Try these five fun tips to getting patio accessories without breaking the bank:

1) Second hand
Patio accessories don’t always have to be new to look great. Sometimes you find the most interesting and character-filled pieces in second hand, antique or junk shops. They say one person’s trash is another person’s treasure, so why not take some time out on a Sunday and trawl the local second hand shops for your treasure.

2) Repair and repaint
If you can’t afford to buy your patio accessories, then perhaps you can afford to refresh your existing ones. Time is usually the only thing you really need to breath new life into your outdoor accessories. Get out a bucket of water and a scrubbing brush to wash down and strip off all the dirt, cobwebs and grease from your furniture, pots and awnings. A good wash will work wonders and all it costs is your time. If you have wooden furniture or a pergola then a small investment in a pot of paint or lacquer is all that you’ll need to restore your timber back to its former glory.

3) End of Line
Many outdoor furniture and department stores have sales throughout the year. This is to get rid of older lines and make way for the new designs and models. Take advantage of end of line discounts and pick yourself up some planter boxes, pots for planting, chairs and tables, awnings and even lighting.

4) Damaged or incomplete
Some businesses have a special section in the store where you can pick up some drastically reduced items. The reason they are so heavily discounted is because they have been damaged, displayed or are incomplete. Outdoor accessories and furniture is going to get worn and damaged anyway, just from being outside, so a few scuff marks or divots won’t be noticeable in an outdoor setting.

Mismatched or eclectic furniture and accessories seem to look great on a patio. The diversity in styles can add character and make your outdoor area feel more casual and cosy.

5) Garage Sales
Garage sales are an excellent way to stock up on patio accessories with out breaking your budget. Look out for moving house signs, where people are getting rid of good quality items rather than simply getting rid of their junk. You can negotiate a great deal and in most cases, the owner just wants to see their belongings going to someone who can enjoy and look after them. At garage sales you can pick up chairs, tables, pots and sometimes plants, shelves, candles and mats. Any or all of these accessories will help to make any outdoor patio look great on a very small budget.

A veranda or patio can provide the perfect setting to enjoy and even frame your view. With a few stylish additions, your patio area can become a sanctuary to enjoy and enhance your view.

Try these five stylish solutions to make the most of your view:

1) Awning

It can be difficult to enjoy the view from your patio in any weather extremes. An awning or shaded pergola will allow you to enjoy your view rain, hail or shine. With so many different varieties available, you will be able to find one that suits your taste and budget. If you have an ocean view, why not try shade sails for a nautical theme. If you have a country or garden setting you could go for a traditional pergola with protective weather roofing. If your landscape were tropical, then perhaps a natural wood structure would blend in nicely. A city view would be framed perfectly by a slick, metal structure with shaded glass or paneling.

2) Plants

Plants are great way to bring your view closer. Choosing plants with large, flat shiny foliage look fantastic in a tropical setting and would enhance a city or urban view.

Plants with delicate and variegated leaves are suited to country settings while Australian natives would bring your bush view right on to your patio.

There are many ways to display your plants so they will enhance and frame your view. You could try hanging baskets on the side of the patio to add greenery but not obstruct the view. Ficus trees planted in classic terracotta pots will add a touch class to any country inspired view.

If you have vast ocean side view, then placing a selection of potted succulents such as aloe and agave will add a touch of greenery without being too distracting from your water views.

3) Lattice

A lattice installed on your patio can enhance your view and out door experience when you use plants to create a wall of colour. You could place a lattice on the sides or behind your view to add privacy from the next house or simply to look beautiful. A lattice can also be a clever way to increase shade and privacy without obstructing airflow and light.

Bougainvillea, jasmine and wisteria can provide vibrant colour and fragrance when in bloom, and dappled shade when they are in leaf. Keep the plants trimmed and take care not to let the plant overrun your lattice and you will enjoy its beauty all year round.

4) Furniture

What better way to enjoy the view from your patio than to sit in a comfortable chair? If your verandah looks out on to a scene of beauty or interest then it is well worth investing in some quality seating.
Good quality out door furniture will not only look great, but also they will last longer and be more comfortable.

• Barbeques: Anything flammable, particularly liquids, should be kept well clear of them when in operation. Keep alcohol and any oils separately located, well away from the BBQ.
• Propane: The gas should be removed from the area when not actually required. Make sure there’s no leaks from the valves, or any smell of gas.
• Firelighters: These are extremely flammable, and should be kept in fireproof containers in a storage space. Throw out any damaged bottles, too, because the leaks can be in the wrong places at the wrong time.
• Kids: Kids and flames are a bad combination. Use the kid-safe approach at all times in relation to any flammable materials and hot surfaces.

Electrical hazards- Heat, water and appliances

• Heat: Most wiring is vulnerable to relatively low heat from barbeques and other cookers, so site your BBQ well away from any wiring or electrical fittings.
• Water: There’s often a lot of liquid around the outdoor cooking zones, and it’s best to set up your drinks on the other side of the area from appliances.
• Appliances: Outdoor TVs, stereos, or anything else plugged in to the mains need to be protected from heat, water, and impact. It’s a good idea to put these things in protective housing like an entertainment unit or shelving to keep them safe.

Tripping hazards (cables, etc.)

Anything which can be tripped over probably will be tripped over.

• Try to avoid running any cables at all across floor space.
• If you can’t avoid it, make sure cables are very firmly secured with heavy duty masking tape.
• Small ground level things like toys, and anything else which is likely to be underfoot should be kept under furniture or removed.

Built in safety tips for outdoor areas

You can have some additional safety backup for your outdoor areas as well:

• CO2 fire extinguishers: A couple of these can save a house. These little bottles can carry a lot of CO2, and can shut down any fire hazard from a BBQ easily. (Never use water on a fire containing oil: It spreads the flames and actually makes them hotter as the water and oil interact. Splash can also create more fires.)
• Sprinklers: Outdoor sprinklers are exactly like the indoor version. They’re easy to install, and you can have one or two set up by a local tradesman in no time, wherever you want them.

Your outdoor area can be a perfectly safe place. Save yourself some worry with a few basic safety precautions, and you’ll have no worries.

Where you dine is important. Depending on where you live, the time of year, and the local environment, there are always some possible situations to avoid when dining alfresco.

Planning ahead

Whatever the situation, you need to consider all the known factors in advance:

• How many people?
• How much food?
• What preparations are required?
• How long will it take to set everything up?
• Any special needs for anyone?
• Any equipment, like fondue, teppanyaki, etc., needed?

This is very like party planning, but it also means you can sit down and enjoy your own meal knowing everything’s under control. It also means you can plan the entire meal and be quite sure you’re not forgetting anything.

Issues and fixes

The weather is the natural first issue. Summer is the preferred season, and with summer come a few natural concerns:

• Daytime: Heat, light, dust, and noise in urban areas: The meal is eaten under good cover in a quiet space, with plenty of cool shade and liquids.
• Night: Insects, lighting, noise, privacy in open areas: Best to use a rear patio or veranda, with no intrusive elements from outside. The insects can be taken care of with a citronella candle or so.
• Space: You need a quiet open space, preferably covered, where you can organize and set up your meal effectively. You also need space for people to maneuver, so if you’re having several people for the meal, allow an area for the meal which includes a dining table, the food table, a drinks table, and perhaps a special area for desserts.

The personal touch

There’s absolutely nothing like your own home patio or veranda for a bit of added class and style. These are great settings for a dinner party, and you can add all the décor you like.

• You can add planters full of flowers, hanging baskets, and any scenic pieces.
• You can use the best dining ware, for once, knowing it will be appreciated.
• You can add special areas of aperitifs, trays, and other nibbles, just by adding a little mobile dinner tray or two.
• A tea and coffee service can be installed using an outdoor power point.

Put another way, you can have a ball. Nothing beats home alfresco dining under an Australian sky, with home cooking and a few friends. It’s the only way to live.

With any sort of furniture, people have strong preferences, if not always definite ideas. With an outdoor area, however, people are also prepared to be more adventurous, and a range of pieces will find their way on to the veranda or patio simply because they like them, or for a particular aesthetic.

Outdoor furniture really is about what you want, and the things you like. For example, many people prefer cane furniture outdoors, because it’s easy to move, very comfortable, and long lasting. These are the trains of thought that can lead to some very enjoyable shopping expeditions. Take your time, look for bargains, and find what you want.

Where to get the best deals

The best outdoor furniture is easy to maintain and easy to move around when required. A quick run around the furniture stores online will tell you what’s available, and give you a good idea of prices. Comparing prices and quality is also easy, and you’ll find you’ve soon created a short list of preferred options.

Remember that these stores always have sales at some time, usually quarterly. You can pick up an entire outdoor suite for anything up to 40% off, if you keep an eye on the retailers. Some retailers are also much better businesspeople than others, and will give you discounts on packages.

The unexpected way to get furniture, cheap or even free

There’s another trick or two in terms of outdoor furniture. If you have a piece of furniture which is taking up space, all you need to do is put a weatherproof cover on it to turn it into outdoor furniture. This can also save you shopping time and money, and open up living space inside.

Local moving sales are also a great way to snap up good outdoor furniture. These local sales can provide you with almost anything you could possibly need, for the price of spare change.

Creating your space, your way

It’s good to experiment with placing your furniture, and finding the best settings. Start with where you want your tables, because everything else will be centered on them. Next, the chairs. Need some side tables or maybe a cane bookcase? The more you experiment, the more you’ll discover about what you really want.

The result will be a masterpiece of self-indulgence, everything you want, where you want it. Your veranda, patio or pergola will become an oasis of personal space, and it’s all yours.

• Building allows designs to be created specifically for the home environment.
• Building may include custom design features.
• Building may dovetail with other renovation projects around the home as part of a wider plan.

Cons:

• Building is a potentially major commitment of time and money, which can get complex if you’re also doing other renovations.
• Building is usually done through third parties, like architects, builders and contractors.
• Building usually requires building approvals, and may get held up in process.

Buy- Pros and Cons
Pros:

• Buying a patio provides a built-service of all the construction processes, including council approvals
• Top providers also handle plans and approvals
• The project costs are all factored in upfront
• There’s a very large range of patio types available

Cons:

• Buying means not doing a custom design or using custom materials
• Buying a patio means a separate process from the other renovation work
• Buying will involve departing from a designer house motif

The rule of thumb for building a patio is really cost effectiveness and efficiency. These factors impact in different ways, depending on the cost, size and complexity of the work.

The time and money factors

The net time and cost comparison is that buying a patio is cheaper and quicker than building. This is largely because buying is basically an installation of an existing design, whereas building may mean a full design process starting from scratch. That’s actually a big difference, because the design process adds a dimension to both cost and time.

Working with third parties is also an acquired taste in any form of building. In the case of building the design and building processes are often separate entities. When buying you’re only dealing with one entity as a supplier of all functions.

Making a decision

The decision making process can be difficult. After all, this is your home, and you want the best. The most thorough approach is to compare designs for building and buying. What you get for what you pay is the obvious, and safest, measure of value.

You’ll find the comparison between building and buying obvious, because the design market is naturally more costly. The commercial patio designs on the market are actually pretty similar in content to designer patios. They’re cheaper because they’re backed up by manufacturers supplying materials and standardized installation methods which reduce costs.

Build or buy is your choice, but remember you’ve got plenty of choices. Compare quality, and you’ll find cost and efficiency make a big difference.

The gardener’s dream, a whole space for planting designs

The really great thing about a pergola is it gives you a good indoor/outdoor space to work. You can plant, pot, raise your seedlings, and generally enjoy yourself, rain or shine. It’s a good “no mess” approach, too, and you can keep your gardening well organized with this extra space.

The pergola itself is also a place to grow your favorite plants. You can grow climbing roses, bougainvilleas, and a host of different foliage climbers like ivies. These tough climbers look fantastic, because they have the space to really develop. They can also afford to get a bit woody, because the pergola can handle their size and weight easily.

The easy maintenance pergola planting mode

Plant maintenance is an absolute breeze, with a pergola. Planting in and around pergolas is also good for making the more advanced and difficult plantings easier. You can install a good drip system for feeding and watering with no fuss. The big advantage is that you can have a great garden setting, directly in the pergola area, and you don’t have to rearrange the house to do your work on the big plants.

Ambitious planting with pergolas- Orchids, and everything

Pergola plants have a “micro climate” which includes shelter and light management. That means you can even grow really beautiful but demanding exotic orchids and Australian native orchids in this environment. These flowers are like an advertisement for gracious living. They’re stunning, and in the right setting they
provide a spectacular display of colour.

You can even have a bonsai garden under a pergola. If you’ve seen the big Japanese bonsai gardens, or the fabulous Chinese landscape bonsai, you’ll appreciate the possibilities. Bonsai plants are actually trees, and they’re tough plants. They often react well to covered areas in preference to indoor settings, too. If you’re a bonsai enthusiast, the pergola environment may be just what you need.

Planters for planting- Real fun with your pergola planting

Another big plus is having the space to put your big, beautiful planters. This is garden décor in the truly elegant style, and with a pergola it’s practical. Putting these types of planters in direct contact with heat, sun and weather and exposed to hail isn’t an option, but with a pergola you can really display your work properly.

The effect is extraordinary, and you’ll find that your plants respond with a riot of foliage and flowers. All you have to do is enjoy it. Tough being a gardener, isn’t it?

Veranda roofs- The types and styles issue

Any architect will tell you that a veranda roof is a major design element. The veranda roof is a big shape, often covering a large part of a house, and there are a few things to consider when picking styles:

• Shape: The basic veranda roof types are curved, flat, gabled and covered. Modern veranda roofs are elegant things, and you can really produce a beautiful building design feature for your house.
• Construction: Wood, steel, and other types of cover are ideal for some homes, but not necessarily right for others. This is very much a matter of taste, but practical concerns in terms of matching house construction needs must be considered.
• Interior and exterior lines: The new veranda roofs are big beautiful things, and you’ll find you can tailor your veranda roof to match other design features.
• Coverage needs: The space to be covered is a primary concern, and it also gives you some options in terms of size and cost. You may actually find that a bigger veranda roof is a more cost effective option.
• Light and heat issues: The Australian veranda’s main mission since European settlement has been to help protect the house from glare and heat. This is an important positive factor in veranda roof designs, and you can achieve a lot with a good solid light and heat shield roof.
• Colours: The good news is you have a great choice available. Consider colour matches and contrasts on their merits, but you’ll definitely find what you want.

Types of veranda roofs- What’s available, and what’s possible

If you’re getting a bit of “information overload” from looking at designs, and still not sure if you can get what you want, the simple answer is to just ask. Veranda manufacturers and suppliers are also builders and designers, and if what you want is doable, they’ll know how to do it.

Design issues and veranda roofs

The veranda adds large covered spaces to houses which include a range of functions like entertainment areas, recreational areas, and a hybrid patio/outdoor living space. In effect the veranda extends the living area. When looking at a veranda roof, consider the space function as a multi-value effect on your home.

The modern veranda roof- big, tough, stylish and versatile

Modern veranda roofs are much bigger than their predecessors, structurally solid, and their range of uses has changed even the basic concept of a veranda. If you want a look at a full range of design options, check out a major Australian brand, Stratco, to see the benchmarks in modern style.

A pergola is basically a frame, covered or otherwise. These frames are often beautiful things, solid wood or steel, with overhead trimmings and design elements. The party pergola is a choice of options, but you’ll find that the one you want not only looks right, but suggests a lot of uses, as well.

The issues with party pergolas are:

• Appearance
• Cover issues
• Cost
• Time factors

The fixes are straightforward:

• Appearance: The look is critical. Do you prefer wood, steel, or something more like a big garden pergola? (Check out the top brand Stratco pergolas to see the modern designs at work.)
• Cover issues: Would you like a traditional frame top, or an open top with a cover? (Tip: Outdoor parties seem to cause rain. Whatever you pick, make sure you have some sort of cover available if you need one.)
• Cost: An obvious issue, but one with an upside. The pergola can be a real property asset, so think ahead about its other uses. It’s well worth checking out the home design websites to see the fabulous things pergolas can do as design features.

Time factors

Some pergolas can be installed very quickly, others take a while, because they’re big and solid, and use heavier materials and fixtures. Make sure you’ve got a good idea of schedules and building approvals involved in installation.

Style and size for party pergolas

Style is a statement, with a pergola. Covered pergolas, like the modern roofed pergola, which is practically a building frame, look quite different from the uncovered traditional frame pergolas. Choosing what you want is a lot of fun.

The party pergola needs to be a good size to achieve the right covered area. If you’re having a lot of people at your party, the bigger sizes will definitely do the job. They also give you spare room if required.

What else has to fit under the pergola?

Things like dining tables, outdoor cookery equipment, gas cylinders, barbecues, food tables, drinks tables, stereos, etc. all take up space and all need to be safely set up. Note: Anything flammable or electrical must be kept clear and not too close to anything it could damage.

Setting up the party pergola

This is where your planning pays off. The pergola is bought, and installed preferably a day or so before the party. This gives you time to check out any organizational situations, and have a quick run through of your setup.

Patios are true design assets. The patio can achieve enormous improvements in any house, including:

• Extra living space
• A personal space for homeowners
• An entertainment area
• A safe play area
• Lighting and insulation effects
• An indoor/outdoor area for gardeners
• Space management for the outside zones

The patio is in effect an extension of the house. It acts as a real property asset, providing living space at a fraction of the cost of a full extension. Patios are also very durable things, and they’re extremely low maintenance building options in terms of cost.

Design options and values

Patios provide a lot of valuable, as well as useful, design options. That’s another area of flexibility conventional home renovations don’t have, particularly relative to cost. Patio designs can be tailored and built or bought “off the shelf”, but they provide an invaluable exterior design value to houses which is both cost effective and practical.

To install or build a simple covered patio does as much as a new room in terms of adding functional space to a house. Many people eventually enclose their patios because they’ve literally become part of the house. This dual function design effect is one of the major values in patios, both in terms of cost and property upgrading.

Patios have a lot of design capabilities, too. The many off the shelf designs, and they’re a good indicator of what patios can do in terms of making a house look great at low cost. Any basic house design can be turned into a real work of art with a good structural patio design. This removes the “basic box effect” in new houses in particular, where the new house obviously needs something, but is looking a bit bare or underdone on its own.

Hard cash values- a patio can be a house and a half

The design issues directly affect the value of a house. A house with a big modern patio will outshine an identical house without it. The perceived value of the house with the patio is much higher. The appeal of the patio is loud and clear to buyers, who see added obvious value in the patio.

In hard cash terms, the difference is between a house and a house with much more substance in terms of both appearance and functional space. In Australia in particular, the patio is a natural addition to a good house, and a definite cultural preference for home buyers.