DIY Patio Ideas for a Newbie

These tips are for beginners who want to make or design a patio with their own hands, in other words DIY. There are just a few basic elements to make a good patio. These are;

• Flooring or Paver
• Shade
• Lighting
• Heating
• Decoration

For beginners, you can start with concrete. It is an easy and a quick way to create a patio place. It is just a matter of pouring concrete mix into the prepared ground for patio and wait until it hardens. After that, you’re off to a good start. Then you can paint your patio according to your liking. The design choice is limitless, but ideally, your patio should look natural. Some people use to stain their concrete patio floor to mimic a natural stone finish.

Alternatively, you can add a carpet. This way, you do not need to pay too much attention to your patio flooring’s finish.

On the other hand, bricks are also a good choice to start making a patio paver. Though it requires a bit of skill, the good thing is that you can rearrange them if you found your design is not pretty good. It gives you an opportunity to try another design without wasting much of the materials.

Outdoor furniture items help define your patio. In fact, a patio will not be complete without them. Basically, you’ll just need chairs, benches, or lounges to start. You can add more patio furniture sets and fixtures as you’ll improve your patio design further.

Add a shade. A patio should have a shade in addition to your furniture. Not only does it give a cool shade, but also adds to the design of your patio. There is a lot of options you can choose that fits your shade needs. You can use an awning if your patio is physically connected to your house. Use the versatile patio umbrella if you want mobility. There are tilting and offset umbrellas that give you the flexibility to choose which way your shade is directed. A pergola is also an interesting patio structure, it adds a sturdy shade but not make your patio dimmer.

If your backyard has large trees, then you’re lucky as a beginner. You can build your patio under the tree’s canopy. It gives a cool shade, plus it saves you from spending on buying or building a shade.

Lighting is also a good thing to consider in building a patio. They are more important for your patio at night. The main use is to illuminate your patio, but they can make your patio even better. They give personality to your design and they can add ambiance.

Choose the type of light, color, and intensity to set the type of mood you want to create.

• Lighting in assortment of color makes a festive mood.
• Lighting in warm color shade makes a warm ambiance.
• Dimmer lights in warm colors make a romantic feel.

For beginners, a simple fire pit should suffice your heating needs. Commonly, folks just dig a medium hole in an open ground and then arrange rocks or bricks around it to make a quick fire place. If you don’t want the hassle or, digging is not possible in your place, then just buy a ready to use fire pit or fire bowl. They are much cheaper which is great for starters.

Finally, add a touch of nature. Use planters and pots to add plants and flowers. Bird bath and feeders are great to invite birds into your patio. Water features such as fountains and ponds are a wonderful addition. They make a soothing environment, especially on warmer days.