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Sprucing up your patio for summertime festivities

Sprucing up your patio for summertime festivities

patiodeckSummertime grants opportunities to entertain, relax and cook outside with friends and family, but don’t send party invitations before cleaning the patio and bumping the decor and tranquility up a notch.

Finding the right patio furniture and accessories to fit individual lifestyles can be a fun way to get the season going. Whether it is fire pits, water fountains or furniture, there’s a plethora of options to spruce up your outdoor space.

First things first: clean up the patio area from fall and winter, cut and fertilize the grass and trim plants around the yard before purchasing or renovating the patio, suggests Barbara Figlio, who runs Barbara Figlio Landscape Architecture in Denver.

“Analyze your site for the physical conditions of the sun and then look at how you’re going to use that space,” she said.

Patio furniture and accessories

An inexpensive way to add color to outdoor living spaces is by buying bright pillows and rugs.

“Really hot colors this season are lime green and jewel tones. If you add those colors to a beige or gray furniture, it really changes the look,” said Lesley Short, marketing manager for Lehrer Fireplace and Patio. “We’ve also found a way of mixing and matching old furniture styles and adding newer pieces.”

For example, rather than buying a new patio furniture set, purchase an outdoor coffee table to accent furniture you already own, or add a hammock or outdoor rocking chair, hurricane candles, new cushions and umbrellas.

“Make it as cozy as your living room,” Short said. Just choose outdoor friendly material, such as polyester.

Grills and fire pits

Whether you live in an apartment or a house, fire pits and grills are a must, Short said.

“We find adding something with fire to the patio adds a lot of ambiance,” she said, noting that even apartment dwellers can purchase mini-fire pits to place on top of a dining table.

Most fire pits and grills these days are ignited with propane or natural gas, which is much safer than wood or coal burning devices, Short said.

“The best thing for a small patio is to have a simple 24 inch round table with two chairs for dining and relaxing,” she said. “We sell really tiny fire pits that you can set on top of these small tables. We also have smaller grills for apartment living.”

For those who have a house with a large backyard and patio, consider investing in a fire pit that sits inside a marble table, allowing guests to dine right next to the fire. Or invest in BBQ/grill islands, that come fully equipped with a grill, a refrigerator, counter tops and cupboards.

“Even on decks, we can build outdoor kitchens and fire pits,” said Joe Nguyen, president of Dream Makers Landscape Outdoor Living and Design. “We also do lighting. That’s going to be the least expensive way to light up your backyard.”

Water, sound and wildlife

Water fountains, koi ponds and bird baths can all add new levels of tranquility to your outdoor living area.

“Sometimes the sound of water can take you away from traffic noises,” Figlio said, adding that if you live in the city, consider adding a fountain or wind chimes.

Bird baths and hummingbird feeders are another option to bring life to your backyard.

“Water really attracts wildlife, flowers and butterflies,” Figlio said.

Fill large colorful pots with flowers to lift the spirit of your space, she said.

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