Making your patio more inviting is a great way to add character to your home, especially during the spring and summer months. The pieces you choose choose match your personal style and can even coordinate with the way you’ve decorated the interior of your house. Patio furniture should be functional as well as aesthetically pleasing. Here are a few tips that will help you get started.

Jot Down Ideas

Write down some details about what you’d like the patio to look like after you’ve added furniture. Consider the function of the patio. Do you want a cozy place to read on warm evenings? Will you be hosting barbecues? Are there particular colors you want to include in the patio furniture? This will help you decide what type of furniture to adorn your patio with. For instance, a combination of neutral shades in patio sofas and chairs can easily be more eye-catching with interchangeable patterned throw pillows. Or, you can choose pieces with a tropical print to make the patio look like a vacation getaway. If you like being outside during all times of the year, be sure to leave room for an outdoor heater or fire pit on the patio to keep you warm during the fall or winter months. It’s also helpful to measure your patio to get an accurate idea of how large or small the furniture needs to be in order to fit in the space comfortably. You should be able to walk behind the furniture without bumping into other furniture pieces or the door that leads to your patio.

Test Out Furniture

After you’ve got your ideas for your patio setup in writing, it’s time to go shopping for pieces that will go well in the space. Test out patio furniture in the store to make sure it will be comfortable to sit on for long periods of time. Be sure to ask the sales associate about the quality of the furniture, and do some quick research on the company that manufacturers the furniture to see if you can pull up any positive reviews before you make your final purchases. Choose patio furniture that is pleasing to the eye, but is made of material that is easy to clean and maintain.

Decide on Storage

Once you decide which patio furniture pieces you’re taking home, come up with a plan to store the furniture properly. If you have a spacious place to keep your furniture when it’s not in use, your pieces will look like near for much longer. Your garage or the attic usually make great places to store your patio furniture. It’s also wise to search for outdoor furniture pieces that can provide storage for you. For instance, a wicker ottoman with a lid is the perfect place to store items like a tablecloth and napkin holders for an outdoor party. You can also store oversized sitting pillows or small outdoor lamps underneath a wooden bench you’ve chosen for the patio area.

Select a Weatherproof Rug

After all your patio furniture chairs, love seats and tables have been selected, don’t forget to purchase an all-wether rug that will keep all the furniture in place. The rug will also give the patio area a more welcoming feel and truly makes the space look like part of your home.

Alissa Young works as a writer and a part time blogger. Her subjects are mainly about home and home improvement and in this article, she is giving us tips on how to rearrange your patio.