1. Bug repellent lamps. There’s nothing fun about being outdoors if it means your guests are swarmed with mosquitos every five seconds. Make the most of your patio by preventing mosquitos and other bugs from taking over with a bug repellent lantern. These lanterns look stylish on any patio and prevent 98% of common bugs like mosquitos and black flies, plus they function as a lamp too.
2.Fire pit. These have come down considerably in price in the past few years. They are now easy to put together and get going too, so don’t be intimidated about bringing a fire pit into your patio area. They add nice ambiance to the space and are also great for roasting marshmallows. Everyone will want an invite to your house when you tell them you’ve fired up the pit for the weekend.
3. Plenty of seating. People go outside and unless you have a pool, they want to sit down. Having people over regularly means you need a place for folks to sit. Do this with some of the modern outdoor furniture we’re seeing on the market. All outdoor furniture can be wiped clean and is now as stylish as furniture you find inside the home. A couch or chaise gives plenty of room for three to four people. You can add a few lounge chairs and remember that ottomans can double as seats when there are extra people.
4. A grill that suits your needs. The one thing we can agree on is that every patio needs a grill. Now how much you spend or what the grill can do is up to you. Not everyone needs an expensive grill with bells and whistles. If you seldom entertain and only have a small patio, a large grill probably isn’t for you. However, if you have the entire neighborhood over every Sunday, you may need a grill that accommodates such a crowd. Either way, opt for grill that works for your needs only and resist overspending because you want to have the biggest grill on the block.
5. Touches of color. Make the outdoor space feel like home with touches of color for outdoor furniture, rugs or pillows. Play off the landscape in the yard or go for bold shades like hot pink, orange or cobalt. Prints are great too and create a bohemian feel that will work well with a fire pit and a crowd of friends, eating, drinking and making memories.
