7 Ideas for Making Your Patio a Space You'll Use

Your home’s patio should be a relaxing place where you can sit, take in the world around you, and enjoy the outdoor environment from the comfort of your own home. Your patio is a place that should feel welcoming and inviting for any guests coming to your home. It’s the first point of contact of your home and it sets the tone for the overall feel. Here are 7 ideas for making your home’s patio a space you’ll actually use.

1. Add Some Greenery

A little bit of greenery goes a long way when making your porch feel cozy. Add plants to your porch to create a green pop of color. They can be real or fake depending on the feel you’re going for. Look for corners of your patio where you can add taller plants to create some dimension and depth.

2. Use Soft White Lights

Lighting is crucial when it comes to creating a patio you’ll actually use. First, you want the lighting to be soft so as to not overpower the rest of your home or your neighbors’ homes. Secondly, you’ll want to be mindful of lighting the space for safety. Include lighting that can illuminate the path to and from your patio.

3. Be Mindful of Seasons, Matching Décor

Patios are an intimate space for you and your family, but they’re also a space to share with the world because they can sometimes be publicly seen. During the holidays, have fun creating décor for your patio. Add little touches and nods to the season by making DIY decorations to spruce up the space and make it uniquely yours. There are so many fun projects you can tackle to make your space feel like yours.

4. Don’t Over Clutter

Keep it simple on your patio. Don’t use this as a storage space. Move unnecessary items not being used into a garage or basement. Your patio should have a few spots for seating, some décor, and perhaps a table or two. Treat your patio the way you would treat another room and keep it clean.

5. Create a Space to Have Fun

Patios are great spots for hosting parties. You can have a little fun on your patio. Keep a stack of outdoor board games and wooden variations of toys on your patio. A little nod to fun goes a long way with guests. Plus, these wooden variations of popular games like Tic-Tac-Toe often double as décor too.

6. Have Seating Options for Guests

When designing your patio, be mindful of the seating arrangements. If you have a small family or it’s just you, keep it cozy and intimate so you can snuggle up with a good book. If you have a bigger family, look into outdoor seating that wraps around so it doesn’t take up too much space. There are options for every size patio and family.

7. Prepare for the Elements

Lastly, you’ll always want to be mindful of the weather where you live. Make sure you properly store any items on the patio that aren’t in use. Be mindful of furniture and outdoor fabric that can withstand rain and wind if you live in a place subject to those elements. You’ll want to keep your patio as an inviting space and to do this, you’ll need to stay on top of properly caring for it.

If you follow these tips, your patio will become an oasis that you’ll never want to leave. It all comes down to adding small touches like décor and colors you like to make it feel like an extension of your home.