5 Ways to Spruce up your Patio

5 Ways to Spruce Up Your Patio

Could your patio area use a little TLC? If so, this spring is a fantastic time to give it some love and get it all ready for backyard entertaining. If you need some ideas and motivation, you can get started using these 5 ideas for sprucing up your patio.

1. Make Any Needed Repairs to Your Patio

Concrete patios are susceptible to cracking. If you have this type of patio, inspect it for cracks, and be sure to repair any you find before barbecue season gets underway. If you want to go the DIY route, here's how to fill a crack in concrete:

• Sweep to remove loose dirt and other materials.
• Using a caulking gun, add layers of concrete into the cracked area until the crack is completely filled.
• Use a board to flatten out the filled area.
• Allow the repair to dry.

If your patio is brick or stone, it's a great idea to inspect the patio's surface for bricks or rocks that have worked their way loose during the winter season. If necessary, bricks can be re-set into a patio using sand and limestone.

2. Create a Patio Garden

You can enjoy a stunning patio garden in your backyard, even if the yard is small and your patio dominates the area. All it takes is a little creativity, some potted plants and a few hours to spend arranging them the way you want them.

If you'd like to create an edible patio garden, try growing herbs or vegetables in containers. There are many beautiful, edible plants that thrive in pots; these are ideal for backyard patio gardens. For example, chives are gorgeous, and they're also nutritious and flavorful. Herbs such as basil, sage, cilantro and parsley also grow well in backyard patio gardens.

Patio flower gardens are attractive alternatives to edible gardens. Other patio garden ideas include building a pergola, utilizing climbing plants for shade and eye appeal, and adding a reflecting pool.

3. Do It Yourself Patio Lighting

Tiki torches are one of the most popular options for easy DIY patio lighting. However, you might want to go with something a bit more sophisticated, especially if you have pets or kids.

These days, LED patio lighting is trendy, and there's an abundance of options available for low voltage outdoor LED lights. These are ideal for use on the patio and barbecue area, because they don't require an electrician or any special skills to install.

Solar lights are also affordable, easy options for lighting you can install in your backyard patio area.

4. Clean Up Your Patio Furniture

If you're like most homeowners, you probably didn't use your patio furniture much during the winter months. Whether you put it in storage or left it in place on the patio, either way, your furnishings probably collected some dust, cobwebs and debris. You can spot clean outdoor fabrics such as Sunbrella carefully with a mild soap and water solution. Soapy water also works well for cleaning most other patio furniture surfaces.

5. Personalize the Space

There are many possible ways you can accessorize your patio to make it a unique, personalized space that reflects your style. Try adding a printed tablecloth to the picnic table, or hanging a colorful banner. Collect a grouping of citronella candles to provide fragrance while they keep pests at bay. Add an outdoor rug for additional eye appeal.

These are just a few ideas for sprucing up your patio this springtime and making it an inviting, enjoyable space for backyard entertaining.

Jessica Kane is a professional writer who has an interest in interior design and home decor. She currently writes for Canopy Concepts, a leading installer of custom patio covers and patio enclosures