Everyone wants to have a gorgeous patio with comfortable furniture for everyone in their family to enjoy. However, it takes a lot of work to clean and maintain it. Since your patio isn’t protected by a roof, you need to make sure you take measures to protect it from the environment. If you’re stumped on how to start keeping your patio secure, here are some ideas to consider.
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1. Hang up some gorgeous curtains
If you’re looking to make your patio a bit more private, you could always opt for a couple of curtains. They let you choose how much cover you provide for your patio, which also means you can adjust your view accordingly as well. It’s a pretty dynamic way to cover your patio.
Curtains also add a bit of mystery and luxury into your backyard experience. You can make them out of a thick material and have them complement the furniture. It can give your patio a special vibe and atmosphere. Curtains also do double duty in any outdoor space. They can serve as a divider, which allows them to give you a more interesting configuration to the outdoor area. Whether you use them as a wall or privacy screen, curtains are an ideal way to make your patio unique in its design.
You don’t even have to make any significant structural changes to the deck, either. You can easily erect a couple of freestanding poles to hold your curtains. Planters and 2×2 will come in handy for this task.
2. Create your own hanging gardens
There’s nothing quite like a garden to spice up the edges of your patio. You get to enjoy a gorgeous view and introduce some aromatic scents into the atmosphere. Better yet, why not put them on the patio and use them as a wall?
Make your own heavenly hanging gardens by hanging potted plants above one another. It might sound like a huge endeavor, but it’s not as big of a deal as you might think. You don’t even need a green thumb to get it going. Anyone with a pile of dirt and some potted plants can make it happen.
You might be wondering how to get those plants in a vertical position. Your first instinct might be to use some regular pots and hang them with some thick rope or use support columns. However, you don’t even have to take it that far.
A much simpler way to do this would be to make use of some fabric pocket planters. The rest of the construction depends on how heavy the plants you intend to use are. If we’re talking tiny dimensions or vines, you might be able to get away with using a bunch of rope or small hooks to hold them on the patio columns. Some bigger plants might require you to add some planks in-between columns and use them to hang the pocket planters. The plants will slowly grow into a natural and colorful wall that will give you privacy and a view that will be the envy of your neighbors.
3. Add a sturdy retractable roof
Have there ever been days where you wished your patio had a roof? Those sweltering summer days can really do a number on your deck and leave it a bit too hot. The rainy days that follow hot days aren’t any better. Either you have to move your furniture or cover it up with a tarp so that it doesn’t get wet. On the other hand, there are also those days where the lack of a roof really goes in your favor. When it’s the perfect day outside and you can enjoy a nice cup of coffee with your close ones, you’re probably glad there’s nothing obstructing the sun.
Why bother yourself with such dilemmas when you can simply choose both? Nowadays, retractable roofs are becoming the norm on most patios. It’s understandable, considering the benefits that such a roof provides. You can put the roof up whenever the weather becomes too unpleasant to handle. All those sweltering and stormy days won’t bother you if you have a nice roof over your head. On the other hand, you can also take it down whenever you feel like.
There are lots of different types of retractable roofs. You can pick one that goes well with the aesthetic of your backyard and patio. Installing one isn’t exactly a DIY job since there are a lot of moving parts that need to be installed at a height. Lots of experts like Oztech handle roof installations for their clients. As long as you get professional help, you can be sure that you’ll be given satisfactory results for your patio cover needs.
4. Hold things in place
Windy seasons aren’t very friendly towards your patio. Your patio furniture is vulnerable to gusts of wind or storms, which is why you need to protect it. You don’t want a storm to knock your furniture pillows off the furniture and get them dirty, do you?
The solution for windy weather is as simple as it is brilliant. You just have to tie everything down. Get a couple of dozen feet of rope and tie the furniture down. You need to make sure that everything is held down by the rope. Even the accessories like pillows should be covered unless you decide to take them inside your home instead. If you have patio curtains on display, you should tie them down at their base to prevent the wind from ripping them off. Thick curtains are especially vulnerable to wind. Plants should also be taken care of if they aren’t particularly tough. Take them inside or keep them closer to the home when the weather turns ugly.
5. Keep it under covers
The simplest solution for protecting your furniture is to simply cover it up. If the sun gets too hot or you anticipate a storm coming, all you have to do is throw on a tarp and call it a day. If there’s a lot of wind incoming, might as well tie down the edges of the tarp.
You need to make sure that the cover you choose has enough of a surface area to cover everything. If it only barely covers the top of all the furniture, there’s still a risk of moisture and wind getting underneath and wreaking havoc, even ripping the cover. Obviously, the cover should be waterproof to prevent rain from getting underneath.
6. Store it away
If you don’t want to put your trust in any kind of cover, or the weather around your parts is very harsh, you might want to keep your furniture stored away. Above all else, this prevents any kind of damage that comes from weather changes. You don’t have to worry about being caught outside your home when the weather turns sour if the furniture is always stored away after being used.
This will limit the kind of furniture that you can use on your patio. Anything too heavy or immobile might be too difficult to move in the event of bad weather. Bulkiness is also a factor. If the furniture can’t fit in your shed or garage, you’re out of luck. If you want to store things away, you need to aim for patio furniture that is lightweight and convertible. Folding chairs are a popular option. They take up nearly no space at all when folded, making it pretty easy to store them away. Tables are a bit more complicated, but they also come in foldable shapes.
7. Clean it regularly
Even if you do your best to protect your outdoor furniture, some dirt and debris will find its way on top of it. It’s only normal for anything that stays outside. Dust and moisture will slowly creep up on your furniture and you need to take care of it before it gets worse.
Outdoor furniture slowly develops mildew and mold over time. Once it reaches a certain point, it can start spreading rapidly and do damage to your furniture. Because of this, you need to clean and maintain it regularly.
Different materials need different kinds of cleaning. Wicker, iron, and plastic should be simple enough to deal with. A mixture of dish soap and water should do the trick. Use a sponge to get all up inside the most difficult spots and clean it thoroughly. Wood requires a different treatment that depends on the exact kind of wood the furniture is made of. Consult the care instructions for the furnishings before you do any cleaning.
Conclusion
Your patio is constantly under siege by the environment. You need to make sure that it’s protected and kept clean so that you can enjoy a nice day out in your outdoor oasis. All things considered, it’s not too difficult to achieve as long as you use your common sense and incorporate some defense mechanisms. If you use some of these ideas in your patio design, you can be sure that your furniture will stay safe and whole throughout the year.
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About the Author
Ron Wolf
Guest Blogger
