You’ve built your patio, now you need to decorate and furnish it. You will also need to ensure that your furnishings are protected with good quality patio covers.

A patio is a wonderful place to spend a morning with friends or a relaxing afternoon reading a book and in the evening a patio can really come to life. Patios provide an extension to your home and garden, a kind of midway area. It gives the feeling of being outside at any time of the year but, for many patios, they are a transition zone with the interior of the home.

Decide what you mainly intend to use the patio for. Is it going to be used for relaxing afternoons or is it to entertain friends and family in the evenings? Now work on a theme and follow this through with your decorating and furnishing.

Lighting is important, especially if you intend to use the patio in the evenings. Use soft discreet lighting and think about non-artificial light using plenty of candles around, perhaps fragranced ones to bring the outdoors in. Solar lighting is great and environmentally friendly, with natural sunlight during the day charging them up for the evening. They come in various colors and are very effective.

Plants make a patio come alive. Choose different greens, tall slim plants, trailing plants but hanging baskets with plants that flower all summer tend to be spectacular.

Think about adding a water feature as they are cheap and there are so many to choose from. The sound of water gently bubbling or trickling adds so much to the feel of the patio. Aquariums with tropical fish are wonderful – but can be expensive and need attention. Watching colored fish dart about is so relaxing but only go for this if you intend to have them as a hobby.

Depending on the size of your patio you could create a couple of areas. Use one area for dining and al fresco moments with the other for sitting and enjoying your achievement. Purchase some comfortable chairs with bright cushions and a low table but go for making the dining area informal. Remember you are trying to achieve the feeling of being outside so use natural materials and typically, wooden furniture is best.

Place a plain rug on the floor. It adds a little warmth, especially on a chilly evening. Do not use too much furniture; just enough to provide seats for guests. Leave places where plenty of natural light can come in.

When you are happy with the way your patio is looking think about the accessories. It’s best to invest in items specifically for use in your patio and not those that you use inside your home. Get placemats, plates and glasses that follow your main theme.

Think about whether you intend to use the patio all year round. If it’s an outside patio get a mobile gas heater as they are very effective, even on the coldest evening. If your patio is enclosed, consider ways to heat it during the cooler periods.

Protecting the investment you have made is important. Furniture on an outdoor patio needs waterproof patio covers. Make sure they completely cover and protect the furniture during the winter months.

If you have an enclosed patio, get lightweight covers to protect them from dust. The sun also fades furniture quickly. Always use patio covers to protect your furniture when you are not using it. There are so many colors and designs to choose from. Try to get patio covers that follow your overall theme. This will mean that even when not in use the patio will look attractive.

Author Bio: Jack Labens works for Empire Patio Covers, a leading provider of patio furniture covers such as chaise lounge covers and patio chair covers. Empire Patio Covers can be found online at: EmpirePatioCovers.com or at their blog EmpirePatioCovers-Blog.com .

Category: Home Management
Keywords: patio covers, patio, outdoor living room, chair covers, patio table covers