With summer in full swing, many of us will be spending more time outside with friends and family. This is the perfect time to make some upgrades with these backyard deck and patio ideas that won’t break the bank. Use these tips to give your outdoor spaces a fresh look where you’ll enjoy entertaining your friends and family.

Resurface or Refinish the Space

If the back deck is wooden, add a new stain to give it a fresh look. As an added benefit, the stain will seal and protect the deck against the elements. Sand down the deck and choose a stain/sealant combo to make the deck look new.

Use an Outdoor Area Rug

A well-placed area rug will fill in the deck or patio space between furniture pieces or other outdoor seating sets. Rugs add a pop of color and can also bring existing pieces together in a space. There are lots of materials, colors, and sizes available, just be sure to choose one that’s specifically for outdoor use.

Add Some Plants to the Deck or Patio

Some of the best deck and patio ideas involve adding greenery to your surroundings. Give the backyard new life by bringing in easy-to-manage plants. Flowering vines along a pergola or arbor offer shade and beauty. Hanging ferns, rail-mounted planter boxes, and potted tropical plants will transform a deck or patio.

Deck and Patio Ideas for Shade

Maybe you’ve always dreamed of having a daybed under a cabana or a dining set centered under a pergola. No backyard update is complete without adding a shaded space to make the outdoors tolerable even under the hot sun. Something as simple as shade sails stretched across the deck from the wall to wooden posts offer sun protection at an affordable cost.

Add a Fire Pit

If you have open space in the backyard, add a fire pit. There are few better ways to spend summer and fall evenings with friends and family than surrounding yourselves with the warm glow of burning firewood. Kids will love the chance to make s’mores right at home.

Deck and Patio Ideas for Outdoor Lighting

One of the easiest deck and patio ideas is to add lighting so you can enjoy the space at any time of the day or night. Upgrade a dining area with a modern outdoor chandelier to create an inviting space for dinners with friends. String lights are especially easy to set up, and a new wall sconce light or pathway lighting will help illuminate the property after the sun goes down.

Guardian Home Inspection Services provides home inspections to Southwest Michigan. Contact us to book an appointment.