Summer is in the air! As temperatures rise, your thoughts may naturally turn to pools, beaches, and summer entertaining. Long evenings spent outside are much better if you have a good space in which to enjoy them. Whether you’ll be hosting summer parties or want a peaceful spot to yourself, a well-appointed patio is worth the effort. Sweep away the autumn leaves, perk up your garden, and check out these tips for making your patio worthy of the name ‘outdoor living room’.
Enjoying Any Size Outdoor Space
When I think porch my mind automatically goes to the wide stone patio space behind my grandma’s house that I spent summers in, complete with lily pond, climbing vines, and huge, sweeping garden. But you certainly don’t need a huge yard in order to enjoy the outdoors. In fact, you don’t even really need a yard at all. A balcony space would work just as well, or a small, fenced in back garden. As long as you have room for a couple of chairs and maybe a few plants, you’re golden. (And any time you don’t have to mow the grass sounds like a good thing to me.)
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Play The Bartender
If you have a little more space to work with and plan on entertaining this summer, consider an outdoor bar. They are way trendier than a grill, and are generally made from materials built to withstand the elements. An outdoor bar will let you mix drinks for your guests without routinely vanishing back into the house; plus, you don’t have to carry things back and forth and risk dropping them. Whether you have access to an outdoor water source or not, a bar is a great addition to any entertainer’s repertoire.
A Little Shady
Lounge In Luxury
Warmer days are definitely a cause for celebration. But if your patio space isn’t naturally shaded, make sure you invest in some cover! Even if you don’t burn easily, too much sun is no fun for you, your kids, or your guests. And I for one don’t want to have to slather myself with sunblock just to go sit on my porch! There’s the classic umbrella, which come in all shapes, colors, and sizes, and then there’s awnings, tents, and pavilions. It just depends on your aesthetic and the space you’re working with.
Okay, maybe you don’t want to go full Royal Pavillon, but then again, maybe you do. Pieces like the one above take your patio and turn it from porch to outdoor living room. There are multiple outdoor lounges and couches available, as well as covered day beds. Not all of them are quite so ostentatious as the one above. But then again, if you can’t go full camp in your garden, where can you?
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Keep Your Parties Lit
The days are getting longer and longer, but if you’re planning on your gatherings lasting past nightfall? Make sure you look into outdoor lighting! Most modern homes have some form of electrical outlet on their exteriors. If not, there are battery and solar-powered lights available. The styles of patio lighting are wide-ranging. Wall sconces, floodlights, rope lights, lanterns, and pendant lights like the ones in the pictures above. And like the ones above, there’s many ways to incorporate them in your outdoor decor.
Whether the hot weather is upon you or you’re still a little too far above the equator to be enjoying the sunshine, it’s never a bad time to invest in your outdoor spaces. Don’t let summer obligations catch you unawares!
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