits, grills and smaller things like candles, candle holders and other decorations.

Here's an important thing to remember: after each addition, take a step back and make sure each piece contributes to the patio you've envisioned.  If it doesn't ... well, that's why you keep receipts. 

Don't get discouraged.  Keep browsing until you find the perfect piece.  After all, this is your home and how it looks should offer you constant pleasure.

Step 2: Nurture Its Surroundings

The patio itself is not the only thing that makes it great.  Its greatness is also largely determined by what surrounds it.  The yard, garden, flowers, trellises, bird feeders, bird baths, bushes and more. 

After furnishing your patio, go to the farthest corner of your lawn and clear your mind.  Hum your favorite mantra if that helps give you clarity.  When you're clear-minded, picture things that could accentuate the look of your patio.  Think of all material things that thrive outdoors and imagine how they'd look beside your patio.  Would they add to its appeal or detract from it? 

If you're having trouble coming up with ideas, go to your favorite book store and pick up some home and garden magazines.  Almost always, these have pictures of decks and patios and the things that surround them.

Step 3: Add a Flat, Gable, or Combination Roof

A roof is what completes a patio.  And the great thing is, there are many styles to choose from. 

After you pick the style you like, there's another thing to consider before getting into the details like sheet thickness, gutter type, colour and spotlight options.  You must decide if you want freestanding or attached roof over your stone, wood, or steel patio.

Usually, if the base of the patio connects to the house, many people will opt to attach the patio roof to the house as well.  However, different circumstances call for different measures.  It's up to you to make the best decision.  If you're unsure, go back to those magazines.  Try to find one that focuses on patios and roofing options.  Or, if you have no luck there, go directly to a roofer.