With warmer weather fast approaching, it’s time for many of us to take a long hard look at our outdoor living space. What do you see? Small porch? Medium-sized deck? Large patio with pool? No matter what space you want to address, today’s blog will help you make the most of it.  

My main rule for redesigning an outdoor space is to “treat it like an indoor space.” Your deck should get the same consideration and planning you would apply to your den. To keep things simple and consistent, I’ll use a backyard patio for the tips I’m sharing. The same tips can apply to about any outdoor space you want to redesign—to create an outdoor space you where you love to live.

How to Make the Most of Your Outdoor Living Space

Active Standing. The starting point I stress indoors is what I advise when redesigning an outdoor space and that’s to do some active standing. That’s as simple as standing in the center of the space and spinning a loooong slooooow circle observing what you like and don’t like and why. Make sure you record your thoughts. What things do you love about your patio and how might you emphasize those? Take a hard look at the things that you dislike. How can you downplay those or fix them? Next, turn the notes you’ve captured into a list you will follow to keep your project on track and ensure you don’t miss any key steps.

Determine Functionality. Take plenty of time to consider how you want to use your patio. Do you want a relaxing space to sip a glass of wine and curl up with a book as you watch other family members do chores? I love that idea! Do you want a space to enjoy outdoor meals? Maybe you want a space where you and friends can hang out, listen to music and play games? Whatever your desires, now is the time to make note of all the potential activities so you can set up your patio to accommodate them.

Consider Comfort. Obviously, your patio won’t serve you at all if it is blasted with sun all day long and  so hot you can’t stand to be out there. What is essential to provide comfort? This could include anything from the shade of a cantilever umbrella (we love ours!), shade cloths or an outdoor fan. Remember to consider how hot the actual ground gets. You may need an outdoor rug. Or that may be insufficient and you decide to paint your patio with cooling paint found at the big box stores. We all know if the space is not comfortable, we won’t use it.

Select Smart Furnishings: Big spring sales are coming up at home improvement stores and outdoor furniture stores to help keep down costs. Pull out your list to check the activities you have planned for your patio and budget to address as many of those needs as you can. You may already have the right furniture and it just needs updating. Spray paint can go a long way in not only improving the look of worn out furniture but also protect it and therefore lengthen its life. New cushions and pillows can add a lot of comfort and color to your outdoor space and you’ll find a huge assortment online—and don’t forget discount and thrift stores.

Light It Right. If you use an umbrella on your patio, it’s easy to add a lighting kit. Or if it’s time to buy a new one, consider an umbrella with lights already attached. This will certainly add extend the time you can spend getting full use from your patio. Check out all the latest solar lights that are available and these obviously require no wiring. It’s an affordable and easy way to add lighting to your patio.

Fix the Flooring. Is your patio looking worse for wear with cracks or stains? It can be a budget saver to use resurfacing patio paint to solve some of these issues. Found in the paint department at your home improvement stores, it’s a great option to upgrade the patio pizazz! The paint adds texture and can fill smaller cracks and cover stains. It’s not exactly cheap, but it’s certainly cheaper than hiring someone to dig up your old patio to completely redo it. If your patio is in relatively good shape, you may want to consider concrete stain. This is a great way to dress up your outdoor space and add color. It doesn’t take long to apply and is fairly affordable. And don’t forget outdoor area rugs. They can add comfort and color to any patio and are made to get wet without mildewing.

Let’s Finish With Finishing Touches. Just like in an indoor room, accessories go a long way in tying your look together and adding those colorful personal touches that make the space feel like you. Beautiful planters, battery-powered candles, pots of flowers, statues…there is a lot of ooh and ahhh potential to be had with these fun extras.

I hope this blog helps you take stock of your outdoor living space and consider ways to make it a great extra space to enjoy and use during the warmer months ahead.

Now, what will you do next to love where you live?

Please feel free to reach out to us at The Redesign Habit and ask questions or simply share a project that you are working on or have completed.

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