Small Patio Makeover – On a Budget

It is finally here – our small patio makeover reveal day! We have been hard at work turning our patio into the perfect spot to relax after a long summer day. It took me awhile to come up with a design plan for this space because there wasn’t a lot of room to work with. But I came across this post from one of my favorite bloggers, Lauren at Blesser’ House, and instantly I had new hope for our boring little patio.

Here’s what it looked like before:

Using Lauren’s patio layout as inspiration while adding in my own personal style (as well as a DIY project or two 😉 ), I was able to create a space where we actually like to hangout.

I present to you our brand new patio!

(Affiliate links are provided below for convenience. For more information see my disclosure, here.)

Source List:

• Wood chairs with cushion
• DIY Coffee table (checkout the tutorial here)
• Pillows
• Wood barrels 
• End tables/stools
• Round outdoor rug
• String lights

In Lauren’s post, she was able to make great use of the limited space by positioning four chairs on each corner of the patio. I loved this idea and built my design around the same concept. This creates a sense of coziness by having all of the seating face toward the center of the patio.

I was able to score these World Market chairs for 60% off! Capitalizing on late season clearance deals was a major key when it came to decorating this space. We didn’t have a very big budget to work with, so I had to get creative.

Related: 10 Genius Amazon Hacks That’ll Save You Money

I am happy to report that almost everything you see here was marked down by over 50% or more! Being the bargain hunter that I am, you can bet I was doing a little happy dance leaving the stores with all of my clearance finds!

Finding great markdowns as well as DIYing the coffee table, really helped keep the cost of this makeover down.

Speaking of coffee table, I am SO happy with how our DIY version turned out (step by step tutorial here). After looking in stores and online, I wasn’t able to find the right table for the right price. So naturally, I decided that making our own was the best option 🙂

I picked up the pillows from Target’s outdoor clearance section (here and here), as well as the wicker lantern. I didn’t specifically intend to go for the patriotic vibe in this space, but I also don’t regret it! Who says you can’t decorate with red, white, and blue all year long?

I love how the little red tassels coordinate with the red and white flowers I planted in the whiskey barrels on each corner.

The end tables were also from Target, and after being marked down by 70% they were a steal for only $11 each!

I thought these were perfect for this space because not only do they offer a place to set drinks, but they can also double as extra seating, if needed. Win-win-win!

I centered everything around this woven geometric outdoor rug.  I love how the zigzag design, although neutral, adds a lot of interest to the space.

Related: 9 Outdoor Rugs On Amazon That’ll Transform Your Outdoor Space

Adding a rug to an outdoor space is a great way to create an extension of your living room and bring it outside. All the more reason to kick off the shoes for a relaxing night under the glow of the string lights.

I picked up these Better Homes and Gardens globe string lights at Walmart and enlisted the help of my handy husband to hang them using 1/2″ black iron pipe. End caps at the tops gave the pipes a nice finished look, and a fence-post-driver made for a quick and easy installation, driving them straight into the ground.

He drilled 1/4″ holes just below the pipe caps, and attached the string lights using eyelet bolts and S-hooks. Framing the patio with these lights was the perfect touch to encourage the cozy vibe I was after.

I’m so happy to have an outdoor space where we can slow down and really live in the moment. We find ourselves talking about our days or laughing at the dog as she rolls around in the grass for 5 minutes straight.

Do you have an outdoor space you love? What’s your favorite way to enjoy the outdoors during the Summer? 

For more outdoor decorating inspiration, checkout these posts:

How to Build a Rustic DIY Coffee Table

How to Build DIY Raised Garden Beds That Will Last For Years!

9 Outdoor Rugs on Amazon That’ll Transform Your Outdoor Space

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