Affordable, Quick & Easy Patio Updates

Get ready for spring with these affordable, quick, and easy patio updates!

The weather is warming up and the days are getting longer.  It's time to get your outdoor space ready for entertaining and relaxing. As we slowly start to move outdoors again, you may look around and realize a few things need a little sprucing up.   

Here are some of my favorite quick and affordable updates to bring life back into your patio or outdoor space.

1. Swap Out Your Umbrella Canopy

Is your umbrella canopy faded, damaged, or just in need of an update?

Most people don't realize you don't have to throw out the entire umbrella to change color schemes or just update the look.

If the pole and components are still in good shape, you don't need to ditch the whole thing, only the canopy.

Below are some umbrella canopy replacement options, some less than $100.  Be sure to double-check the size of your existing umbrella to ensure you purchase the correct replacement size.

 2. Change up Your Color Palette

If you are looking for a quick inexpensive way to refresh the look of your patio, change out pillows and add or update an outdoor rug.  Purchasing pillow covers rather than new pillows is an affordable way to update your look and they take up a lot less room to store. 

Just measure your current pillows and find the size that works.  You can even easily swap covers for changing seasons and holidays.  Coming from someone with a bit of a "pillow problem", trust me this has been a game changer:)

When selecting textiles for your patio, choose a mixture of styles, textures & patterns. Also, make sure your selections are outdoor-grade.  Indoor fabrics will fade and won't hold up to the elements over time.  

Click the items below to explore some of the pillow cover and rug options I've used in my projects.

 3. Add Ambiance & Warmth

Nothing draws guests outside like the inviting glow of a warm fire or twinkling lights that give a space that "magical" feel.  

Fire pits and tables create an immediate gathering spot. There are so many options to choose from which vary in price and style.  A couple of things to keep in mind when selecting fire pits are placement, function and heating source. 

Determining if your fire pit will be in an enclosed or covered area vs out in the open will help narrow down whether to choose propane, gas or wood burning.

If you opt to go the propane/gas route, take note of the BTUs.  This determines the amount of heat the fire pit puts out. If you are looking for warmth rather than ambience, you will want the BTUs to be over 50,000.

Lighting is an area where you can get really creative.  Just like inside your home, you want to layer outdoor lighting as much as possible. You may already have some landscape lighting that's great for the backdrop, but also consider bringing in string lights, pendants, fairy lights and candle lanterns to really bolster the ambiance.  

The Paper Lantern Store has some great inexpensive options for outdoor lights, hanging lanterns and outdoor-grade lantern cords.   Plug all your lights into these adapters and run them all with a single remote control.  Easy peasy.

 4. Create a Planter Grouping

Adding planters to your outdoor space can bring in height, dimension, and soften hardscape edges such as patio cover posts or stone wall corners.

A group of plants that vary in height is a great way to camouflage unsightly hose spouts or vents on the exterior walls of your home.  Choose a variety of plant heights and colors to fill them up.

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