With springtime in full swing and restrictions still in place due the COVID-19 pandemic, there’s a good chance you’re back to taking full advantage of your patio and backyard this year. But are you satisfied with the look and feel of your outdoor living space? Step outside and take a look around. When was the last time you upgraded the furniture, lighting and decor? Just because this space isn’t accommodating year-round doesn’t mean you shouldn’t treat it like every other room in your home. It deserves the same attention to design and decor!
Spring is here and summer is right around the corner. Make the most of your time outdoors by upgrading your patio this year. Consider the following improvements you can make to enhance the look and feel of your outdoor living space:
“A solid theme can encourage the rest of the ideas for an upgrade.”
1. Follow a new, refreshing theme
Sometimes, all it takes is a solid theme to encourage the rest of the ideas that come with upgrading your patio space. Something more lively and refreshing can wake up the living area after a long and dreary winter. Modern and contemporary accent decor can help you achieve that fresh vibe, or perhaps instead, a more traditional, natural look made up of wooden decor, furniture and accent pieces is more to your liking. Think about your desired theme and colour palette before you start making any adjustments to your patio space. Make sure it compliments adjacent spaces as well as the inside of your home.
2. Delineate Your Zones
Think about your family’s needs and how you will be using this space. Sketch out a plan. Divide the entire space into zones for different activities such as lounging, dining, barbequing, etc. Then differentiate these zones by using outdoor area rugs, planters, canopies, dividers, outdoor draperies or even just a string of lights. If you can, elevate certain areas or zones. Even a small change in elevation can create a dramatic impact.
3. Invest in new outdoor furniture
If you can’t remember the last time you bought new patio furniture, now’s an excellent time to treat yourself. A new table, bench or set of chairs can transform the space seamlessly and encourage you to spend even more of your time outside in the future. Today’s outdoor furniture has greatly evolved to be in some cases unidentifiable from indoor furniture yet at the same time is constructed to withstand even the harshest of Canadian elements. Outdoor fabrics are made to resist fading, mildewing, odor absorption and stains of every kind.
4. Add a fire pit to the mix
Want to make your patio even more cozy and inviting? An open wood or natural gas fire pit can help you achieve that comforting, sophisticated atmosphere that you can find outside of a bar or restaurant. Place a few benches and chairs with cushions nearby and turn your backyard into the go-to space for an outdoor evening get-together.
A fire pit adds a new, natural element to the patio.
5. Plant a nearby garden
Much like how the fire pit adds a natural element to the patio, a nearby garden can set a lovely tone during the daytime as you sit outside and enjoy the fresh air. Plant fresh, blooming flowers and shrubbery or make the garden more functional and efficient by planting vegetables and herbs. There’s nothing like having your own personal organic grocery store just steps away from your patio.
6. Upgrade your outdoor lighting
If you plan on spending a good amount of time on your patio after the sun sets, you may want to consider upgrading the outdoor lighting. One fixture simply isn’t going to cut it, especially if you’re going to have guests over more often in a permissible outdoor setting. Consider a string of decorative lights paired with hanging lanterns that flow around the patio. You can also make a path from the patio to the backyard using string lights or landscape lights to mark perimeters. Add a table top lamp, or upplight a few trees.
In sum, creating the perfect outdoor space for your family’s needs is an investment in an emotional anchor. These gathering spaces are where memories are made and spending time together will be experiences we now cherish more than ever before. If you need help, please contact us at NUVO DESIGN STUDIO. Call us at 416-512-1482 today or feel free to book yourself a complimentary introductory phone call and let’s get started the right way. We will come to your home for a free consultation to evaluate your patio space. From there, we will offer recommendations based on your ideas and help you get the project rolling.
