6 DIY Tips to Get the Most Out of Your Patio This Summer

People in urban areas are downsizing their homes and embracing minimalist living. As our busy work and social schedules get more hectic, people acquire homes with smaller, low-maintenance yard spaces featuring patio areas rather than lush gardens and lawned areas.

So, how do you make the most out of the limited patio space you have? Whether for your property or an investment property, there are many ways to optimize your small outdoor space. Read on for six-DIY tips to get the most out of your patio this summer.

“Zone” your patio

Zoning your patio can help make it feel larger by creating the illusion that your single patio area is more than one space. This could include closing in an undercover area and creating separate paved and turfed areas.

Easy and affordable things that can help you zone your patio space include:

• Bamboo dividers
• Partitioning with a trellis
• Installing archways
• Using planter boxes and foliage as dividers
• Installing pop-up shelters and more

Sometimes the illusion of division is all you need to transform a patio space into an exciting and inviting area of your home.

Use modular furniture

Bulky, solid, heavy garden furniture can often waste a lot of space, especially if your patio is particularly small. This can be rectified by using modular garden furniture that can be reconfigured for different occasions and even packed away when not in use.

By having patio furniture that can be stored away, you can transform your patio into a multifunction area; it can be a sunny spot for a BBQ and wine with friends one day and an open yoga or workout zone the next.

Smart storage solutions

Another way to make your patio space more adaptable is by purchasing or creating multifunctional storage utilities like hiding cabinets and other storage spaces in what would otherwise be unused voids.

Examples of ways to get creative with patio storage solutions include:

• Garden benches with an under-seat icebox
• Underground or vertical wine storage
• Under BBQ cabinets
• Shallow planter boxes with hidden storage under the plants
• Retractable and vertical storage for hoses and garden tools
• Collapsible wall benches and more

There are endless innovative and ingenious DIY storage ideas online and right here at Organise With Sandy, so get searching and find some online inspiration for smart patio storage ideas.

Reuse and recycle

Suppose you want to upgrade your patio on a budget. In that case, you may be surprised how many outdoor garden furniture, fittings, and decor items you can find on the cheap or even for free by checking online classified and social media marketplaces.

One person’s trash is another person’s treasure, and there is plenty of items you can get that will either slot right in as is or can be modified to create bespoke solutions, including:

• Outdoor furniture
• Old pallets
• Water features
• Pavers
• Second-hand pots and planters
• Pre-loved barbeques
• Garden tools and much more

A patio space is a great place to get crafty and creative by thinking outside the box and making something unique for you and your family.

Go green

Often urban patios and low maintenance gardens can be more grey concrete than a green garden and offer little to no areas to plant directly into the ground.

Adding some greenery to your yard can transform your space with little effort, and you don’t need to invest in expensive pre-potted trees and complicated irrigation systems.

Long planter boxes with low-maintenance plants like dessert grasses, succulents, and other plants requiring minimal watering can thrive in an urban patio area.

Climbing vines and vertical gardens are another way to cover some concrete and provide depth and color to an otherwise lifeless patio area.

Having more home plant life can also help clean the air and has been linked to improved mental health and reduced stress. More plant life on your patio also enables you to reconnect with nature and have some respite from the hustle and bustle of the big city.

Shine a little light on the subject

Garden lighting is often overlooked and can help to make your patio more appealing at night, getting you off the couch and into the fresh, cool night air.

Some lighting ideas that can help transform your patio area include:

• Overhead string lights
• Curtain lights on walls
• Hanging lanterns
• Bamboo citronella torches
• Candles
• Solar garden lights and much more

These options are very effective and can often be picked up cheap from major retailers, variety stores, local hardware, or online.

Are you obsessed with design and DIY home renovations? The team at Organize With Sandy is DIY nuts, just like you!

Our site offers excellent ideas and advice and reports on all the latest trends in:

• DIY home design
• Lifestyle
• Patio, garden, and lawn care
• Home renovations
• Smart home technologies and more

We also have some great resources on topics such as:

• Lighting
• Pest control
• Real estate and more

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