Having an outdoor patio is a wonderful addition to any home, but it can be frustrating if it’s not functional. Not only should your outdoor space be just as comfortable as the areas inside your home, it should be fully functional to add more to the way you live. The good news is that, with a few simple updates, you can upgrade your balcony, patio, or plain yard so you and your family spend more time in it all year around:
What Makes a Functional Patio?
What does make a patio functional? A functional patio is an outdoor space that’s comfortable, practical, and meets your needs. It should have a clear purpose and be designed to suit your lifestyle. If you’re a host at heart and love to entertain, for example, you may want to create a perfect patio for dinner parties. If, on the other hand, you instead want a break from the hectic lifestyle and the general hustle and bustle of the city and want something that can help you relax and unwind, you may want to create a patio that’s ideal for reading, meditating, or yoga.
How to Make Your Outdoor Patio As Functional as Possible
There are so many ways that you can make your patio functional, and these basics are essential to get started:
- Weatherproofing Elements to Add to Your Patio
The weather absolutely dictates how often you can use your space. If it’s raining, you suddenly have an entire area of your home that’s inaccessible. The same applies if it’s windy or simply cold. By weatherproofing it, you can make your outdoor area more useful for longer. If you have a great view but also have to deal with a lot of wind because of said view, you can install a patio wind barrier. These barriers are glass to give you unrestricted views but can be raised or lowered depending on how windy it is.
Weatherproofing is also key for furniture. You want items that don’t hold on to water and won’t rot. A plastic or resin rattan-shaped furniture is a great option since the water slides on through but won’t decay.
- Comfortable Seating You Actually Want to Rest On
No one wants to spend time on an uncomfortable chair or bench, so invest in seating that you actually want to sit on. Look for comfortable, supportive seating that’s designed for outdoor use. Find and invest in some luxuriously comfortable outdoor seating as well, so your body is properly supported. Having a comfortable place to sit and relax, or even lounge around, will immediately make your patio more welcoming and, as a result, more commonly used (particularly in the warm months).
- Storage to Keep Things Tidy
Clutter doesn’t help the interior of your home, and it doesn’t help your patio. Not only do you need outdoor storage to keep things organized, but you also need one to safely store away those soft furnishings. Consider investing in weatherproofed and watertight storage benches, storage cabinets, or shelving units to keep your patio essentials organized and easily accessible.
- Invest in Heating
Even on a summer’s night, things can get cool, so get a great-looking and useful heater. This can be a small portable fireplace, or it could be an electric heater. Either way, having such a heater can keep people outside for longer, so you can enjoy year-round use.