As the summer draws nearer, more and more people want to spend more time in their gardens, but not everyone’s garden is fit for the summer season. The patio can form an integral part of your summer plans, but it is an often overlooked and underutilised area.
This is why we have put together the following ideas that you can use to ensure that you are making the most out of this space, keep reading to learn more.
Table of Contents
Dining Alfresco
Your garden patio could make an excellent alfresco dining area. First, think about getting some nice garden furniture to create a new dining area. If your patio is smaller, then a bistro table and chair set is a great way to make the most of the space. If you want to use your dining area year-round, then a small patio heater can make it more comfortable for the winter months too.
Take things a step further by cooking alfresco too. A small tabletop pizza oven doesn’t take up much space but can really help you to transform your patio space. Ooni has some great options for you, plus their blog details how to make New York-style pizza, and the recipe is to die for.
Expand Your Living Space
If you find that you are often on top of each other in your home, then your patio could offer you a great opportunity to extend your living space. By covering your patio and placing some comfortable outdoor furniture like a daybed or a recliner, you can make it into a hangout space of sorts.
If you have the money and the inclination, you can think about installing some heating or electrics and make yourself a second living room outdoors. It could also greatly increase the value of your property too.
Container Gardening
When it comes to gardening, most people immediately think of flowers, and if this is your preference, you can find ways to spruce up your patio with a few different potted varieties. Annuals, perennials or evergreens can all find a home in a pot. If you haven’t got a lot of room on your patio, then vertical planters can help you to make the most out of it.
If you think flowers are a little played out, then the patio is actually a great place to grow some fruits, veg and herbs. There are a number of things that you can grow fairly easily with the right equipment so do some research to work out what would be the best for your space and skill level.
Build a Structure
Having a patio provides you with an excellent base on which to build. You could choose to take advantage of this and erect a structure on top of your patio. This again would allow you to expand your living space. You could build a summerhouse or cabin, which you could then use as you see fit. It could become a home office, gym, bar or second living room.
You could also choose to place a hot tub on your patio and make the area a haven for relaxation. If you do choose to add a structure to your home, then you need to do your research when it comes to the materials that you want to use and remember to measure the area well!
The Aesthetics
If you think your patio is pretty well matched to its purpose already, then you could simply spruce it up a little. The way that your patio looks can have a significant effect on how you feel about it and how much you use it. Firstly, you might want to think about making it more private by adding some screens to it; this also helps you to hide or disguise any unsightly surroundings too.
The next thing to think about is the lighting in your garden. Improper lighting can limit the potential use of your patio. Depending on where your patio is in relation to the rest of your house, you can look into either wiring your patio or utilising solar options. If your patio receives a tonne of natural light, then solar options will work well. Either way improving the lighting options in your patio ensures that you can use it well into the evening and the winter too.
Summary
There are a number of things that you can do to ensure that you are making the most out of your patio space. Think about what you want to get out of the space. Find out the needs and desires of your household and take those into account when it comes to designing the space. The above is not an exhaustive list, but it does outline a few of your options and provide you with a jumping-off point to allow you to get creative.