Preparing the Perfect Summer Patio Design

When spring rolls into summer, everyone can hardly wait to value the great outdoors and relax on their patio. However, arranging your patio for those long summer days can be challenging. What do you need to add to make a perfect extended living space & patio design? What patio accessories are an ideal plus? Follow Every Patio Furniture’s numbered guide to improve the look and feel of your patio design.

Outdoor Patio Furniture for Your Patio Design

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Outdoor Patio Dining Sets

How many people are going to sit at your new patio dining set? That’s the first question to ask yourself – what size do you need? Also, are you looking for a set that includes an umbrella?

The Alfresco Home Lista Cast Aluminum 84 Inch Oval Table Dining Group is a good choice for family barbeques, while the Oakland Living Chrome Dining Set with 1 Table and 2 Chairs is more suited for an apartment balcony. Remember to check if the set is resistant to weather, and comes with assembly instructions.

Outdoor chairs and lounges

When selecting outdoor seating, choose pieces that can be easily moved. You don’t want something too heavy that can’t be relocated!

Lounges are a soothing addition to a patio, but be sure your space has enough room to hold it.

Alfresco’s Home Farfalla Deep Seating Lounge Chair with Cushion is practical and comes with a plush cushion, and the Home Vento Chaise Lounge and Side Table (also by Alfresco) is constructed to endure any weather, plus it comes with its own end table.

Benches

Benches are a great way to add flair to your patio or backyard – plus, they create more seating space! The Oakland Living Rochester Bench’s finish gives it an exquisite antique look and it is made from iron, brass, and stainless steel, which will keep it standing strong.

Hammocks

A good-quality hammock should be able to do two things – defy the weather (especially rain) and be able to hold at least 500 pounds.

The Outback Chair Company Outback Quilted Fabric Hammock claims all of the above, and comes in a selection of different colours. Hang your hammock from your porch covering, outdoor columns, or a pergola.

Lighting / Heat for Your Patio Design

Solar powered lamps

Not only do solar powered lamps save energy, they’re also wireless. They are simple to install in your backyard along a walkway, or on every corner of your patio.

Allsop’s Solar-Powered Garden Art lamps are eye-catching and fun, while they give off a soft light that’s perfect for late summer nights.

Candles and Lanterns

Consider decorative candles and lanterns to liven up your outdoor space. Oakland Living’s Antique Bronze Grape Themed Candle Holder with Candle has beautiful grapevine detailing, and would be a great holder for a citronella candle – perfect for keeping the bugs away!

Kenroy Home Beacon Gilded Copper Outdoor Hanging Lantern with Clear Ridged Glass has a great old-world feel, is made of rust-proof copper, and can either be hung or placed on any surface.

Patio Heaters

Patio heaters have become very popular for home owner after seeing them in restaurants.

You can get all different sizes of heaters to warm up those cloudless summer nights. For a table top, the Fire Sense Copper Finish Table Top Patio Heater is a safe choice, with its shut off tilt valve and oxygen depletion sensor.

 

 

If you’d like a floor-length heater, the Stainless Steel Floor Standing Round Infrared Patio Heater (also by Fire Sense) runs silently, is made from durable stainless steel and aluminium, and does not emit any harmful toxins into the air.

Fire Pits

For a more natural way to heat things up, a fire pit not only does the job, it’s an ideal spot to gather round and socialize. Fire pits come in many different styles and dimensions, so try to decide what look and style would fit your outdoor space.

A smaller deck or yard could aim for the Corral 35 Inch Copper Fire Pit, since it is compact and comes with a removable screen. Got room to spare?

The Outdoor Great Room Company Naples Chat Firepit Wicker Coffee Table with Black Glass Top is a coffee table with a fire pit built right in – perfect for resting drinks and snacks on while you enjoy the warmth of the fire.

Garden Accessories for Your Patio Design

Planters

Flowers give a balcony a fresh, formal flair. A cute and inexpensive way to display your flowers is to place them in planters.

The On-The-Edge Planter comes with two planters that can be inserted over any type of fence or rail. An idealistic choice for apartment dwellers who have always wanted their own portable garden!

Baskets

Hanging baskets create visual interest and brighten up your deck, especially if the basket itself is a beauty. H. Potter’s Copper Finish Hanging Plant Basket looks great even without the flowers.

Since summer is on its way, if you’d like a basket in full bloom by mid-summer, get planting now! It can take some flowers 3-5 months to fully grow, so go with marigolds or snapdragons, since their bloom time is shorter than most.

Sculptures

Sometimes all you need to liven up your patio or garden is a simple piece of art! Sculptures easily give your outdoor space a dose of character.

Patina Products offers different flower and plant sculptures that are made out of solid steel – built to last! Reflect your personality and taste by placing a sculpture that represents you around your yard, in the grass, or in your patio’s corners.
Urns

Another art piece that has the potential to add some depth to your patio is a striking urn. For the truly artistic, try the Alfresco Home Riga Urn in Regal Blue. It comes with three handmade, matching urns in different sizes. Urns can also be used to hold flowers. Alfresco offers the Home WestLea Urn in Antique Rust, a lightweight planter urn at a reasonable price. Place urns in the corners of your patio, or use them to frame a walkway.

Shade for Your Patio Design

- Umbrellas

If you’ve got an outdoor table and want to cover it with an umbrella, be sure to take down your table’s measurements and find an umbrella that will offer you full coverage.
It’s nice to bask in the sun for a while, but shade is a real relief! The Oakland Living 10′ Cantilever Umbrella offers vast coverage for a table, patio, or a lounge chair. Remember to apply more sunscreen when you get in the shade, so you’re ready to go when you decided to venture into the sunlight again.

Pergolas

With a pergola, you’ll get the freedom to decorate it however you like. Cover it with a string of lights, drape over a mosquito net, or adorn it with curtains. It’s like having an extra room outside! Oakland Living’s 10′ x 10′ Roman Pergola is a luxury pergola made from rust-free cast aluminium with an antique bronze finish. It acts as a great cover for a hot tub, chairs and a coffee table, or a roaring fire pit.

Gazebos

Choosing a gazebo is simple if you know what size you are looking for. How much shade do you feel you need? What needs coverage?

Also from Oakland Living, the Deluxe Gazebo with Cover looks well over a set of table and chairs, while H. Potter’s Garden Gazebo is more suited over a bench.

Shade Sails

Hanging up a sail is an original and effortless way to stay cool in the shade! It gives your porch or garden a light, airy feel. Hang sails like the Coolaroo 11 ft 10″ Square Shade Sail from the corners of your patio, or from privacy hedges. They’re great for smaller spaces, and easy to put up. Choose your favourite colour and get hanging!

Grill Appliances / Electronics for Your Patio Design

Grills

Let’s face it – with all the amount of grills out there, it can get a little mind boggling to decide which one is best for you. Assess what type of grill you’re interested in. Big? Small? In-between? When it comes to king-sized grills, the Prestige II Gemini Series Infrared Grill by Napoleon Grills will be sure to feed your family and friends with its double Infrared ceramic burners and included rotisserie kit. Lacking space?

Use the Outdoor Great Room Company Legacy 20 Inch Electric Grill Head with Black Vinyl Cover. It can be placed easily on any tabletop for a portable patio grill.

For a medium-sized option, the Weber Genesis Gas Grill by Weber Grills cuts back on size, but it still high in quality. Plus, it’s extremely portable with its own set of wheels!

Coolers

When you think of most coolers, you picture textured, bright-coloured plastic that’s bulky and unsightly. But those are the portable ones that you bring camping!

Coolers like the Alfresco Home Alghero Beverage Cooler in Latte are stylish and classy, and great for entertaining. Choose an outdoor cooler that will hold the amount of drinks you’d expect to have. For a rip-roaring outdoor bash, maybe it’s for the best to give up style and opt for a cooler that won’t crack or break if it falls down.

Telescopes

Forget about watching TV on those dull summer nights – go outside and watch the stars! For those with a condo-sized balcony, choose a space saver, like the Meade 114Mm Refract Telescope.

Those with a greater amount of space can go for the Galileo 720Mm X 80Mm Refractor. If you’ve never purchased a telescope before, look for ones that come with plenty of instructions, and pre-assembled parts.

iPod Speakers

The easiest way to get your music outside? Forget installing heavy, clunky speakers. The Digipower Ipod Folding Speakers set is an inexpensive way to bring your favourite tunes with you out the door. Make sure your iPod is compatible with whatever speakers you purchase, and express your personality by selecting different colours and styles.

Now get out there – and relax!