When I first moved here, it took me some time to focus on my outdoor area. For the time being, I just placed a furniture set and some plants and left it like that for a few months.
Eventually, I had the time to fix my patio after settling into my new home. I debated if I should have a big budget for this project or spend less by working with what I already have. I went for the latter — so instead of replacing everything, I saw some tips and tricks on the internet on how to make my patio look amazing.
Whether you’re like me, who finally has the time to give their patio attention, or you just want to redecorate your patio because you’re tired of how it looks, here are 5 hacks you can try when giving your patio a makeover.
1. Rearrange the furniture.
You don’t have to replace your existing furniture when giving your patio a makeover. Before you buy a new set, try moving things around and see if you can find a new and better arrangement. It doesn’t have to look professional, have fun with it and incorporate your style.
If you’re at a loss or feel overwhelmed, here are things you should do when arranging your patio furniture:
2. Change your focal point.
One way to make your patio look aesthetically-pleasing is by having a focal point which will be the center of your furniture arrangement. This will serve as the heart or gathering point of your entire patio as the rest of the furniture and decoration surround and support this point.
Most likely, you may already have one, even if you didn’t assign it. It could be a seating arrangement, a piece of decoration, or a landscaping feature. You can redecorate your patio by changing the focal point and arranging the rest of the furniture and decoration around this.
Once you have established this point, move your longest piece of furniture (usually a love seat or 3-seater sofa) to the longest wall and let it face the focal point. This will make your space look bigger, and this huge piece of furniture will become less noticeable.
3. Clean your furniture.
An easy way to make your patio look different is to make old furniture and decoration look new again by cleaning them.
Since your outdoor furniture is exposed to the sun and other outdoor elements, it will age much faster than your indoor furniture. After a few seasons, it would have stains, rust marks, mold, or mildew.
Not only does it look bad, but you are at risk of ruining your clothes when hanging out in your patio. This will also eventually damage the quality and durability of your outdoor pieces. Take care of your patio furniture and decoration to increase their lifespan and make your patio look great. If you don’t know how to, check out our guide that is linked below.
(Related article: How to Take Care of Your Patio Furniture)
4. DIY decorations and furniture.
If you prefer replacing your furniture and decorations, don’t head on to the nearest store or go online shopping for new pieces. You can save some money by creating your own or repurposing old ones.
YouTube and Google have hundreds of video tutorials and guides on DIY-ing, like this one:
If you’re looking for specific decorations or furniture, we collected some for creating vertical gardens, repurposing old tires into furniture and decoration, and easy DIY patio lights.
Another way you can save some money is to shop second-hand. You may have your eyes set on an expensive furniture set or painting that would make your patio look amazing, but unfortunately, it is too expensive. Don’t lose hope! Check if there are any used or second-hand models in online sites such as Amazon, Macy’s, eBay or from garage sales, furniture retailers, or hotels.
You may not find the exact furniture or decoration that you want, so make sure to have a second or third option. There’s also a chance you’ll find something nice while browsing through these sites or visiting garage sales.
5. Try a different color.
One of the biggest factors that have a huge impact on your overall patio look is the color scheme. From the color of your furniture to the color of the flower on a plant, every piece in your patio contributes to the scheme.
That’s why you don’t have to repaint the walls to redecorate your patio. You can just add a different furniture set, a new decoration, or change the plants. Be careful not to just add random unique things.
Find things that would match your new color scheme. You could also change the color of the walls, but make sure to use a color that you like or one that already matches your outdoor pieces. It would be expensive to change all your pieces so it matches your new wall.
Having a color scheme doesn’t mean matching everything to the same color. Create a palette of colors that go well together and use this as a guide. Here are some examples of patio color schemes from Lushome:
Lushome: Italian Classic theme colors