Cheap Ways to Enclose your Patio
Patios are outdoor rooms that widen your home into the backyard for warm weather enjoyment. Patios are for outdoor dining, entertaining and relaxing. At the same time, they can get uncomfortable if exposed to direct sunlight without any shade. There are many ways to make the patio more comfortable and attractive with an inexpensive enclosure.
Outdoor curtains and drapes
This is fairly easy yet effortless. This way it can add elegance and ambiance by using outdoor curtains or outdoor drapes on your porch, screen porch, 3-season, and four-season porches. Porch curtains move with the breeze and add a whimsical touch to your porch.
Screened-Room Kits
If you have room in your budget, pre-manufactured screened-room kits are a good patio enclosure idea for an easy weekend project. Additionally, inexpensive backyard netted gazebos will enclose a small space, such as 10-by-10 feet or 10-by-12 feet quickly with few tools and little effort. If you have pet birds, such as parrots or cockatiels, and would like to get them outside in the summer, consider investing in an outdoor aviary that covers the entire patio area.
Planter Boxes
Make simple wooden planter boxes to surround your patio on three sides and plant them with flowers and vegetables to bring the garden to your back door. Tomatoes, onions, peppers, and herbs are nice kitchen garden plants in between roses, daisies, bee balm and zinnias for a colorful and bountiful patio enclosure.
Creative Use of Trellises
Frame an open patio with large trellises anchored well with sturdy posts in cement footings at each corner. Use six-foot trellises painted white and planted with purple clematis for a dramatic, cooling effect for your patio. Use dark cedar trellises and orange and yellow climbing plants, such as trumpet vines, for a rich, warm tone.
Evergreens
Surround small patios with inexpensive evergreens, such as dwarf arborvitae or juniper. Dig a two-foot deep trench around the patio, line the bottom with a half-inch of gravel to promote good drainage, plant the evergreens, add good rich compost to the soil and top with two inches of landscaping mulch.
Easy Side Enclosure
Create some privacy and shading for your patio with some inexpensive slat sides. Affix four square four-by-four-inch posts in cement footings, with one each flush with the house on the left and right sides of the patio. Connect them with thinner slats of half-inch-by-two-inch rails, adding two vertical rails in the middle if desired. Stain or paint them or use cedar and leave it to age naturally. If you want overhead shade, what you need to do is stretching shade cloth overhead.
The Choice of an Enclosure of Your Patio
Apart from the choice of an enclosure of your patio given above, here are some tips on choosing the most suitable for you.
- Space: Many people build or install an enclosure that is not large enough. Under most circumstances, you won’t regret having a larger enclosure. Consider how much space you have available and determine how you will be using it. Mary and I prefer to have both an enclosure and open space for grilling and sitting out under the stars.
- Cost: Always a consideration. If feasible and within your budget, opt for a higher quality enclosure. It will last longer and wear better than less expensive models. This could possibly save you money in the long run.
- Location: If you have options, locate your enclosure for enjoying privacy. In addition, consider the movement of the sun across your enclosure. Try to avoid the heat of the sun or winds – if you can.
