Most people don’t think of throw pillows as a patio decoration. These people are missing one of the easiest ways to spruce up your patio! Decorative outdoor throw pillows can add color and comfort to your patio.

The first thing you need to consider when shopping for outdoor decorative throw pillows is your color palette. Do you have a vibrant tropical theme or a functional, no-nonsense look for your patio? Outdoor throw pillows should accent and enhance the color scheme you have already picked.

Next, think about how many decorative outdoor throw pillows you need. Is your seating area large or small? Do you have a few patio love seats or lounges? You certainly don’t want to overdo things, but don’t be afraid to accent the furniture that you and your guests use most!

Be sure to think durability. An outdoor patio throw pillow is going to need to be much more durable than an indoor throw pillow. Do you have a pool or a patio misting system? Is your patio on the lakeside or beach front? If so, there are a variety of water resistant decorative patio throw pillows available. Remember, you want the pillows to be functional as well as pretty.

Once all these things are decided, all thats left is to pick a price point. The internet is always a good start, as you can get an idea what a wide variety of retailers are charging for different styles of outdoor patio throw pillows. Your local store that carries patio furniture should have a decent selection as well as a knowledgeable salesperson that can point you in the right direction and give you the feedback you need to select the right decorative throw pillows for your patio.

Good luck, and good times on your newly spruced up and comfortable patio!

A patio is nothing without some decoration. You can have the most expensive teak patio furniture and a great patio misting system, but all of that is bland without some sort of decorations. One of the easiest ways to decorate your patio is with flowers.

You might think, “Flowers? That isn’t very clever.” But you would be wrong. Patio flower pots are about as versatile as it gets. You can attach them to walls and use them for a variety of functional tasks.

Flower pots for your patio don’t have to just be a standard terracotta color.

Many people find that painting their patio flower pots can be a fun time with their kids or grand kids but can also transform a patio from colorless to full of life.

If you choose to paint your flower pots, try to find some flowers for those pots that compliment the color that you (or the kids!) have decided to paint them.

There are a few different methods to heating your outdoor patio. One of those involves a small fire pit. Fire pits are usually made from copper or a heat treated steel.

Copper is generally preferred because of it’s ability to distribute the heat evenly and smoothly to radiate heat in an even circle around the fire pit.

Many people prefer the look of a fire pit over a gas heater or propane heater because you get a real flame. You also don’t have to worry as much about the fire pit getting accidently knocked over because they usually site closer to the ground than a propane patio heater does.

Brookbend.com has a few fire pits available at their website. The copper fire pit is $299 plus 10% shipping.

Brookbend says, “There is a reason that serious chefs insist on grilling over wood. The flavor of true grilled meat cannot be replicated over charcoal or gas—the aromatic resins of hickory, mesquite, or sweet apple bring out the rich essence of each cut. Wood’s high heat sears the surface of the meat, keeping the interior tender. One taste of tuna grilled over oak and you’ll wonder how you lived without it.”

Patio Umbrellas

Patio umbrellas are an excellent, low cost way to add to a family’s enjoyment of its patio or deck. They come in a wide variety of sizes, styles and fabrics which allow them to be situated in almost any environment. With one or more strategically placed patio umbrella a hot desolate patio can become a place to enjoy a book, a meal or a family game. Entertaining outdoors can also be more pleasurable when the cooking and eating are done underneath the shade of a patio umbrella.

Today’s patio umbrellas offer far more than just shade. They provide a lower cost and many times more flexible alternative to awnings. Patio umbrellas also add distinctive decorative touches to a backyard. Some patio umbrellas use bases which incorporate planters. Other models are more like small tents than umbrellas. Multiple pieces of furniture can find respite under that type of patio umbrella. There are also patio umbrellas which are designed directly into patio swings. Still other models extend out from a flexible arm which allows them to protect furniture which may be in hard to access areas like corners. For night time use there are even patio umbrellas that have lights strung into their underneath seams.

While there are many cheap patio umbrellas on the market it may behoove a homeowner to buy a more expensive patio umbrella that will last many seasons. When choosing a patio umbrella it is important to consider not just its cost but the fabric from which it is made, the area which it must cover and the type of base it will require. Good patio umbrellas don’t just throw off sunlight they also protect the people and objects underneath them from the sun’s ultraviolet rays. Therefore, it is important to choose a patio umbrella which is UV resistant. The UV resistance will also serve to protect the umbrella itself. Make sure the patio umbrella is also mildew, stain and insect resistant. It may sound odd but check to see that the patio umbrella repels rain; some don’t.

Small patio umbrellas which rely on bases can be used in a variety of ways: Next to chairs, over tables which have cut outs for the umbrellas poles. They can also be moved as needed. What they lose in portability large patio umbrellas make up in coverage area. A large patio umbrella can comfortably cover an entire table full of guests or shield all of a cooking area. A homeowner might also want to consider patio umbrellas with necks that crook and tilt. This sort of umbrella can provide protection even when the sun is low in the sky.

So, for the homeowner who doesn’t have the budget for an awning or other permanent protective structure, a patio umbrella makes a cost effective way to add usability to a sun drenched backyard. Patio umbrellas are also good solutions for those who do not wish to permanently block their patios from the sun or who want to be able to adapt their sun protection according to the time of day or year.

Patio Misting Systems

Patio misting systems allow homeowners and their families to take advantage of their backyards even during on the hottest days of the year. Not only do patio misting systems cool the environment by as much as 30%, they can also help grass and plants to survive intense heat by providing a gentle supply of moisture. People also derive additional benefits from patio misting systems. The moisture works to lessen dust and pollen in the air which may decrease health problems caused by sinus distress and allergies. Patio misting systems may even lessen the presence of flying insects. They can also help to lower air conditioning costs. With all these benefits, how is it that many homeowners are not even aware that patio misting systems exist?

Patterned after the cooling systems used by professional athletic teams and amusement parks, patio misting systems have shown steady gains in homeowner awareness and popularity over the last decade. Considering the enhanced enjoyment they offer to homeowners and the savings that they may provide in many areas, their surging acceptance is no surprise. Basic patio misting systems are easy to install. Their cost is also relatively low when weighed against their many advantages. In addition, patio misting systems are rapidly becoming a sought after amenities which add to a home’s value and marketability.

Patio misting systems take a double barreled approach to summer heat. First, they set up a mist curtain around a specified area. The light mist cools the air and then as it rapidly evaporates it acts to pull the heat out of the air. Second, the continuing mist provides a wall to keep the heat outside the mist from invading the cooler area within the misting area.

A simple patio misting system is a configuration of thin tubes equipped intermittently with nozzles which emit a fine spray. The finer the spray the better; a light mist will evaporate more quickly than a heavy spray thereby continually pulling heat from the air. There are some inexpensive self installed patio misting systems on the market. However, many times they are not worth even their lesser price. In order for a patio misting system to work effectively, there must be sufficient water pressure to produce the mist and nozzles capable of diffusing it. High grade plastic tubing and nozzles with brass fittings or totally stainless steel conduit with brass nozzles and fittings deliver the most efficient misting. While at first the difference between the cost of these types of systems and lesser plastic systems may seem wide, over the lifetime of the system the advantages of the more expensive system will become evident.

The cost of installing a patio misting system is further mitigated when a homeowner considers the savings which may accrue from reduced landscaping costs and lower cooling bills. A patio misting system can keep expensive shrubby, plants and grass from dying. It can also reduce heat damage to the patio itself. By keeping the exterior area of the home cooler, a patio misting system decreases air conditioning bills in two ways. First, the family spends more time outside reducing the need for turning on the air conditioning. Second, the patio misting system also works to cool the inside of the house by reducing the temperature of the outside of the house.

All in all, a patio misting system is an excellent investment for homeowners in warmer climates. It cools the house and the yard while making it possible for the homeowners to spend more time enjoying their yard. If that weren’t enough, a patio misting system reduces the problems caused by air contaminants and may increase the energy efficiency of the home as a whole. Wow, that’s a big step up from running through the sprinkle on a sunny day.