Get Your Patio Ready for Summer with These 7 Suggestions

The perks of summer are many. The warm air and extended hours of sunshine make it possible to enjoy all the outdoor activities that are mere memories in the colder months. That being said, you don’t have to go very far to enjoy all that summer has to offer. A well-prepared patio is the perfect place to gather with loved ones and bask in summer’s glow. You can get your patio ready for summer with these seven suggestions.

Furniture

The point of getting a patio ready for summer is to enjoy it, both on your own and with those you love. The right patio furniture is the best way to invite people to kick up their feet and stay a while. You can incorporate chairs and benches with cushions that you can switch out to match the current holiday. Try adding a table to make outdoor dining accessible. If you’re feeling very daring, add a porch swing or hammock. The grandkids are sure to love that.

Plants

Plants are a lovely addition to any outdoor space, and the patio is no exception. You can get your patio ready for summer by adding wall planters and potted plants around the space. They will help cool the area down and add a measure of serenity. If you are feeling industrious, you can plant herbs or other plants that can be eaten or added to the foods you make. This gives a patio a wonderfully self-sufficient feel.

Add Shade

Adding shade is quite possibly the most important way to get a patio ready for summer. During the months of long sun exposure and high heat, finding a place to get cool is essential. If you still want to enjoy the outdoors without roasting, look into adding a pergola, patio covers, or solar shades to your patio. You might even plant a few trees or vining plants over your patio to add some natural shade.

Lights

Of course, no space, indoor or outdoor, is complete without the right lights. Lights make a space more magical and atmospheric, and they certainly have the practical effect of improving visibility. With the right lighting, you can spend more time each day on your patio, not limited to the hours the sun is in the sky. We recommend getting your patio ready for summer by finding the perfect lights for your space. Experiment with fairy lights and other string lights, lanterns, sconces, and even tiki torches or heat lamps.

Include a Fire Feature

Does anything say “summer” like bonfires and s’mores? You can make your space a haven and get your patio ready for summer by including a fire feature in the design. You have a lot of choices for how to do so. Fire pits are fun and the best for roasting treats, but they do leave everyone smelling smokey afterwards. Gas-powered outdoor fireplaces don’t have that problem and are better for properties with a limited amount of space.

Fire features are an excellent way to prolong the amount of time in a year that you can spend outside. They can be installed or portable, built into the flagstones or freestanding units. Before you install your fire feature, be sure to check local regulations about doing so. Some areas do not allow open flames or have stipulations on the size of the unit.

Add a Water Feature

On the other end of the elemental scale, water features are an excellent way to make an outdoor space more peaceful. Studies show that simply being around water has a calming effect, and the burbling of a fountain is sure to make any summer day more peaceful. If you want to get your patio ready for summer, you might also opt for an outdoor shower, which is great for washing off muddy feet before coming back inside the house.

Coat Your Patio

While the other suggestions on this list are geared toward the summer months, covering your patio in polyaspartic or epoxy is a strategy that lasts all year long. Coating your patio is the best way to extend its longevity and improve its durability. Covered patios can better resist weather damage, UV radiation, and staining from food and other human activity. 

Coated patios also look fantastic. Epoxy coatings come in every color under the sun, and the thick protective coating looks luxurious and elegant. They are perfectly customizable, and because they are smooth without being slippery, they are wonderfully easy to clean.