10 Ways to Prep Your Patio for Entertaining - After a wet and cold winter of spring, it is likely that the exterior of your house has been somewhat neglected. If you dream of balmy summer nights spent sipping drinks with friends and family outside, read on. These 10 tips will soon have your deck in shape and ready for a serious relaxing summer.
Mitchell Berry Architects
Ditch and clutter
Have a good spring clean your patio, throw anything broken, such as pots, toys and garden furniture. Recycle as much as possible to your nearest local household waste. If you have something that is not broken but is undesirable advertising on your website in the local community and someone will most likely come and win.
clutter? Discover expert advice on how to get rid of them
Have a good spring clean your patio, throw anything broken, such as pots, toys and garden furniture. Recycle as much as possible to your nearest local household waste. If you have something that is not broken but is undesirable advertising on your website in the local community and someone will most likely come and win.
clutter? Discover expert advice on how to get rid of them
Brian O'Tuama Architects
blowing the cobwebs
cleaning your patio is essential, but so is cleaning the outside of your home . Tackle outside of your first home, or you'll end up with a lot of dirt on your freshly cleaned patio.
You may want to hire a professional to clean, especially if you have a house with several floors. If you have your own pressure washer or can borrow one from a friend, it can do wonders to eliminate the green of your plumbing, blasting algae on the walls and remove the cobwebs and dirt from your windows . You'll probably wet enough, so put your wellies and waterproofs, or perhaps enlist a teenager secretly resident who will probably enjoy such a task!
cleaning your patio is essential, but so is cleaning the outside of your home . Tackle outside of your first home, or you'll end up with a lot of dirt on your freshly cleaned patio.
You may want to hire a professional to clean, especially if you have a house with several floors. If you have your own pressure washer or can borrow one from a friend, it can do wonders to eliminate the green of your plumbing, blasting algae on the walls and remove the cobwebs and dirt from your windows . You'll probably wet enough, so put your wellies and waterproofs, or perhaps enlist a teenager secretly resident who will probably enjoy such a task!
architect your home
Wash your patio
A pressure washer is ideal for cleaning your patio but blasting it can be quite laborious, take a few breaks if you get bored or your back starts to hurt. However, your deck will look great after it is well worth an afternoon of concentrated effort.
Once you are done with all the water, get a sturdy brush and sweep debris. Be sure to clean the patio set and do not overlook the corners. Think of your patio as another room and be sure to erase all its nooks and crannies.
At this stage, you are bound to find more bits and bobs that you missed your first clear, so have all that is not beautiful or used. If the article does not match your enjoyment of your patio, get rid of it.
A pressure washer is ideal for cleaning your patio but blasting it can be quite laborious, take a few breaks if you get bored or your back starts to hurt. However, your deck will look great after it is well worth an afternoon of concentrated effort.
Once you are done with all the water, get a sturdy brush and sweep debris. Be sure to clean the patio set and do not overlook the corners. Think of your patio as another room and be sure to erase all its nooks and crannies.
At this stage, you are bound to find more bits and bobs that you missed your first clear, so have all that is not beautiful or used. If the article does not match your enjoyment of your patio, get rid of it.
Hazle McCormack Young LLP
deck the halls (or patio)
You can be thoroughly exhausted after reading these first few steps and decide to skip all this and hire a local professional to the bridge on your patio instead . This is a great move if you can create a threshold level, providing an almost seamless transition from inside to outside.
Decking is an absolute bonus for those (young or old) who struggle with steps, because it eliminates the risk of tripping, offering easy level access for everyone to enjoy these fleeting moments of sun British.
You can be thoroughly exhausted after reading these first few steps and decide to skip all this and hire a local professional to the bridge on your patio instead . This is a great move if you can create a threshold level, providing an almost seamless transition from inside to outside.
Decking is an absolute bonus for those (young or old) who struggle with steps, because it eliminates the risk of tripping, offering easy level access for everyone to enjoy these fleeting moments of sun British.
Holly Marder
Spruce it up with floor tiles
If you are in rented accommodation, a great hack for beautiful outside is to use removable floor tiles. Easy to install and quick to remove, they can be obtained relatively cheap department store home and will fit onto any flat surface.
decking tiles are perfect for adding a new surface to a small back side or the courtyard garden. wooden tiles provide a warm beautifully tactile surface for bare feet is much gentler on your toes as concrete or rough stones.
If you are in rented accommodation, a great hack for beautiful outside is to use removable floor tiles. Easy to install and quick to remove, they can be obtained relatively cheap department store home and will fit onto any flat surface.
decking tiles are perfect for adding a new surface to a small back side or the courtyard garden. wooden tiles provide a warm beautifully tactile surface for bare feet is much gentler on your toes as concrete or rough stones.
Brandon Architects, Inc.
bring inside
outdoor rugs add color, warmth and texture to a patio and are a great way to get inside to the outside. Blankets are also quite essential for our long summer evenings often have a chill in the air. Coordinate with cushions and lights powered by battery or outdoor fairy, and you can create a comfortable external adjustment for a drink with friends.
outdoor rugs add color, warmth and texture to a patio and are a great way to get inside to the outside. Blankets are also quite essential for our long summer evenings often have a chill in the air. Coordinate with cushions and lights powered by battery or outdoor fairy, and you can create a comfortable external adjustment for a drink with friends.
Harrington Porter Landscapes Ltd
growing up
Evoke memories of Mediterranean holiday by growing climbers simple media or a pergola. Climbing plants like clematis, roses, wisteria and honeysuckle, will provide shade in summer and then die back in the fall, so they will not cut too much light during the winter .
A framework also provides the perfect place to hang lanterns and maybe even a hammock -. so do get professional advice about whether it is strong enough for the task
you want your beautiful pergola? Here is how
Evoke memories of Mediterranean holiday by growing climbers simple media or a pergola. Climbing plants like clematis, roses, wisteria and honeysuckle, will provide shade in summer and then die back in the fall, so they will not cut too much light during the winter .
A framework also provides the perfect place to hang lanterns and maybe even a hammock -. so do get professional advice about whether it is strong enough for the task
you want your beautiful pergola? Here is how
CP Landscapes
Import palm (or two)
Not much space? Or lawn? If your garden is a tiny pocket handkerchief-sized concrete, buy some oversized plants to provide a tropical atmosphere. Large planters will add instant height and create a beautifully intimate space, especially in a very small backyard.
Include lots of candles in jars and you create the perfect setting to enjoy a leisurely visit.
You have a small garden? Be inspired by these compact elegant spaces
Not much space? Or lawn? If your garden is a tiny pocket handkerchief-sized concrete, buy some oversized plants to provide a tropical atmosphere. Large planters will add instant height and create a beautifully intimate space, especially in a very small backyard.
Include lots of candles in jars and you create the perfect setting to enjoy a leisurely visit.
You have a small garden? Be inspired by these compact elegant spaces
Greenvision Garden Design
Add functionality
Installing a small piece of water or fire pit creates an attractive focal point on your patio. Moving water is incredibly soothing and can mask the noise of nearby traffic. A raised feature is a great way to bring water in your garden while keeping safety for children or pets. You can even make your own by adjusting a small solar water pump in a pot and fill it with rocks and water.
Alternately, fireplaces and chimineas look great and are a fabulous way to ward off the chill of a summer evening cool!
Installing a small piece of water or fire pit creates an attractive focal point on your patio. Moving water is incredibly soothing and can mask the noise of nearby traffic. A raised feature is a great way to bring water in your garden while keeping safety for children or pets. You can even make your own by adjusting a small solar water pump in a pot and fill it with rocks and water.
Alternately, fireplaces and chimineas look great and are a fabulous way to ward off the chill of a summer evening cool!
CHRISTIAN DEAN ARCHITECTURE, LLC
Get comfortable
Last but not least, invest in some super snuggly seats. Whether a rattan chair or a heavenly egg hanging, indulge in a bit of sofa surfing to find your perfect perch.
Throw in some shower cushions to the test and you are ready to enjoy your new glammed-up outdoor entertainment area. Now all you need is some sunshine!
Tell us ...
How do Smarten your patio? Share your thoughts and ideas in the comments below.
Last but not least, invest in some super snuggly seats. Whether a rattan chair or a heavenly egg hanging, indulge in a bit of sofa surfing to find your perfect perch.
Throw in some shower cushions to the test and you are ready to enjoy your new glammed-up outdoor entertainment area. Now all you need is some sunshine!
Tell us ...
How do Smarten your patio? Share your thoughts and ideas in the comments below.