Tired of the look of your patio, garden, or backyard? Creative adjustments can beautify your outdoor space to make it perfect for relaxation or stylish entertaining — without spending a fortune or giving yourself a massive headache.
Colorful Tile Fountain in Malibu: Photo by Los Angeles
Modern groundscapes: If you live in a big city and have a small patio space, inject drama with intriguing patio flooring. Concrete pavers, rich slate tiles, or sparkling mica stones make your patio’s base neat, modern, and cool. If you have a little more room, insert sections or walkways of colored tile to create demarcation between areas for dining or sunbathing. Guests at your twilight garden cocktail party will be enchanted when candlelight is reflected off sparkling mica or colorful floor tiles.
Go Wild With Topiary: Photo by Daderot
Whimsical topiary: Make your patio a fun house with topiary shrubs trimmed into eye-catching shapes. You don’t need to be a master with the hedge clippers to include these delightful potted plants in your garden. Buy dried moss versions at your local garden or decor boutique, or check out this helpful guide to do-it-yourself topiary clipping. Once you get the hang of the basic techniques, you can shape hardy backyard evergreens like juniper or spruce, or turn your boxwood hedges into geometry come to life. Here’s a quick tip: Walk around the shrub so you can see how it looks from all angles before you make a snip.
Contemplative Statue in San Francisco: Photo by Daderot
Make a meditation space: Your patio can be your oasis of calm, the perfect place to unwind after a long day at the office. Relax with a cup of herbal tea and a book, or just take some time to feel a fresh breeze on your face while butterflies dance over your potted hydrangeas. Turn one corner of your patio into a meditation or contemplation space. Add a water feature like a fountain or lotus pool for the soothing sounds and visuals. Solar-powered fountains are inexpensive, easy to install, and require no cords or electric power supply. Explore your local garden stores or art markets for an original sculpture that can be placed outdoors in your garden, or even browse for concrete statuary at workshops in your area.
