Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Style

The one quick change that will totally transform your patio

Deb Goncalves
By

With the right styling, even the smallest patio can become an inviting, private escape. Patios are meant to be a relaxing, outdoor space that can be perfect for entertaining, unwinding, or quality family time. Home decorating can be intimidating with all the different styles, colors, and finishes to choose from, though. The important thing is to stay true to your design style and let your creativity direct any project.

When it comes to a patio, the whole purpose is to be outside and enjoy nature. Whether you have a high-tech entertainment area or a small concrete slab with some comfy chairs, one quick change will get you more in touch with nature without sacrificing comfort. 

Recommended Videos

The one quick change

One inexpensive and quick addition you can put on your patio is some greenery. There are multiple ways to do this. You can use a variety of beautiful pots or hang up your plants on a wall garden. Wall gardens are a great way to add a little bit of natural color to your patio. These planters may look difficult to make, but they’re surprisingly easy when it comes to DIY projects. Alternatively, you can buy them for pretty cheap online. Wall garden potting comes in all shapes, sizes, and colors and can be the thing that totally transforms your patio. You will take home decorating to a whole new level with a little help from nature.

transform your patio
Lisa Fotios/Pexels

Getting started

Choose your pot or wall garden holder

There are endless pots and wall garden designs to suit different styles, as The Spruce notes. Some patios have pergolas (patio coverings) that are oftentimes made of wood or stone. You can get some modern, vibrant geometric pots that hang easily on your pergola wall for a clean, sleek look. Wall gardens combine the beauty of nature with the modern style of home construction. If your patio doesn’t have a pergola, don’t worry — you can still create a beautiful outdoor space with plants. Large clay pots can be the statement pieces of your patio. They come in all shapes, sizes, and price ranges, so you can find the ones that are perfect for you. Additionally, if you are set on having a wall garden but don’t have a wall, you can build or buy a cheap wall garden mount that can be placed in your outdoor space.

Choose your plants

Choosing your plants can be a super fun process, and there are so many to choose from. You’ll want to consider sunlight and watering needs before purchasing your plants. The amount of time and effort you want to put into caring for your plants will help you decide which ones to buy. You can create little cactus gardens that require little to no care or beautiful flower arrangements that may require daily watering. Whatever you decide, pick plants that meet all of your needs without sacrificing the most beautiful things that nature has to offer.

House Beautiful lists some popular choices:

  • Succulent
  • Begonia
  • Four O’ Clock
  • Creeping Thyme
  • Lavender

Hang or position plants for an outdoor oasis

Lastly, you just need to hang your garden wall or position your pots how you like them. This all depends on the space you have to work with. You can position pots around the perimeter of the patio or place smaller pots on side tables. Your garden wall will be the statement wall in your pergola, so make sure it is placed where all eyes can see it. Have fun with this part of the process. Move things around and see what works and looks best. This project should feel fun and not rushed. Listen to your creative side to create the perfect patio space. 

A living wall, vertical garden, or wall garden creates a beautiful collection of wall-mounted plants. These gardens are trending in home design and are the perfect way to bring some nature into your patio space. Don’t forget to use pretty potted plants as well to spruce up the space; Country Living gives us a visual. These living walls and potted plants are not only beautiful, but they also improve air quality. Bringing some plants into your outdoor space can make it even more striking than it already is. Use your creativity and follow the design that best fits your needs and your space.

In addition, for transforming your patio into a stunning entertainment space, check out some quick coverings you can use to hide the old, ugly cement patio for good.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Deb Goncalves
Deb Goncalves
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Deb's work has appeared on Moms, Babygaga, and WorldAtlas. When she's not working (that's hard to say about a Capricorn), she…
Make the most of your Craftsman front porch this summer with these style ideas
Your porch is a comfortable retreat to the outdoors. Savor your space with these design tips
Gray house with a large yard and wraparound porch

When you look at a Craftsman-style house, you can’t miss the expansive front porch, which has become a well-known feature of this home style. And if you’re lucky enough to have one of these porches, then you know the best part about owning a Craftsman house is enjoying the front porch on a nice, sunny day.

To best enjoy the front porch, you need to ensure it's comfortable and styled in a way that's not only functional but also indulgent. You want to sit back and relax on your Craftsman porch, soaking up the good weather and spending some time outdoors. So, we’re sharing some of our best tips on styling the porch so you can make the most of the space. Here are some front porch ideas to consider.
Comfy outdoor seating is a must
You can’t expect to enjoy the front porch if there’s no place to relax in a comfy seat. Comfortable outdoor seating is a must-have on your Craftsman porch. Patio chairs, outdoor sofas, benches, and rocking chairs are all fantastic choices for comfortable seating. Consider using materials resistant to harsh weather conditions or purchasing chair covers. Though these seats will likely remain on your covered porch all year long, you’ll want to protect your cushions and chairs from tears or fading over time.

Read more
7 appealing driveway design ideas that will make your home exterior look luxe
Spruce up your exterior with these driveway ideas that are sure to make your home stand out
Modern house with brick driveway

When it comes to adding curb appeal and updating the landscaping, one exterior project that’s often neglected is the driveway. However, the driveway happens to be one of the first things people see when approaching a home. It takes up a lot of space and can easily look unappealing in your exterior design. That’s why updating your driveway is so important, as it can enhance curb appeal and make your home exterior look luxe and elegant.

While it’s easy to opt for a classic gravel, cement, or asphalt driveway, most hotels and luxury homes choose to create a driveway that feels more elegant and detailed. So today, we’re sharing tips on how you can update a boring driveway and turn it into a statement piece on the property. Check out these seven driveway ideas and maybe one will hit the mark with you.
Use brick instead of cement or asphalt
One of the best ways to update a drab driveway is to use brick instead of cement or asphalt. Cement, asphalt, and gravel are the most common driveway materials, but all of them can appear boring or like an afterthought in your exterior design. Instead, why not mimic hotels and luxury homes by opting for brick driveway pavers instead? Brick driveways look luxe, and there are several colors and patterns to choose from. Depending on your exterior palette, you can opt for red, cream, brown, or tan bricks to add some more color to your home’s exterior.

Read more
Make your outdoor shower feel like a sanctuary with these fantastic ideas
Check out these stunning outdoor shower tips to transform your unit into an outdoor oasis
Person showering in an outdoor shower

For homeowners with a backyard pool or those who live on a beachfront property, it’s easy to trek sand, mud, and dirt into the home. That’s why the outdoor shower has become a beloved addition to many properties across the country. However, outdoor showers have a tendency to look out of place and are often of poor design, especially if you install an outdoor shower kit rather than taking on a custom build.

These kits can look cheap, tacky, and downright ugly if not properly decorated. So, to prevent your unit from becoming a blemish in your stunning backyard landscape, we have some outdoor shower ideas to help you spruce up your outdoor shower and make it look more appealing to the eye.
Use natural wood
One of the best things you can do, whether building a custom outdoor shower or discreetly hiding a kit-built unit, is to use natural wood. Natural wood slats are great for adding a privacy wall to your outdoor shower. Not only do they do the job of effectively concealing the shower, but they also look natural and sophisticated in the backyard.

Read more