Summer Patio Facelift
I’ve always wanted the perfect patio and this was finally the year I was able to make it happen. Even though we only had a cement block to work with, we were still able to create a cozy space, perfect for small summer dinners and reading in the shade. Read on for my tips to creating a functional and practical patio design on a small budget.
Thrift your heart out
Facebook Marketplace and your local thrift store should become your best friend if they haven’t already. It might take some digging, but there are plenty of gems to be found at cheap prices and many items just waiting for a new coat of paint to shine their brightest. A little creativity can go a long way. For my patio, we purchased lanterns at the local goodwill and took a few shipping pallets from a friend’s dumpster to create our seating area.
Look for deals
For the items we didn’t thrift, we headed straight to Target. We looked for products that were on sale and ended up with a cute, affordable outdoor rug and patio cushions. Although these were our two biggest splurges for the space, we were still able to keep the total under $100. Stores such as Target and Walmart have great quality outdoor items for a low cost.
Think practically
We have a small space and although my dream patio includes a hot tub, pizza oven and hammock, we had to improvise with our given parameters. I shelved my dreams for a bit to come up with a different plan that would fit the space we were given and not be too crowded. We first thought about our main priority for the space which ultimately was to sit, eat, and read outside. Therefore, we focused mainly on seating to create a relaxing area that would fit as many people comfortably as possible.
Use what you already have
Fortunately, we had a few things lying around that helped us to complete the decor. We had an extra side table from a family member that my husband weatherproofed with a coat of varnish so that it would last outside. Thankfully, it was the perfect size for the space. Since our apartment area is not very closed off, one of our priorities was to include a barrier of some kind to create an element of privacy. My mother had a few extra curtains for us to use which was the perfect addition to block out traffic and also add a neutral, cozy element to warm up the seating area.
Invest in plants
What is the outdoors without plants!? To liven up the space and add in some greenery, we decided to embark on a mission of growing herbs and flowers in pots around the patio. Thankfully, we had already purchased a few houseplants at the beginning of the year and kept these on our patio while our new seedlings took root. To be honest, it’s been challenging tending to many different types of plants (succulents, herbs, flowers etc.) but it makes the area feel like a tropical oasis and there is nothing like growing your own garden.
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