Summer is coming! It’s that time of the year again when we finally get the chance to use our patios and bask under the sun in all of its glory. It’s also the perfect time to step up and make some upgrades for your patio once and for all and make it just the way summer demands it to be. Or just to get a nice upgrade so that you and your family can enjoy the best outdoor experience possible.
Doing patio upgrades are easy, and can be done by yourself with minimum experience. So we selected the best upgrades for this summer of 2022: from simple things like adding a stone-top patio table to installing a vinyl pergola to being the talk of the neighborhood with an outdoor pizza oven!
We got your back, here are the 10 upgrades to take your patio to the next level! Read until the end for the very best ones.
1) Fancy Patio Lighting
Lighting is always good. But some patios may severely lack in that department. If that’s the case, then one of the fast and easy patio upgrades is to add some outdoor lighting.
Every patio needs good lighting. So this is not an option, it is a necessity. Maybe some hanging lights, with some modern LED bulbs that you can configure intensity and color.
Create the perfect ambiance and set the right mood for your patio for when the sun goes down.
- Easy to install
- You should do it anyway, so make it fancy!
2) Natural Gas Grill
A barbecue grill is an outdoor necessity, so we decided against adding the run-of-the-mill propane or grills: most people already have them. If you don’t have one, all the better.
Just add a natural gas grill to your patio. Running a natural gas line to your outdoor grill is a great idea to save you some money, never worry about fuel ever again, and be a more green person overall.
It’s recommended that you install it with the help of a professional, as handling gas lines is dangerous. But don’t be discouraged: it’s worth it.
- Sustainable and reliable fuel for your barbecues
- Can be used at any time without worrying about the fuel ending
Decent Seating
Having decent seating is perhaps the most fundamental way to improve your outdoor areas. People need somewhere comfortable to sit while they are perusing and observing the garden, and generally enjoying themselves.
That’s where poly gliders can help. These chairs recline, giving you a similar experience to being in the living room, encouraging everyone to get outside.
3) Custom Planter Beds
Now that you have shade and food, let’s talk about your plants. A custom planter bed is a perfect patio upgrade for your gardening hobby.
They look great and come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and functionalities. You can also plant some herbs that keep the mosquitoes and bugs away from your patio, which is reason enough for you to consider getting one.
- Great for gardening and pretty to look at
- Can be used to put mosquitoes at bay
4) Custom Built Wireless Audio
Everyone has a wireless audio set nowadays, be it a small Bluetooth speaker or a fancy modern boombox, but those really don’t belong on the patio. A custom-built, strategically installed wireless audio set with a cabinet made of wood? Now that’s patio material.
Other than being very modern and with all of the usual functions, they will take your patio to the next level.
- Listen to music without damaging the patio style
- Can be strategically placed for a better experience
5) Stone-Top Patio Table
Wooden top tables are a thing of the past, ever since table tops became more accessible to the general public with great DIY stone-top patio table sets out there. Stone is just a lot better for an outdoor patio than wood for a tabletop: it can take a lot more punishment and stay intact under the sun or rain.
It’s a simple thing, but one that will help your patio-enhancing quest.
- Easy to build
- Affordable and durable
6) Outdoor Bar
That is definitely one of our favorites: you can have an outdoor bar set up with a TV for watching games, and a built-in beer fridge or cooler so that you get a perfect living room experience outside! This addition really steps up the patio game and can shine even brighter in combination with a pergola (more on that later).
- It’s practical and useful
- Watch games and barbecue at the same time
7) Portable Fire Pit
Moving to a different direction now: a portable fire pit. That is a good choice if you want to have a fire pit in place for the colder nights, but don’t have a lot of room, or want it gone during the hot days. It’s all about the customization of your patio with this option. They look great and make for a cozier space.
- Portable and thus, movable
8) Build a Pergola
Let’s get to the end of the list strong with the option to add a pergola to your outdoor space. A pergola will add much-needed shade so that you don’t get toasted in the sun’s heat.
It’s perfect for places that need the extra classic look too and will work perfectly with most decor designs. They are attractive and functional, and they come in all shapes and sizes, and some are really easy to build.
• Protection from the sun
• A classic look for an outdoor setting
• Can be hard to install, but not impossible
9) Install a Water Feature
This is just one of those things that will just impress everyone visiting your patio. Installing a cascading fountain, or maybe a fish pond, a waterfall with a pond, a stone fountain… The possibilities are endless. And they are easy to install and can be very cheap.
Some of the fancier ones will need the help of a pro, but if you are looking to add just an extra something to your patio to make it look a lot better, a simple fountain will do the trick 9 out of 10 times.
- They look great
- They sound great
- Easy to install, cheap, and freshen up the patio
10) Outdoor Pizza Ovens
We finally arrived at the one item to truly elevate your patio game: a pizza oven! Bringing classic cuisine to your outdoor space is just fantastic: who doesn’t like pizza? They pair great with your outdoor bar, under the fancy pergola you built.
They come in all shapes and sizes, from premium brick, cement, or stone. You can build it yourself and it can fit anywhere on your patio. Have a small patio? No problem, there are portable and smaller tabletop-style pizza ovens available. They are very easy to use too, and pizza is a great outdoor food.
- Everyone loves pizza
- They look great and are easy to operate
- Many varieties to choose from, there’s one for every patio out there.