5 Ways To Upgrade Your Patio With A Fresh Coat Of Paint
Whether you live somewhere that sees warm temperatures for the majority of the year or, on the opposite end of the spectrum, in a chillier climate where you have to soak up every second of summer, you probably spend a fair bit of time on your patio. There's just something about feeling the sunshine on your skin as you sip your iced beverage of choice, read, or do whatever you love doing in the cozy space. As Dig Right In explains, your patio is essentially an extension of your home.
It can be ideal for entertaining as well. With the addition of some outdoor lighting, the space can be used any time of day, allowing you to extend that afternoon hang out into the late night hours when the conversation is flowing and everyone is having a great time.
However, while you may be willing to invest in your home's interior, you may be less willing to break the bank on refreshing the patio, and that's totally fine. You may have to spend a bit if you have structural issues — Fixr estimates the average cost of a patio repair at $750, although there are obviously many factors that could change that estimate — but if you're just looking to upgrade the aesthetics, you should be able to do so for little more than the cost of a can of paint. Read on to learn a few budget-friendly ways to freshen up your patio with paint.
Level up your door — or surrounding trim
Whether your patio is in the front or back of your house, there's likely a door nearby — and if you've resigned yourself to whatever hue your home came with, you're overlooking a way to refresh your patio with minimal effort. Whatever shade you go for, a simple coat of paint on the door will add a splash of visual impact to your patio space. And it can have an impact on the resale value of your home as well as for your enjoyment, with bold yet simple hues such as black having the best resale value, according to Home Advisor.
When deciding on a color, you'll want to ensure you consider the surroundings and the lighting. If you have a patio that gets a ton of sunshine and features plenty of greenery, you want a color that works in that environment; likewise, if your patio is in a shady spot and surrounded by cool neutral tones, you want a door color that works with that setting. Particularly if you're debating a bold shade, you may even want to paint a test swatch to see how it really looks.
And, while you're painting your door, you may want to consider splashing a bit of paint on the trim around it. Rather than using the same hue as your freshly painted door, you'll want to choose something contrasting or opt for something simple like a classic white hue.
Accentuate the porch's architectural features
Depending on your home's style, the porch may have some unique architectural features. Railings and shutters can be beautiful accents that make your porch unique. While you could paint everything one color and allow them to blend, you can also use a pop of color to highlight detailing.
An Oregon Cottage recommends going with an exterior paint that will have some resistance to the elements like rain and sun. In addition to things like railings, Networx suggests a few architectural elements you may want to focus on, including any spindles, corbels, window trim, and more.
Considering your home's overall exterior style or era can also help guide your decisions in this regard. For example, as CertaPro Painters explains, Craftsman-style homes may benefit from painting details such as columns or other features with warm, earthy tones that naturally complement the materials used in the home's exterior.
Add an unexpected pop of color to the ceiling
When you look at your patio, chances are you're surveying the furniture, the flooring, and other elements that immediately catch your eye. You may not think of the ceiling when considering a refresh — however, if you have a covered patio with a ceiling, it can be a great spot to incorporate a splash of color to freshen up a space. As a bonus, since it isn't quite as constantly visible as other parts of the patio, you can use a bolder hue that you may not want to incorporate on the flooring or railing.
Southern design enthusiasts may already be familiar with this concept, as it's pretty common to use a sky blue hue on porch ceilings in the South, Martha Stewart reports. Though the practice has its roots in superstition, it does add a certain something to a patio or porch area.
Ensure you're using the appropriate type of paint for the location — Home Decor Bliss suggests exterior paint with a satin or glossy finish, as these are durable options that allow you to clean off dirt easily. Resist the temptation to reach for your leftover bucket of interior paint from another project, as these may have trouble handling all the elements that the porch ceiling is regularly exposed to.
Revamp the flooring
One of the easiest ways to transform an interior room is by splashing a new color on the walls. On a patio with no walls in sight, the biggest surface area is below your feet — this means that painting the floors delivers a major punch of visual impact.
Especially if you have wood flooring on your patio, it may be tempting to reach for stain rather than paint. As Sharper Impressions Painting Co. explains, stain is often a bit cheaper, quicker to apply, and allows you to enhance your wood flooring. Paint has its advantages, though — it comes in a wider range of colors and finishes, and it covers the flooring entirely, which may be what you want if your flooring is less than impressive. Not to mention it's an excellent option for materials other than wood, such as concrete or stone.
You can get very creative with paint as well. As Unexpected Elegance demonstrates, paint can help you achieve certain illusions, such as transforming a bland concrete patio into a patio with what looks like high-end slate flooring. If there's a particular type of stone or material you want to mimic, from geometric-print tile to chic marble, a few tutorials should show you how to get close to that look on a budget with just paint.
Find inspiration nearby
Whatever area of your patio you choose to refresh with a coat or two of paint, there's one thing you'll need to decide on — the colors you want to use. While you may have considered what hues would work well with your home's existing exterior color palette, you shouldn't overlook the other colors in your outdoor space.
For example, if you have an abundance of greenery in the form of trees and shrubs near your patio area, you may want to select a paint color for your patio elements that complements green. Livingetc suggests red, yellow, blue, and pink as shades that work well with green. Alternatively, for those seeking something a bit more neutral, both gray and white work with verdant greenery.
Or, if you're a floral enthusiast with a ton of colorful blooms in planters dotted all over your patio, you may want to select a neutral color like black or white for your patio paint projects to highlight the natural beauty of your blossoms.