Whether you want inexpensive ways to update your small patio space or need to keep from spending all your vacation money decorating a larger backyard patio from top to bottom, we’ve got loads of cheap patio ideas for turning your backyard (or basically any outdoor space) into an inviting oasis for entertaining guests or just kicking back by yourself, soaking up the warm summer sun—book in lap, dog at feet, drink in hand.
Transforming your outdoor space with interesting and cheap patio décor is easier—and cheaper—than you might think. Below you’ll find eight cheap patio ideas that, while seriously easy, make a big impact. For more cheap home decor ideas than you can shake a garden hose at, do a deep dive into The Real Deal’s All About Home page, where you’ll find more money-saving tips and tricks.
8 Cheap Patio Décor Ideas
We’ve scoured our sources, investigated the latest trends and consulted experts in order to assemble the very best cheap patio décor ideas to take your outdoor space from drab to dazzling. Along the way, we’ll suggest décor ideas in a variety of styles and give you the 411 on where to score the best deals. And as promised, it’ll be oh so easy.
1. Set the Mood with Interesting Outdoor Lighting Options
Let’s face it: Some of us live in areas with less-than-ideal summer daytime temps. But the evening? Well, that’s when the party can really get started. And, as the disco ball taught us long ago, lighting is everything. Some lighting is best placed above and reflected below, while some lighting is luminous when shining from the floor in a cozy corner. Here are just some of the stellar ways you can incorporate transformational lighting into your patio décor:
- String lights. If you find yourself sitting under string lights, we challenge you to feel anything but festive. And as cheap backyard patio ideas go, this one probably tops the list. There are string lights to fit just about any décor style. We’ve seen Edison bulbs, delicate flowers, small twinkle lights, seaside themes, colored glass orbs and beyond. The multi-colored, tear-drop set of 10 from Walmart makes us very happy at just $9.96.
- LED lanterns. LED lanterns range in sizes from big to small and in styles from Moroccan to farmhouse. They can be placed on the patio floor, on tables or hung from trees. Without the hassle of a candle, they can provide safe, consistent and chic ambient light. We found these Small Edison Cage LED Lanterns at Big Lots for $12 and think they would look amazing on the railing of a patio fence.
- Solar-powered yard lights. Truly versatile, solar-powered yard lights can light up paths, be staked out in potted plants, shine a spotlight on vegetation and do so much more. We love this pack of six crackle glass orbs from Walmart for $12.22.
- Paper lanterns with light insert. Few things are cheaper than paper lanterns, which are cute by themselves (this colorful 16-pack is just $15.99 on Amazon), but Dollar Tree and Walmart both carry bulb flashlights and small solar light inserts that, when placed inside paper lanterns, make one of the best cheap patio décor lighting hacks ever.
2. Create Succulent Centerpieces in Fun, Rustic Metal Buckets
Succulents make outstanding patio plants for several reasons. First, they’re pretty low maintenance, but perhaps more importantly, they can be dirt cheap if you know where to find them. For example, you can get six plants for $17.98 at Lowes. Put three of them into the cutest metal buckets from Walmart for $2.97 each, add a whimsical metal garden stake from Hobby Lobby for $1.70, and viola! You’ve got two creative, succulent centerpieces for under $13 a piece.
3. Revive Tired Furniture with Cheap Patio Cushions
Buying cheap patio cushions to replace faded or dated ones is the easiest way to wake up your tired outdoor furniture. Unless you need to buy a full, new set, replacing old cushions with new, cheap patio cushions is definitely the way to go (if you do need to buy a full set, here’s how to dress up your deck with new patio furniture). We think these tropical, cheap patio cushions from Walmart, with the green leaves and coral flower motif, would look chic on any patio.
4. Scatter Bright and Festive Throw Pillows
Throw pillows can be tossed just about anywhere to add style in unexpected ways. We know a couple who pulled off the ultimate cheap backyard patio idea by buying a Moroccan-themed kiddie pool and filling it with brightly colored throw pillows from Kohl’s to create the most popular seating destination at their outdoor party. These pillows are just $8.49 and come in seven patterns including a Moroccan-style blue mosaic, a multi-colored tile pattern, a soft lavender multi-butterfly print, a fantastic orange watercolor, a sea turtle theme with pink background and more.
5. Add a Fun Patio Rug or Doormat
Quite cheaply, and with a greater impact than you might imagine, adding a rug with strong colors or an interesting theme can do a lot for an otherwise drab patio. For example, even the 2-by-3-foot version of this multi-colored, Irina Modern Bohemian Floret Rug we found at Home Depot makes a bright statement at a patio entrance—and for just $15.67.
6. Mount Interesting Outdoor Wall Art
The biggest problem we ran into when decorating a blank outdoor wall was choosing between the many terrific options we found. From whimsical, painted wooden signs to metal filigree frames to faux greenery, the choices are seemingly endless. At the top of our list was a Parrot Bamboo Painted Beaded Curtain from Shop Wild Things. It’s not the cheapest choice at $60.99, but this site often has sales and special offers that we would bird-dog like a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever.
7. Invite Feathered Friends by Hanging a Bird Feeder
This cheap backyard patio idea is a bit like cheating. For just $7.99, hang an interesting bird feeder like the SunGrow Coconut Shell Ladder Hut Bird House, (available from Chewy) in a quiet spot on your patio and enjoy the constant entertainment of the colorful array of local birds flying to and from, flocking together and gathering food.
8. Complement Your Dining Area with a Patterned Table Runner
Table runners, coasters and placemats are all perfect ways to incorporate colors and patterns into your outdoor patio space. In the past, we’ve had fun with inexpensive, brightly colored plastic placemats from the dollar store; but right now, we’ve got our eye on an elegant table runner at Jungalow. The pattern name is Tulipani, and the block print in blue and white would be a nice, subtle change from our neon placemats from last year. Fan of Jungalow’s one-of-a-kind aesthetic? Check out Target’s Jungalow collection.
The post 8 Cheap Patio Décor Ideas That Are Almost Too Easy appeared first on The Real Deal by RetailMeNot.
[ad_2]Source link