Pretty House! :)

First -- consider painting the downspout to the color of the main body of the house. Right now -- it the focal point of your home!

Add larger outside lanterns on each side of the front door to add light to the front area and the patio. Add basic solar-powered landscape lights to the patio area -- and take them inside during the winter months.

For privacy you could construct a simple low fence of lattice that would act as a screen for the sitting area. Pretty and useful! And adding some Christmas-style lighting along that fence would look so pretty in the winter. Also add a taller "tree" or shrub in a larger pot at the far end.

Then you could add some nice folding patio furniture (that you could store in the winter)

Plus add a couple of taller planters with striking flower arrangements on both sides of the front door to bring back the attention to the true main focal point -- which is your front door.

Hope this helps!

Jan

Hi there! Congrats on your first house. The patio is a really nice area and you can make it into great usable space.

I agree with Jan on painting the downspout the same color as the house, But then at the bottom, you could change out the spout going across the yard and connect an underground "pipe". They're usually black plastic pieces that have a name I'm sure, but I don't know what! We have them on one side of our home which work perfectly. It would, obviously, call for digging up a small line in the yard, but you can just throw some grass seed down when you are done and it will be back in no time.

I was thinking about some kind of trellis as well which would help with privacy. Do you have room in a garage or basement to store a small patio set for the winter. I grew up in upstate NY, so I know your weather well!!

Many patio sets have chairs that are stackable or fold up, which may be easier. Or you could just get a few comfy chairs (weather resistant)with a small matching table. Then you could bring the cushions in and if you weren't opposed, you could cover the pieces and leave them there for the winter, if you don't have storage space.

Here's one idea:

Here is a link that might be useful: patio set