Ways to Jazz Up Your Outdoor Living Space

One of the easiest ways to jazz up your outdoor deck or patio is by using splashes of color. Sometimes it only means investing in a few accent pieces that make a bold statement and your outdoor living space perks right up. You don't always have to buy new – with a little elbow grease and some creativity you can make second hand items look brand new.

Before you begin though, clear everything off your deck or patio and give it a good wash. I don’t recommend power washing but there are some good washes you can add to your water and then scrub it clean. If it needs staining, all the new patio furniture in the world won't help. Bite the bullet and give it a new coat of stain or paint. This is actually a great place to get started with your colorful accents. Now that your deck is ready here are some colorful ideas to help you get started.

1. Try painting your fence posts a bright, coordinating color such as teal, or. Or paint or stain a pattern or border around the edge of your deck.

2. Your deck is for socializing, so show that you are ready for company. The addition of a new patio table is a great place to start. Place a colorful bar cart in the corner and load it up with bright acrylic glassware.

3. Give your old wicker furniture a facelift. Paint it in bright sunny colors, or if you're feeling adventurous, use a stencil and add flowers or other patterns. Just use acrylic paint, but seal it with varnish to protect your paint job.

4. Add a fancy ice-bucket by getting hold of a galvanized bucket or oblong container. Paint it bright blue or orange and add a vine pattern on the outside. Voila, now you have a fancy ice-bucket for all your coolers. Remember, use a rust inhibiting or food-safe paint, or the surface should not come in direct contact with food.

5. Use themes such as the seashore, by incorporating fish, sea shells and beach balls in your accents or stencils. A citrus theme works well by using pale greens, oranges and yellow as colors for chairs or bistro tables. Try painting a slatted table top with two or three different corresponding shades.

6. Your garden shed doesn’t have to be brown and boring. Add colorful window boxes, gingerbread trim and some wild stripes on the walls.

7. New outdoor lighting goes a long way to perking up a patio area. Colorful lanterns or strings of lights can be hung from overhanging trees or beams providing a fun, economical source of lighting.

8. Now what about that white vinyl furniture that's still in great shape? Don’t worry, with paint specially formulated for vinyl furniture and some new cushions you can make your old chairs look brand new.

9. Use your color wisely though by tying everything together with your accessories. For instance take four chairs each painted in a different primary color and add a cushion in a common color such as red or green, and place them around a neutral table top.

Jazzing up your outdoor living space “by the yard”