For most homeowners, a patio is much more than a place to take a load off after a long day of work. A backyard deck provides a perfect opportunity for modern entertaining, whether it’s an intimate moonlit dinner party or a backyard barbecue birthday bash.
If you’re ready to entertain but feel that your back patio is lacking, consider these expert design tips to spruce up your space in time for party season:
• Start with a color scheme. Without a uniform color scheme, your patio decorations may seem sloppy and unfinished. If you start with a basic color scheme from the get-go, you can stay on track when buying furniture, patio umbrellas, potted plants, and much more. Most homeowners prefer to choose a color scheme that will match or counterbalance their ipe decking.
Preferred colors include a neutral scheme of tan, chocolate, and navy or a bright, tropical color palette to offset deck materials, like peach, orange, and yellow. If your home is decorated in neutral conservative colors, this may be the right time to explore your wilder side in an energetic color combination. If your home’s decor is already bright and vivid, consider toning it down with neutral deck hues that balance the outdoor environment.
• Mix it up. Even though you may have chosen a standard color scheme for your outdoor deck, it helps to break up the monotony when it comes to the furniture and plant life that you choose. Many design experts recommend embellishing a back patio with plants in different shapes and sizes to create an interesting visual aesthetic.
If you’ve chosen a tropical color scheme, consider a variety of plants that fit in with the theme, like potted agave, flowering maple, and even palm trees, depending on the climate. A traditional color scheme will pair well with assorted flora like ferns, spindle trees, and classic roses.
• Add a covering. If you want to spend as much time as possible on your deck in warmer weather, you need to provide your guests with some relief from the glaring rays of the sun at high noon. If you grill frequently on your back patio, consider a shade covering like a patio umbrella or a large pergola that can be added onto a deck.
A pergola can provide full or partial shade to protect guests and furniture from inclement weather conditions. A pergola can also be used to support the plant life that you add to your patio by conveniently holding climbing plants and crawling vines.
• Don’t forget lighting. If you hope to entertain when the sun goes down, it’s important to think about what ambient light may be needed to keep a party going. Guests will respond best to natural, soft light in the form of torches, candles, or lanterns; avoid harsh, direct flood lights that may appear overbearing and uninviting.
Most outdoor decks can benefit from some form of energy-efficient lighting that operates with natural solar energy to provide high-powered LED light for a party or gathering.
Guest Post Provided By: OHC
