Backyard Bliss: Cheap and Easy Patio Upgrades

 Make a so-so outdoor experience superb with these simple, straightforward, and affordable DIY improvements

A serene backyard patio with comfortable seating and refreshing shade is the perfect place to host small gatherings or relax with a cool beverage.FotoHelin/Shutterstock

A backyard patio or deck is one of the most versatile areas of the home and a blank canvas for creativity. We’ve gathered together some quick decorating touches—lights, textiles, plants, fire, or even painting the back of the house—that will make the average patio look like it came straight off of a magazine page.

Now, this may seem a little late in the season, but it’s actually the perfect time, as one of the largest expenses of any outdoor room—the all-weather furniture—is now or will soon be going on “end-of-season” sale at retailers and big box home stores, with plenty of warm weather weeks left to enjoy it this year.

Textiles soften the look of bare metal or wood furniture, not to mention making it more comfortable.Vineyard Perspective/Shutterstock

Furniture Thoughts

Sale season leads to impulse purchases. So before getting the credit card out to snap up a fabulous deal, measure your space. What can you comfortably fit in, taking into account leaving room to move about? How will you be using the space?

A dining set is perfect for entertaining, a modular couch is perfect for kicking back with family and friends, and a bistro table or chaise longue is all you might need for a private retreat. Don’t buy more furniture than you need.

Also, ask yourself how much maintenance you’re willing to put in and whether all this will be stored inside in the winter. Wood and wicker are normally higher-maintenance than heavy-duty wrought iron, corrosion-resistant aluminum, stainless and galvanized steel, and recycled plastic construction that won’t fade or rust. No budget at all? No worries—some awesome DIY furniture can be made using pallets.

Impressive Illumination

String lights are a relatively inexpensive item that provides significant ambience, adding a magical atmosphere to the evenings. Choose from globe lights, Edison bulb string lights, rope lights, fairy lights, copper wire lights, and color-changing lights.

Most are available in standard plug-in, battery-powered, and solar-powered options, so they can be easily hung on a wall, strung in trees or on poles over the patio, or used to illuminate the underside of a patio umbrella, with or without a handy outlet nearby.

Dimmable models allow one to fine-tune the mood, while solar lights that turn on and off automatically are convenient for hard-to-reach installations, as are sets that use remote controls.

An outdoor rug creates an attractive foundation for patio décor. DesignStock09/Shutterstock

Terrific Textiles

Just like indoors, cushions, blankets, throws, and accent pillows all provide an instant facelift at minimal expense. They can be color-coordinated for a sophisticated feel or a quirky and vibrant mix of colors and patterns that energize the space. Textiles soften the look of bare metal or wood furniture, not to mention making it more comfortable. While there are durable outdoor fabrics, such as Sunbrella, that are designed to last through years of sun and rain, if you’re going to be bringing them in after each use, less expensive fabrics will do.

At your feet, an outdoor rug creates an attractive foundation for patio decor. Available in a selection of shapes and sizes, from small throw rugs for underneath a chair or two and a small table to 10-by-14-foot models and more. They are also available as rectangles, ovals, and even runners. Polypropylene is popular as it comes in low, medium, and high piles and is resistant to stains, mold, mildew, and even pool chlorine. Polyester also resists UV rays, fading, and shedding. For a warmer choice in a covered location, consider natural jute, sisal, and seagrass.

A shaded patio provides a cool, welcoming place to relax in the summer.Sheila Say/Shutterstock

Shady Situations

Hot, sunny patios are used less frequently. So while adding a gazebo, pergola, or planting a tree all work, use a less expensive umbrella to provide instant gratification and protection from UV rays and cooler temperatures beneath it.

Consider at the very least a 5-foot umbrella to go over a café table or bistro set, or a 9-foot umbrella to shade diners around a 4-foot dining table. Cantilever (or offset) umbrellas are a good choice to cover a large area without needing to set the umbrella pole in the middle of the furnishings. They’re also useful to shade a hot tub or a section of a pool.

If the budget allows, consider a shade sail (mid-range price) or retractable awning (pricey) that can cover an even larger area and protect it from rain. The rule of thumb for all is that darker colors hide stains better but can retain heat, so they are best suited for more temperate climates, while lighter colors reflect rays to keep tropical temperatures under control.

Little Things, Big Payoff

Candles, tiki torches, and farmhouse or hurricane lanterns are decorative and can do double-duty by keeping the bugs away. Glass tea or lemonade beverage dispensers, a stylish beverage or ice tub, and a single-bottle wine cooler will keep guests hydrated while adding to the atmosphere. Acrylic glassware, perky melamine dinnerware, decorative baskets and trays, a tropically patterned runner or festive tablecloth, and a living centerpiece turn every meal into an elegant event. Save room in the budget for a space heater for year-round living.

Patio Paradise

An essential component of summer living, the best patios suit the style of the homeowner, but all feature some standard basics.

Living Things

No matter how lush the backyard, a patio needs its own plants. No green thumb? Succulents make great patio additions. They’re low maintenance, and several can be planted in a container to form an eye-catching mini-garden.

Container Considerations

In addition to creating a focal point with color, shape, and material, tall planters with shrubs or trees can be used to create a living wall, while hanging plants can help block an unsightly view, and others can be chosen to attract birds, bees, and butterflies.

Paintbrush Magic

An old concrete patio or deck can become a thing of beauty when painted in stripes, a geometric pattern, or stenciled to mimic decorative tile. Consider painting the back of the house, or a portion of it, a different color from the rest to further set the patio off as its own special place.