The temperature is rising, is your patio ready to help you get the most out of the season?

Did you know there is a growing body of scholarly research finding that many people, especially children, suffer from what they are calling a nature deficit disorder?  We spend too much time indoors, exposed to electronics. For our own health and balance, we need to get outdoors, and in the heat of the desert, the best time to be outside is when the stars come out to put on their show.  Whether you want to enjoy family or friends by spending the evening in the backyard by the pool, or you want to keep the house cool by firing up the backyard grill, if the deck or patio needs an update, you may be reluctant to have people over. There’s still time to make a few quick-fixes that will make your patio the happening place to be.  Some of these upgrades require professional assistance but others can serve as a weekend project.

	Play Around With Lighting. Warm, breezy evenings call for unique ambient light. Depending on the space and your personal style, this means several different things. For a quick fix, we love these eclectic and sustainable solar color-changing patio lights from Improvements® because they don’t require any batteries or other external power source. Outdoor rope lighting is also a popular solution.
For a more fundamental change, consider hiring a contractor or landscaping professional to build lights into patio flooring.

Design an Outdoor Living Room. A high ceiling covered patio with ceiling fans helps one keep cool during the dog days of summer. Using outdoor curtains to block the morning or evening sun adds quite the ambiance as they billow with the breeze. An experienced designer can make the outdoor space to be an extension of the indoors, so opt for a professional’s touch.

Stain the Patio Floor. If you’re working with a basic concrete patio floor, consider creating a tile effect, or something more whimsical. Gather pictures from Houzz to show your remodeling designer how you want YOUR home to look! 

My son, keep your father's commands and do not forsake your mother's teaching.  Bind them upon your heart forever; fasten them around your neck.  Proverbs 6:21