Patio decorating complements both your home and garden

Use these ideas to tie these areas together and enjoy the best of both worlds

When considering patio decorating, think of your patio as an outdoor room. It is a transitional space where you can enjoy the outdoors while having access to indoor comfort.

When I think of patios, I think garden living rooms. Patios to me conjure up semi-private corners of the property, paved with natural stones, furnished with wicker patio furniture, and surrounded by marvelous flowers and greenery.

Perhaps you have a totally different vision of a patio, but whatever that vision is, it is most likely of an outdoor private garden spot, where you can relax on a gorgeous day and take time to appreciate life and nature.

When planning your patio decorating, the first thing to do is analyze what you now have, think about what you want, and decide how you are going to get there from here. Print off the Analyze Your Outdoor Room worksheet here. Take your time to think about the questions and fill them out at your leisure. Once you have this completed, you will have some idea of what you want and what your needs are. Then come back here and read on to gather some new ideas and decorating concepts.

Ensure your privacy when planning your patio decorating

Privacy is one of the more desirable elements that should be incorporated in your patio decorating. If you don't have any boundaries, hedges, or fences around your space, here are a few ideas to consider or adapt for your surroundings:

• Look for antique metal fences at auctions or estate sales. If you can find them, old metal bed headboards make interesting fences. To get the privacy you are seeking, plant and train trailing vines around the fences. Until the plants are established and growing well, plant fast growing annuals like morning glories and train them to grow around the fences.

• If you want temporary privacy only in the summer season, make a frame of 2/2's and install it along your boundary lines. String wire or fishline vertically along the frame on hooks about 2-4 inches apart and again plant fast growing climbing annuals. At the end of the season, cut off the lines, break down the 2x2's and store them in the garage until next season.

• Old tall wooden shutters make a great windbreak and decorative screen. Attach 3-4 of them together accordion style and spray paint them to coordinate with your patio decorating scheme. Again, these can be folded and stored over the winter season.

• If you don't want to totally shut off your neighbors, install long, sturdy, wooden benches along your boundary. Place your large container plants on these for extra height. Place your lawn furniture facing your patio in front of these benches. In this manner you will hide the benches. You will get extra height from the plants and greenery that adds to your sense of privacy but doesn't create an eyesore for your neighbor.

• If you have a fence that makes you feel claustrophobic or is blocking a great view, there is no ruling that says you can't cut a hole in it. A stategic cutout that gives access to a view or allows in more light or air may totally change the way you arrange the seating in your patio decorating, make your space more enjoyable, and still give you the sense of privacy you desire.

If you carry on various activities on your patio, such as barbecuing, entertaining, and general relaxation, consider zoning your area if you have the room.

• It helps to have cooking, dining, and general seating areas separated so these activities can be conducted without interference from others enjoying different activities.

• Set the barbecue off to the side so that there won't be constant traffic through the area. Smoke and fumes will also be away from the dining/relaxation areas. If possible it's great to have a tall island for storing cooking supplies and utensils, setting the food on, and it's also a place where friends can sit on stools and socialize with the cook. For some really great ideas for your outdoor kitchen plan be sure to check out this wonderful resource.

• Just because the patio is outside, there is no reason a rug or other floor covering can't be used to visually separate the dining space. There are many outdoor area rugs available. Canvas floor cloths also work well. Linoleum is available in different size retangles and is low maintenance. Along with separating the dining area, the rug adds a sense of welcome and comfort to your patio decorating scheme.

• The relaxation area can be separated with a decorative bamboo screen, a line of plant containers, or merely by placing a wicker sofa facing away from another area and creating a separate conversation area. Be sure to add some smaller pieces of furniture as a convenient place for putting down food and drink.

• A great way to separate the zones in your patio is with the use of groundcovers. There are hundreds of plant varieties that look wonderful, are easy to care for, can be walked on, and add marvelous scents to your patio area.

Don't overlook lighting in your patio decorating

One of the most enjoyable times to use your patio is on those perfect summer evenings. Put together warm breezes, the night sounds of crickets and cicadas, starry skies, the days work is done, and you have a perfect atmosphere for relaxation.

Be sure to consider patio lighting in your patio decorating plans. Candles placed in strategic spots such as in wall scones attached to the house, or in candlesticks placed throughout the patio area add to your perfect space. White christmas lights strung throughout the trees or the addition of walkway lights also add a glow to the area. If you have outdoor lighting installed, be sure to add a dimmer to keep that perfect evening glow.

Consider adding a free standing fireplace in your patio decorating

Never underestimate the romance and ambiance of fireplace lighting. In these days of free standing fireplaces and portable chimeneas, it is easy to find one to fit your patio decorating style. Shop around and talk with the merchants. They will tell you the pros and cons of various free standing models and you can get information on installation if needed. If you find you want to add one of these to your patio, you will extend the patio use by quite a while because of the extra warmth provided by the fireplace.

Sounds bring pleasure to your patio area

For pure relaxing and cooling sound, nothing comes close to running water. A bubbling fountain, no matter what it's size is always noticed and appreciated.

To add enjoyment to your entertaining and relaxing time, be sure to remember the music. Whether you install an elaborate sound system or have a tabletop CD player, music can set the mood and greatly enhance your enjoyment of your patio

Remember, it's your special place

The size and elegance of your patio has no bearing on it's enjoyment. Whether you have a 10 x 20 paved patio or a small cozy corner in the back yard, your patio should be your special place. Choose comfortable furniture you love and add lots of green plants and patio accessories that make you feel good. Then, even on the hottest days, you will have a perfect retreat where you can relax, meditate, and dream.

Continue on here for more patio decorating ideas

For ideas about how to decorate a front porch check out this section

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