Quick and Affordable Ways to Update Your Patio

LifestyleHomeDecor

Apr 14

When it comes to updating your home decor, patios can sometimes feel like an afterthought. For many people, it’s an area that’s only in use for part of the year so it’s tough to justify investing too much in its design. Here in Southern California we use our outdoor spaces all year round, so that itch to make a change is often, but a full renovation isn’t always in the budget. So, to kick off spring in my house, I made a few cost-effective updates to our patio and couldn’t be happier with the outcome.

Here are some of my tried and true tips to refresh your outdoor space without breaking the bank!

Decorative Pillows & Cushions

Refreshing your cushion covers and adding decorative pillows to your outdoor seating can make a huge impact on your space. This is also a budget friendly way to stay on trend with colors and prints, and can make your patio furniture feel like new! We’ve bought this couch from Ikea when we moved in six years ago and the great thing about Ikea is they tend to sell their best sellers year after year. Therefore all I had to do was purchase new cushion covers, not the entire cushion!

**AFTER**

Swapped out the cushions with a lighter color to brighten up our small deck, painted the coffee table black and added new throw pillows.

**BEFORE**

We’ve had these black cushions since we bought the couch 6 years ago….it was time for a lighter, brighter upgrade!

Outdoor Rug

Updating the flooring of your patio is a huge undertaking and financial commitment. One way to refresh this area without making permanent changes is to add an outdoor rug. Outdoor rugs can also help control the ground temperature on those extra hot days, which can save the feet and paws of the whole family! I love Ruggable for outdoor spaces because they are machine washable and extra durable.

String Lights

These classic lights have a way of adding a bit of magic to any outdoor space. You can find great deals on outdoor string lights at Target, Amazon, and World Market. String a few strands across your space and you won’t want to come inside even after the sun goes down.

AFTER

Painted the planter box black, added a tree and hooks to hang wet towels from the beach

BEFORE

I didn’t like the dark wood of the planter box against the white fence and my daughters’ bar was more often used as a drying rack.

Raised Garden

If you thought gardening was only for folks with big yards, think again! With raised planter beds, you can keep a small garden even on a concrete patio. Planting seeds and watching them grow through the season is fun for the whole family, and your littles will be so excited to see food they grew on the dinner plate in a few months.

A Quick Coat of Paint

Most of our outdoor items show wear and tear after a while, and a quick coat of paint can make a huge difference in how the space looks and feels. If you’re feeling super creative, adding a little color straight to the fence can brighten up a space and really make it feel your own. I used Sherwin-Williams Tricorn Black for the garden bed and the coffee table.