How to Elevate your Patio for Summer

With the warm season upon us, it’s time to queue the BBQ, jump in the pool, and get your patio ready for long summer days. Your patio is a great place for gathering friends and family to make lasting memories and traditions. Today, we will cover simple tips along with some of our inspirations to help you elevate your patio and outdoor space.

#1 Add an Outdoor Rug

Outdoor rugs add personality, a stylish element, and ultimately make the space more inviting as it naturally outlines an area for furniture and gathering. It can also protect your patio from harmful UV rays and other outdoor elements. With that, we recommend purchasing rugs that are weather resistant and made for the outdoors. Some of our favorites are from Surya Rugs.

#2 Choose the right patio furniture

The most important aspect of buying patio furniture is considering your priorities, lifestyle, and vision for the space. Do you want to have your patio serve as another dining area for meals or as a place to hang out and socialize? This will help you decide whether to prioritize a large outdoor table, sofas and chairs, or other furniture pieces. It’s also important to consider who will be using the space. Your furniture selection may vary depending on if you have kids, pets, or friends over. We recommend looking at kettal; we are obsessed with this cute outdoor swing!

#3 Switch out Pillows

Switching out the pillows is a great way to spruce up your patio if you don’t want to invest in new patio furniture. Pillows add comfort, color, and can even be swapped out seasonally. We suggest getting pillows with higher durability fabrics to withstand weather and sun exposure. We recently sourced this cute pillow for one of our projects. Again, Surya has plenty of fun options!

#4 Add Lights

Especially during those late summer evenings, lights prolong those together moments and create a truly magical ambiance. We love this inspiration of incorporating light fixtures, stranded lights, and even small lights around the yard.

#5 Incorporate Organic Touches

While lush grass and leafy trees are a staple of any yard, we love incorporating potted plants, fresh greens, or flowers on the table. Incorporating plants around the primary gathering area helps it feel organic and lively. The trick is to pick plants that thrive in the climate you live in and are easy to maintain. If you’re also located in Southern Utah, you might find this plant guide helpful.

#6 Provide Covered Seating

We love the summer sun, but those high temperatures can make it pretty unenjoyable to be outside—particularly when surfaces like chairs and tables soak up the heat. Beat the heat by setting up a covered or shaded area where your family can retreat during those swelters. A well-placed umbrella, pergola, or natural shade will do the trick.

#7 Bring Indoor Comforts Outside

Just because it’s outside doesn’t mean it isn’t a part of your home. Let your patio serve as an extension of your living space and bring a sense of comfort by incorporating little comforts such as pillows, blankets, trays, vases, or dishes.

#8 Aim to Entertainment

A little entertainment can go a long way when hosting guests, and a bit of planning can create some wonderful traditions. Nothing brings people together quite like a firepit, hot tub, or movie projector. Or, if that seems too much, a simple table with a deck of cards or board games can serve just fine. Whatever your family and friends love to do together, let it inspire how you use the outdoors.

We hope you found some inspiration on how to elevate your patio and outdoor space for the summer. We are all about crafting spaces that create moments with those you love. At Parkway East Design, our passion is to cultivate designs that align with your lifestyle while implementing your style and vision. Talk with one of our designers today! We’d love to get to know what inspires you.