If you’re considering giving your patio a new lease of life now that warmer months are ahead, you’re not the only one. Once the first glimpse of the suns rays hit the garden, it’s a solid bet that your neighbours will be out there de-weeding and giving fence posts a lick of paint.
But you don’t want to jump in headfirst. You’ll want to do what us mums do best. Plan. Nothing beats a bit of research and a to-do list itching to be ticked off. And planning is key to making changes that you (and your bank balance) aren’t going to deeply regret later.
Here we’ll go through what to remember as you get started and which areas to focus on during your patio renovation journey. Let’s get started!
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Before You Start
Consider all factors when you’re first coming up with your new patio plans. Do you love plants? Are you a master entertainer? Does the flooring need to be kid-friendly? This is your opportunity to take stock of what you want from your new patio, and ultimately, its primary end-use. You don’t want to install a jungle in your yard only to find you do not have green fingers.
Think about your personal style too. If you want to match it to your inside spaces, bring some of the interior colours outside. Knowing how you want it to look now makes difficult decisions easier down the line.
Know Your Budget
Have a clear budget at the start. And stick to it! It’s easy to get lost in the design details once you hit the full swing of your renovation. But that’s where money is easily flushed down the drain. Consider ongoing maintenance it might need, whether you need to get professionals in and always leave a little pot of extra cash. That way, if you have any surprise costs, you’re covered!
Find The Right Pro For You
Now, you might be thinking of going full DIY with your patio reno. Which is totally fine! But if you’re getting the professionals in, do your research and hire the right one. There are actually loads to choose from, with some focusing on design and landscaping whilst others, such as these handyman services in Lake Alfred (or similar professionals in your area) can be employed to do any heavy-lifting required. Understanding the difference between various professionals and the services they are able to offer will help you choose the one that will bring your vision to life with finesse!
When you finally meet, remember these three things:
- Have your budget ready to share with them. Sometimes they’ll be in charge of selecting products and finishes so they need to know how much you can pay.
- Make sure they have all the proper licences to finish the work required.
- Don’t go for the first pro! Make a shortlist, get references for each and follow them up. Old clients can tell you so much about what they’re like to work with. And they may even give you a sneak peek of their finished projects.
Image by Yan Krukov via Pexels
Flooring
As with everything nowadays, the selection of flooring types available to you is vast. There’s decking, tiling, concrete, brick; the list is practically endless. SO when you’re deciding what to opt for, consider everyone that’s using it. If you’ve got kids, you might want to think about installing soft flooring areas for cushioning. Some flooring requires tonnes of upkeep that might not fit into your busy mom schedule.
Research is the key here. If you’re looking at concrete, for example, research types of concrete finishes. With tiles, consider how porous they are and whether they’re durable enough for lots of use.
Furniture
Now you’re getting to the fun bit. Picking the right furniture to adorn your newly made patio area will make or break the space. As always, think about end-use. Who’s it for? How many people might need to sit when entertaining? Do you really want to drag the furniture inside every time it rains?
Outdoor furniture is perfect because it’s often fully waterproof. So no quick dashes in the rain the bring it all in for fear of damage. You could also consider a pergola or covered space to keep seating under. They also offer a great escape from days when the sun is sweltering.
Image by cottonbro via Pexels
Planting
Flooring gives usability, furniture adds personality, and planting brings life into your patio. For many of us, though, plants can feel daunting. Often the ones advertised are the ones that require constant care and upkeep. But that doesn’t have to be the case. You could go Mediterranean with alpines and succulents that thrive off forgetful plant moms.
And you don’t have to go all out to create impact either. Just a few choice plants in beautiful pots will lift the place up.
This is a collaborative post
