Winter Patios

Don't forget your patio in winter especially if you can see it from the house.

You will need to put your garden furniture away of course. Clean it, make sure it is dry and keep it somewhere dry for the winter months. At least you will need to do that if you don't have all year round sunshine. (At times I feel like I need to put it away in summer here LOL)

The best decoration for your patio is to add some weather proof sturdy and heavy pots - the kind that won't get blown over in a strong wind or damaged by frost.

Plant them with dwarf evergreen shrubs and winter hardy plants such as pansies and cyclamen and pop a few bulbs in there too which will bring a welcome breath of color in the spring.

If you can see your patio and garden easily from the house, some outdoor lighting can help you enjoy your garden even on a dark winter night and during the festive season give your garden lots of white fairy lights for a magical touch.

Add Some Garden Lights

Garden lights make your backyard truly magical. Trees an shrubs which look pretty boring during the day suddenly become a wonderful backdrop for lighting which gives your garden an intimate party atmosphere whether or not you are celebrating. And they help you to enjoy the garden at night whether you are actually in it or just viewing it from inside.

If you want anything complicated then hire an electrician but the latest in garden lighting you can just buy and install yourself. Here I am referring to solar garden lights which you just position where you want in the ground. They come on spikes so that they are easy to push into the earth. You just have to make sure that they will get some light during the day to recharge the light so don't put them completely in the shade.

If you are having a party and want some instant lighting you could also use candles and garden flares positioned strategically around the garden although these are not such a good idea if you have children running around.

Paint Some Pots

If your patio is looking a little dull liven it up with the addition of some pots of flowers and plants painted in shades to match your patio furniture and cushions.

You can take ordinary cheap terracotta pots and gave them a coat of paint without too much trouble.

To save you the expense of buying large pots of paint in a number of colors use tester pots from the paint store. Eventually the paint will wear off and have to be redone but it's a great temporary solution - say you just need to liven up your patio for a party in a couple of days time.

If however you want a lasting effect then you will have to use special water-based acrylic paint which will prevent the surface peeling or fading.

• Always start with clean, dry (and preferably new) terracotta pots for best results.
• Give the terracotta two coats of paint
• Seal the paint with clear varnish
• If possible, paint the inside too and seal it with varnish or just seal it with varnish to prevent moisture seeping through and causing the paint on the outside to flake and peel

(Image of beautiful blue pots by seg101 at sxc.hu)

Decorate with Patio Cushions

Patio cushions are a fantastic way to decorate your patio as they offer instant color.

In general, the hard material your patio is made from will be a neutral color and patio furniture is usually a neutral color too but you can really go to town with the cushions.

You will find all kinds of designs when you go shopping but think about what kind of fabric would be suitable for the look you want to achieve. Sometimes it is enough to brighten dull garden furniture with a plain cream patio cushion! It instantly lifts up dark colors. But if you are looking for something bright and cheerful you will find them in all colors of the rainbow. See this article on choosing patio cushions for more info.

You have to pay a little to get good quality but if you look after your patio cushions well - taking them in out of the rain and in winter for example - they should last for years and brighten your patio summer after summer.

Offer Some Shade on Your Patio

Patios are best situated in a sunny spot in the garden. That way you can make the most of the summer weather and even some pleasant bright days out of season.

However they can get unbearable hot on the sunniest summer days and this can be uncomfortable especially if you are eating outside.

For this reason many patio sets offer an umbrella or a parasol as part of the range. These umbrellas are best if they cover the whole of the dining table and the diners.

But many standard parasols are too small to cover the area required.

In fact you may be best not buying the parasol which goes with your outdoor dining set if it is too small and going for a larger sun canopy. In general the bigger canopies come with their own stand or they can be fitted through the same slot in the center of the table as standard parasols.

Though you may not be able to get a design which coordinates with your patio set these larger sun canopies generally come in a few colors and you should be able to find something which goes well with your garden furniture.

Why Decorate Your Patio

A patio can be just a few concrete slabs you lay on a patch of sand to give you a hard surface to place table and chairs in summer or it can be an oasis of beauty and color all year round and a centerpiece for your garden.

If you have a garden right outside your back yard then you have the opportunity to create a great outdoor space for relaxation and outdoor dining when the weather is kind.

Your patio may not look too promising just now but something of beauty can be created from even the most humble beginnings though there are many aspects to consider.

And of course we'll look into them one by one right here.