Get Ready...It's Patio Time!
It's that glorious time of year ago. It's time to set up that patio and get it ready for many hours of summer entertaining, and more importantly, lounging. Do you have all the furnishings to make your patio fabulous? If so, it's time to pull them out. Give all of your sunbrella slipcovers a wash, scrub down your wooden furniture, and you may want to give your metal furniture a fresh coat of rustoleum paint. If you have an outdoor rug, think about having it dry cleaned. If your planters are bare, head to the nursery and get some new ones. Remember to treat your patio as another room - this will help you with space planning.
If you aren't fully furnished, here are some items you may want to pick up.
1) First and foremost, a piece of furniture to relax upon! This can be a hammock, cushioned settee, rocker, porch swing, Adirondack chair complete with ottoman...whatever makes you comfortable.
2) If you're a sun worshipper, find a lounge chair that can resist some greasy sunscreen.
3) If you need some shade, consider an umbrella. Lots of patio tables come with a hole in the center for an umbrella.
4) Lighting. If you like to enjoy your patio after dark, have it wired for electricity, or simply enjoy the light from a fire pit, tiki torches or candles. Candela lights from Vessel are also perfect for patios - they are rechargeable, wireless, sleekly modern portable lanterns.
5) Speaking of candles, you'll probably want to load up on some Citronellas to keep the bugs away.
6) Do you enjoy dining al fresco? If so, make sure you have a good weather resistant table and chairs. Hand tablecloths are low maintenance way to hide any schmutz that collects on the table.
7) How about storage? You may want to carve out some storage in a mudroom or have a bench seat built to house cushions that you won't stand up to the elements.
8) Extra plants. Oversized planters and planters are a great way to bring plants up onto the patio. If you are starting from scratch, you can build a patio around existing trees. Personally, I like to grow mint so that I can grab a leaf right off it and throw it in my iced tea. Planters are great for mint plants, because when you plant them in the ground, they spread like wildfire, and no one needs THAT much mint.
9) If you are going all out with this patio thing, start looking at the big-ticket items that are so popular right now like outdoor fireplaces, outdoor kitchens, and fountains.
10) Extra decor: Get creative. You can always add yard art sculptures, trellises, and even paintings to the exterior walls.
Oh, and one more thing, mix up the sweet tea, some Arnold Palmers, or preferably, margaritas!
If you aren't fully furnished, here are some items you may want to pick up.
1) First and foremost, a piece of furniture to relax upon! This can be a hammock, cushioned settee, rocker, porch swing, Adirondack chair complete with ottoman...whatever makes you comfortable.
2) If you're a sun worshipper, find a lounge chair that can resist some greasy sunscreen.
3) If you need some shade, consider an umbrella. Lots of patio tables come with a hole in the center for an umbrella.
4) Lighting. If you like to enjoy your patio after dark, have it wired for electricity, or simply enjoy the light from a fire pit, tiki torches or candles. Candela lights from Vessel are also perfect for patios - they are rechargeable, wireless, sleekly modern portable lanterns.
5) Speaking of candles, you'll probably want to load up on some Citronellas to keep the bugs away.
6) Do you enjoy dining al fresco? If so, make sure you have a good weather resistant table and chairs. Hand tablecloths are low maintenance way to hide any schmutz that collects on the table.
7) How about storage? You may want to carve out some storage in a mudroom or have a bench seat built to house cushions that you won't stand up to the elements.
8) Extra plants. Oversized planters and planters are a great way to bring plants up onto the patio. If you are starting from scratch, you can build a patio around existing trees. Personally, I like to grow mint so that I can grab a leaf right off it and throw it in my iced tea. Planters are great for mint plants, because when you plant them in the ground, they spread like wildfire, and no one needs THAT much mint.
9) If you are going all out with this patio thing, start looking at the big-ticket items that are so popular right now like outdoor fireplaces, outdoor kitchens, and fountains.
10) Extra decor: Get creative. You can always add yard art sculptures, trellises, and even paintings to the exterior walls.
Oh, and one more thing, mix up the sweet tea, some Arnold Palmers, or preferably, margaritas!
This feels like a chic living room. The scrolled candelabra is the icing on the cake.
Throw pillows are not just for the living room anymore. So many beautiful prints are now available in weather-resistant fabrics.
This minimal patio is a great place to enjoy the view. Also, the doors make it an extension of the indoor room.
Don't feel overwhelmed or that everything has to be elaborate. A good old fashioned picnic table and benches could be all you need to enjoy your patio.
I love the way the planted form peeks in and out of this patio. The designer did a great job of playing with the edge.
Stone walls can also serve as seating.
I think I put this picture in every outdoor ideabook I do. It's just such a charming space. It even has a fireplace at the end.
Isn't this table fantastic? Not that they have a sideboard set up as well.
I'll take it. Yes please!
An aerial view of a dude who has made the most out of his postage-stamp sized yard.
Here's the ground view.
This patio is minimalist, yet offers so many options for seating, lounging, eating, etc.
This lovely covered patio is a great substitute for a dining room.
These lanterns provide all the light anyone would need.
Simple and lovely.
Very simple potted plants bring so much life to this patio. The deck chairs are so traditional and pretty as well.
This is a great example of the variety of patio furniture available today.
Those doors are simply T.D.F.
A grade change is a good way to cut out patio space and provide a seating wall.
Check out the way they have hug the sculpture on the wall. There really is no limit to how you can decorate the patio. Be aware of what is not weather resistant and make sure you are okay with some damage - that's about it.
I love the way this patio relates to the interior and the entrance...
...oh, and THE VIEW is spectacular.
Here is a wonderful example of how to open up a home to an outdoor patio - it is such a wonderful extension of the home. Even when the glass doors are shut, it is visually connected.
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