Decorating your outdoor living area is something that can add a lot of intrinsic value to your home. Having a place that you can entertain will also help to make your home feel larger and more versatile. Here are some of the ways that you can go about increasing the livability factor of your patio and yard.

Add in Lighting

Lighting can dramatically improve the appearance of any outdoor area. This will make it seem more inviting to yourself and your guests. Lighting can also be used to enhance your landscaping if it’s done in the right way. Walkway lighting can be used to feature the rest of your yard. Adding in hanging lanterns can increase the festive feeling of your patio. Make sure to keep your lighting mellow so that you aren’t on display for all of your neighbors.

Offer Shade Options

Patio covers and gazebos are a great way to make your patio more usable during other months of the year. The cover can also be used if you want to install on outdoor kitchen or dining area. How frequently you use the area will dictate the placement of your cover. For example, you may want a stand-alone cover if you want to highlight your yard. Another option is to have the cover installed against your home so that it becomes more of an extension for the rest of your living space.

Increase Tranquility

A water feature can increase the tranquility of your outdoor space. This could be that you install a pond or that you add in a fountain. The type and size of water feature that you have will depend on the amount of free space that you have available and the number of mosquitos in your area, as they will be attracted to water. Make sure that your water feature has running water or enough of a stock of fish to eat the mosquito larvae before they can become a problem.

Class It Up

Adding in stone borders and stone walkways can help to class up your outdoor patio area. It will grant your outside space a dignified appearance. Consider installing a stone patio underneath your covered area in order to make it more eco-friendly. This form of soft-scaping will also help to tackle any water drainage issues that may exist in your yard. The décor of your patio includes more than just the things that you put on it. Use these ideas so that you can create a patio area that will make a lasting impression.   Photo by Randy Fath on Unsplash Brooke Chaplan is a freelance writer and blogger. She lives and works out of her home in Los Lunas, New Mexico. She loves the outdoors and spends most of her time hiking, biking, and gardening. For more information, contact Brooke via Facebook at facebook.com/brooke.chaplan or Twitter @BrookeChaplan