solar lights are on sale and some are super cheap..mosquitoes? Do you need tiki's

As commented already - you need color. A dark red would look great with your cushions and should be an easy find in an umbrella color. Another small seating area (2-4 chairs and small table) looks like it will fit closer to the dog and you can use an outdoor rug under that space. With sales you may be able to make this work for under $1000. Add some potted plants near your steps. Please post photos of your final results.

If I get a dark red umbrella, what colour rug? And if I go with extra seating, what colour should that extra seating be? I am feeling very excited with all of these wonderful ideas and will definitely post pics!! Thanks everyone.

Food/beverage tables and drink buckets are handy.

No, with your cushions, run up to Target and get this 9' umbrella for $80. Green is the color of outside it will look crisp and fresh

Add this black and cream outdoor rug to tie in the other colors from your cushions. It's big-around $ 300.Add bunches of votive candles to the table and some bouquets of flowers from Trader Joe's/grocery store in low colorful vases. Stock up on Solar lanterns to tuck into flower pots (minimum of 5 lumens) Walmart has them for under$2.

I'd go w/ the apple green in the other chairs, too-why not?? Adirondacks? How much $ is left?

I don't know if you have an At Home store near you, but what a steal...

You could go overboard with lime green, so you might consider something neutral. I would get something that is easily stored away.

I would also suggest some potted upright junipers on the back edge of the patio in a line to hide the shed visually. Then some potted plants with flowers. Your patio is very nice, some torch lights or even potted citronella candles would add some ambiance for evening and help keep down biting critters (of the insect variety - lol) and plenty of space to sit and talk and places to set down plates and drinks. A nice outdoor waste basket is always a good idea too. Helps to keep the garbage under control. I wouldn't spend money on umbrella since at 7PM sun probably won't be an issue. Have fun!

Some more ideas incorporating Flo's suggestion to screen the shed. Also put down mulch on the ground between the two houses.

PS the dog is adorable!

I'd love two of these $30 benches on either side of a

gas fire pit in my back yard.
And some bright pillows!

I'm on the west side of Idaho. Sun doesn't set until almost 9:30!! I get to garden late! Umbrellas are cozy!

I love the look of the geometric rug from Jansgirl with your cushions. I would still go with a dark red umbrella with that, I feel the lime green makes the green in your cushions look dingy (which they are not). I bought an umbrella at home depot at the beginning of the season which has solar lights underneath. It is attractive and was less than $100 at full price. I think the solar lights with the umbrella would add a nice lighting element. In order to get potted trees large enough by this weekend to screen the shed, you will be lugging home some pretty big trees. Maybe just something to think about for the future and if so, plant in the ground, the maintenance is far less. You could always rent some lighted potted trees from a local nursery for the end of the patio, I have done this for weddings but, the cost with delivery and pickup is going to eat half your budget. Instead plant your own pots and add some tiki torches and no one will notice the shed if you give them enough other things to look at.

Agree with AJ Smith - use lots of colors - other than green. Lighting and "party balloons" similar to the pic below can help distract the guests eyes from the shed. Lots of greenery - flowers and plant life add to the occasion.

Consider and outdoor privacy screen to block the view of the shed. I don't think you need to make it huge, just large enough to block the shed itself. See inspiration pics below

You can't build a pergola by this weekend, but it is a possibility for the future.
For right now, go buy a large outdoor rug in a beautiful color, maybe even a bit of pattern. Measure the patio first. Maybe one large rug for the dining area and a second matching large rug for some outdoor furniture. Then add several medium or larger potted plants. A few candles in glass chimneys on the table. Make the patio colorful and friendly. If you can swing it, you can add a freestanding patio umbrella, in color, of course.

I never should have allowed my husband to build that shed! I didn't realize it was ugly until now lol.

Definitely a rug or two, you can find some good clearance deals on patio stuff right now. Maybe a metal bar cart to match the table.

You can really make the space comfortable and cozy. I was in your situation 10 years ago. No time. We bought a gazebo
With canvas top and sides. I attached colorful curtains to each side. I also had yards of fabric I weaved through the ceiling.
It is fluffy and full, and tones down the temperature by 10 degrees. It has worked because we still have it. A table that seats 8, and use it frequently. We are on our third canvas top!

Here is a picture of the table with the cushions and a rug. Going to look for an umbrella and some plants!

That sounds beautiful Beth, would you be able to send a picture?

Easy to do and we keep it up year round in California.

We keep it up year round in California.

Year round in California.

Beth I love the lighting you have hanging from this. This whole concept is great.

That is beautiful Beth! Thanks for posting :)

Daytime party get a Pergola with a couple trellis or vine Flowers like Jasmine or Bougainvilleas ....nighttime party use lots of white lights & candles...I'd swing by Lowes, Walmart they always have a great selection.

You need a much larger rug, can you exchange it?

Concur on rug size.. Should be able to keep the chairs on it when pushed out on both sides. Add 4 ft to width and L of table. Bed Bath and Beyond as well and bring your coupons...

Move the smaller rug to the side where the pup is ...and create a seating area around it...

The rug under the table is less important ...will be hard to find a big enough one and cost will be much more to rush to buy for your event...concentrate on the decorative elements...

an inexpensive roll of reed fencing...would surround the shed for temporary camouflage

For a little more money ..a few tall decorative fencing panels can be arranged like a screen in front of the shed

Depending on the size of your guest list and if the party is only to be outdoors more comfortable seating is a must as well...

Olivera -

What is your party for this weekend?

Are you over stressing like I do (according to my husband!)?

Is it family? Is this a first event in a new home?

If I missed this info... sorry... but in the scope of living and loving life, plus you enjoying the event... is the time spent thinking/talking about it worth your time in the end?

There is always tomorrow to make your patio "perfect". I say this because I wanted my patio and landscaping "perfect" five years ago when we moved in... and after adding plantings and borders over time we just had the awesome paver patio, retaining walls and columns installed one month ago.

Real friends and family do not care about the hardscape or decor. It is about the moment and memories!

Good luck... and I hope you can relax and have a fun time!

Some great decorating ideas. Have you power washed your patio? Looks like that could help brighten it.

Home Depot has larger outdoor inexpensive rugs.

String lights, a beautiful potted plant, and a rug

Lights example:

How was the party?

following

I think a bench would be nice with some throw pillows. Gives guests and family more additional seating space!

The party was great! Thank you jansgirl and everyone else for all of your comments xx

Very festive looking! Hope you had a great time....it looks like you did :)

I can't wait to poke my head out of my kitchen each morning to look at my beautiful patio! We are definitely using it more now and my 16 year old daughter even said 'I can totally have a party out here!' I also added a fire pit between the 2 red Adirondack chairs. There are still other improvements I can't wait to make in the way of plants, gardening and lighting but for now I love it ❤️

Absolutely beautiful! Love the tilting umbrella on our patio, too. Really helps customize sun coverage! Enjoy!

Don't know if anyone has suggested a water feature before ...but it adds a lovely relaxing sound and is so easy to do ....in most hardware or garden stores you can get a pump for as little as $20... and just sit it in any kind of waterproof container near the top of the water for a cool feature....no plants or fish needed just a nice size pot with the water spout...Can be a half wine barrel...a big colorful flower pot...whatever...there is a product called aquashade that gives the water a pretty blue color and combined with the water movement keeps algae etc under control..altho if it is small ...changing water from time to time should be easy

Looks great...I think you can cheat that dining table a bit closer to the porch and add 2 more red chairs...Follow the circle of the porch...they can be a bit closer together and face the table and bbq etc..

Looks very nice. Painting your shed a dark color is an option to help it blend in with your nice landscaping.

We custom fabricate seat cushions in 1,000s of outdoor Sunbrella fabrics. That would be a good first step to make your chairs more comfortable and water resistant! Also, a nice colorful area rug and pots of annual flowers would help too. Good luck!

Your outdoor areas will certainly be transformed into a very welcoming ambiance if you install these Esgarden solar garden lanterns. As you can see, their design is elegant and gives off a subtle glow and stunning hollowed-out pattern when lighted up. These solar outdoor lights are ideal for adorning and illuminating any place.

They can also be hung on pergolas, trees, and porches with the handle. Alternatively, you can put them on the ground or on a table to enable the light pattern to reflect more beautifully.