Is your patio currently looking a bit drab and unloved? If so, you’re probably not using it as much as you should be.
Sprucing your patio up could help to bring it back into regular use. But you might be holding off doing it if money is a bit tight. However, there are plenty of ways to spruce up your patio on a budget – making it a cheery, stylish space for relaxing and entertaining.
Give it a good clean
Regardless of whether they’re made from concrete, stone or porcelain, patios can soon start to look grubby. So, a good first step is to give your slabs or tiles a good clean.
A stiff broom should remove the loose debris and using it with soapy water will help to get rid of the remaining dirt. However, you may find a pressure washer makes things easier.
Jet washing a patio is an effective way to remove ground-in dirt, algae, moss and lichen, but you do need to be careful to avoid damaging surfaces. Wands should be held away from the surface and at an angle. And for some materials, you may need to apply a gentler pressure or use a rotary brush. However, most pressure washers work with detergents, so it’s an effective way to bring patio surfaces back to their best.
Replenish the joints
Cracked and empty joints between slabs and tiles not only look bad but they leave space for movement and for weeds to grow. So, once your patio is clean, it’s worth carrying out a quick bit of maintenance.
To fill the joints, you can brush in some clean, kiln-dried sand or a self-setting compound. Both are simple to do and only cost around £15 to £25 per bag or tub. So, it won’t blow your budget.
Get out the paintbrush
Paint has an equally transformative effect as cleaning and is an affordable way to spruce up many areas of your patio, including fences, slabs, furniture and pots.
If you’re on a budget, there are plenty of ways to use up leftover paint or sample pots. For instance, you could paint stripes or geometric patterns on your old terracotta plant pots to give them a contemporary makeover. Or you could stencil a pattern onto the central section of your patio, to create the effect of an outdoor rug and hide plain grey slabs. And ordinary benches can be made to pop with a few coats of bright yellow, red or blue paint.
Add some accessories
One of the most affordable ways to spruce up a patio on a budget is to incorporate a few accessories. Most people think of accessories as the finishing touches but how you style your patio can really affect the overall appearance.
Adding some extra cushions to your seating is a good way to increase comfort and colour. But don’t stop there. Matching outdoor table and floor lamps will add style and cosiness while the additional of a parasol and side table can give your patio a chic yet relaxed feel. And setting a table with coordinating plates, glasses and napkins will elevate your al fresco dining experience.
But keep it organised
If your patio seems a little cluttered, you may just need to organise your furnishings and accessories into zones, so each area has its own function, such as cooking, dining and seating.
Slatted panels and trellis are an affordable way to help to define the space and will create the perfect backdrop for planting. But if your patio is compact, you might want to keep it open, so it blends into your wider garden.
Boost the planting
Planting on and around the patio not only adds colour but softens up the hardscaping. Flowers and shrubs also add texture and boost privacy levels, making your patio a better place to relax and socialise with friends.
You could edge the patio with a fragrant border or raised bed of lavender, thyme and rosemary. Or screen it with evergreen shrubs and tall fountain, feathertop or pampas grasses. If you can only afford a few plants to start off with, don’t worry, as many of these shrubs and grasses can be propagated by taking cuttings or dividing them in spring. So, you can increase your greenery over time without spending more money.
