10 Ways to Keep a Patio Looking Good All Summer
The hotter months can exhaust an outdoor space, so perk it up with a little trick or two
Julie Butterworth
28 July 2018
Houzz Contributor and homes, architecture and property journalist. I work on a range of homes websites and edit commercial and editorial digital content at the Royal Institute of British Architects Journal. I have managed subbing departments at magazines Country Homes & Interiors and Ideal Home and web content teams for Time Inc UK’s Homes Network.
Houzz Contributor and homes, architecture and property journalist. I work on a range... More
As plants go past their prime and warmer weather takes hold, a patio that looked grand in spring can feel a little jaded by midsummer. But don’t despair. Whether you refresh your pots, add a lick of paint, squeeze in extra planting or just have a cushion changeover, it doesn’t take much to make the good looks last longer. Try a couple of these ideas.
Brandish a paintbrush
A woodwork refresh can have a transformative effect. Use it to coordinate different elements of your outdoor space and brighten things up.
In this lovely garden, the designer has used small hits of yellow paint to smarten up a shed and bench seating. A new coat of whitewash on an adjacent wall also helps to lift the feel.
If you prefer something smaller-scale, why not paint terracotta pots in complementary shades? Arrange them in groups around the patio.
A woodwork refresh can have a transformative effect. Use it to coordinate different elements of your outdoor space and brighten things up.
In this lovely garden, the designer has used small hits of yellow paint to smarten up a shed and bench seating. A new coat of whitewash on an adjacent wall also helps to lift the feel.
If you prefer something smaller-scale, why not paint terracotta pots in complementary shades? Arrange them in groups around the patio.
Plant a climber
A climber can add vertical interest in spaces that are too small for trees. Here ‘Kiftsgate’ roses and wisteria have been trained to create a living canopy over an eating area.
Look for any feature close to your own patio that a plant could climb, such as a fence post, trellis or shed. Don’t worry if there isn’t a flowerbed close by – use a large planter instead and just be sure to keep it well watered.
Choose climbers that suit your conditions and, if you like a scented garden, ones that can add fragrance, too, such as jasmine or honeysuckle.
A climber can add vertical interest in spaces that are too small for trees. Here ‘Kiftsgate’ roses and wisteria have been trained to create a living canopy over an eating area.
Look for any feature close to your own patio that a plant could climb, such as a fence post, trellis or shed. Don’t worry if there isn’t a flowerbed close by – use a large planter instead and just be sure to keep it well watered.
Choose climbers that suit your conditions and, if you like a scented garden, ones that can add fragrance, too, such as jasmine or honeysuckle.
Keep on top of maintenance
It may not be your favourite job in the garden, but keeping a patio clean and in good order is always well worth the effort.
Sweep frequently, but if the dirt starts to look ingrained or there are any stained areas, always use the cleaning method and products recommended by your supplier.
Some types of stone, such as limestone, require non-acidic soaps and may need to be resealed across their lifespan.
Find landscape contractors and gardeners in your area
It may not be your favourite job in the garden, but keeping a patio clean and in good order is always well worth the effort.
Sweep frequently, but if the dirt starts to look ingrained or there are any stained areas, always use the cleaning method and products recommended by your supplier.
Some types of stone, such as limestone, require non-acidic soaps and may need to be resealed across their lifespan.
Find landscape contractors and gardeners in your area
Freshen up seating
Frequently brush down built-in or permanent outdoor seating and tidy up planters.
Re-cover outdoor cushions for a new look that doesn’t cost the earth. Try hardworking cotton or cotton/polyester-mix fabrics designed for the outdoors that can be washed or wiped down. Even one or two new covers will make a difference.
Frequently brush down built-in or permanent outdoor seating and tidy up planters.
Re-cover outdoor cushions for a new look that doesn’t cost the earth. Try hardworking cotton or cotton/polyester-mix fabrics designed for the outdoors that can be washed or wiped down. Even one or two new covers will make a difference.
Replenish pots
Keep a close eye on patio pots and containers in the summer and make sure you’re feeding and watering them enough. Lift any spring bulbs and plant up the pots anew with late-summer flowerers.
Always aim for interest throughout the year across a collection of containers, with a mix of evergreens and perennials underplanted with spring- or autumn-flowering bulbs.
Remember, you can always add a few annuals every now and again to keep things interesting with a one-time hit of colour.
Keep a close eye on patio pots and containers in the summer and make sure you’re feeding and watering them enough. Lift any spring bulbs and plant up the pots anew with late-summer flowerers.
Always aim for interest throughout the year across a collection of containers, with a mix of evergreens and perennials underplanted with spring- or autumn-flowering bulbs.
Remember, you can always add a few annuals every now and again to keep things interesting with a one-time hit of colour.
Add an awning
While this might be more of an investment option, an awning is worth considering, as it can make a huge difference to a patio.
Designed and positioned well, a pull-out shade like this can extend a property’s indoor-outdoor space and provide year-round shelter from sun and rain.
Use it to cover a seating or dining area and you won’t need an umbrella, which can often block the view of the garden if it’s positioned centrally on a patio.
While this might be more of an investment option, an awning is worth considering, as it can make a huge difference to a patio.
Designed and positioned well, a pull-out shade like this can extend a property’s indoor-outdoor space and provide year-round shelter from sun and rain.
Use it to cover a seating or dining area and you won’t need an umbrella, which can often block the view of the garden if it’s positioned centrally on a patio.
Reboot with a smart brolly
Garden umbrellas and cushions can start to fade with frequent exposure to the sun, but that doesn’t mean you have to replace garden furniture completely.
Buy a new set of cushions and a matching umbrella and it will perk up your patio pieces no end. Go for a completely different colour to the one you had before and it will feel as if you’ve had a garden makeover.
Check out a range of garden dining furniture in the Houzz Shop
Garden umbrellas and cushions can start to fade with frequent exposure to the sun, but that doesn’t mean you have to replace garden furniture completely.
Buy a new set of cushions and a matching umbrella and it will perk up your patio pieces no end. Go for a completely different colour to the one you had before and it will feel as if you’ve had a garden makeover.
Check out a range of garden dining furniture in the Houzz Shop
Treat yourself to new chairs
Look at this: a couple of fine designs can work wonders out back, transforming a space by their very presence.
Seek out chair designs you love in colours that draw the eye. You don’t want something that blends into the background here, but chairs that stand out and show off.
These modern versions of the 1950s Acapulco chair are as lovely to look at as they are to sit in.
Look at this: a couple of fine designs can work wonders out back, transforming a space by their very presence.
Seek out chair designs you love in colours that draw the eye. You don’t want something that blends into the background here, but chairs that stand out and show off.
These modern versions of the 1950s Acapulco chair are as lovely to look at as they are to sit in.
Light up
Enjoy your outdoor space a little longer into the evening by stringing up festoon-style lighting. Alternatively, hang up a run of individual solar bulbs for a more eco-friendly version of the festoon look. Also try uplighting sculptural plants to add interest at eye level.
Tell us…
What quick-fix solutions do you muster to keep your patio looking perky all summer? Share your ideas in the Comments section.
Enjoy your outdoor space a little longer into the evening by stringing up festoon-style lighting. Alternatively, hang up a run of individual solar bulbs for a more eco-friendly version of the festoon look. Also try uplighting sculptural plants to add interest at eye level.
Tell us…
What quick-fix solutions do you muster to keep your patio looking perky all summer? Share your ideas in the Comments section.
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Judith Hood - wowee - your house looks like a cross between a palace, a chateau and a church. Incredible. Where are you based?
Yes, so beautiful.
Actuallylamplight can beautify your space very well really, and it is the most convenient way
These worked great for lighting our pergola! I ordered replacement bulbs as well, and used black zip ties to attach them. Great product so far!
Absolutely in love with these lights!! They are the blue white color, not warm white. Great length and great look. I recommend! Used them in our upstairs windows, inside, so we did not have to hang Christmas lights on the upper level roof line. Looked great!
These are the normal LED strip lights that work great, but with an added outout line so you can control two with the same remote and power supply. This setup makes it easier to make costumes and do mirrored designs without any tricky wiring issues.
Do you like these lights? Maybe you could try doing it yourself