Yep, it happens to everybody. You spend time setting up a cute patio. Maybe you even splurge on a few plants and some fairy lights. It looks great… until you try to actually sit out there. Maybe you’re wanting to have a BBQ, entertain your kids, do, well, just something. But within five minutes, you’re sweating, the chair’s poking your back in weird places, a mosquito the size of a bird is circling, and the neighbors are yelling about who stole whose parking spot. And suddenly, that gorgeous patio feels about as inviting as a dentist’s waiting room.
Okay, want to know the truth? Well, a pretty patio is nice, but a comfortable patio is where the magic happens. If you want people to stop just taking pictures of it and actually hang out, a few things need fixing first.
Give People a Reason to Stay
Alright, so for starters, nobody’s settling in for hours if the chairs feel like a punishment. Those hard plastic seats that leave waffle patterns on your thighs? Well, they’re a one-way ticket back inside. Actually, the same goes for tiny bistro chairs from IKEA that look cute but start a backache faster than you’d even expect (not to knock down IKEA, but those bistro dining sets are not comfy).
So, the trick is finding furniture that people want to fall into. Big cushions, deep seats, chairs that feel like they are hugging you a little. For example, side tables matter too. If you have to balance your drink on your knee like it’s Cirque du Soleil, the setup is not doing its job. People stay where they feel good. If the furniture’s built for actual lounging and not just looking good from twenty feet away, you are halfway there.
Fix the Whole “Sun Trying to Melt You Alive” Problem
You’d think that people wouldn’t forget about this, but yeah, they do. So shade is not optional. Like, there’s absolutely no way it could be optional. Actually, it’s survival. You don’t want a heatstroke or a bad sunburn, right? Because, yeah, nothing clears out a patio faster than guests starting to roast like marshmallows. And when the breeze dies down and the sun’s blasting from all directions, you can count on people being utterly miserable.
Now, it’s going to be a really good idea to just go ahead and look into buying retractable patio awnings are a total lifesaver. So, there’s nothing wrong with parasols or sunshade sales, but awnings are a hundred times better. You can tuck them away a lot easier, and when the sun is hitting you from different angles (which is what happens throughout the day), well, it’s more comfortable.
Besides, it helps prevent the patio flooring and the furniture from burning up.
Create a Bubble of Privacy
Oh yeah, it’s really hard to relax when it feels like half the neighborhood’s eavesdropping. Or worse, shouting over the fence about the score of the latest game. How can you even relax? It’s not even possible at that point! Well, a good patio needs some privacy if it’s gonna feel like a place you actually want to be.
Ideally, you’re going to want to look into tall plants, outdoor curtains, or even some screens that make a world of difference. Alright, so it is not about hiding from society completely, it is about feeling like you are in your own little world, because, well, this is your home!