The COVID-19 pandemic has definitely changed the way we’ve been living our lives throughout 2020, and with much more time being spent at home for a lot of people, this has made lots of families think about how they can get more from their homes this year. One big trend in home improvements has been people looking to upgrade their outdoor spaces, with things like patios starting to be seen as ways to add more usable living space to a home that can be used by all of the family as somewhere different to work or relax. Aesthetic is an important element to take into account in transforming your patio, you can hire experts to achieve a cozy yet long-lasting concrete patio; or you could also DIY the accessories you want to add around your outdoor space.
Here, we look at what kinds of improvements can be made to make a patio a more flexible space to use, and why you might want to consider giving your own outdoor space an upgrade.
Image by Rhys Ludlow
Shelter
Naturally, the climate can never be relied upon to give you use of your patio whenever you want it, and so one of the most important changes people have been making this year to enable them to get used out of their outdoor spaces all year round, is to install some shelter. There are all different styles of patio cover that can be used, depending on your taste, the style of your property, and what kind of space you have to work with. However, popular permanent styles like glass verandas can be a beautiful choice that can also add value to your home.
If you are interested in the idea of adding a glass veranda or other gorgeous verandah styles to your home, it is well worth taking a look at Nationwide. They have a great selection of veranda designs that can be custom-made to fit your home and offer free consultations to help you get the right look, with stylish options like these traditional verandas.
Lighting
Another important consideration, even if your patio area or other outdoor space already has a shelter, is lighting. LED lighting is really affordable these days, and can give you the ability to create practical lighting for your patio that can make it a usable workspace, as well as more creative lighting designs that can make your patio a great place to relax or entertain after dark.
Heating
As people are definitely now looking to get more year round use out of their outdoor spaces this year, patio heating has been a popular option to consider installing. Being able to spend time comfortably on your patio during the colder months definitely means you need the full set of shelter, light, and heat. Once you have all of this in place, though, you have what is effectively a whole new room that you can use, where you can also feel like you are getting out of the house – at least partially – which can make all of the difference when the whole family is staying inside during the pandemic.
While we can only hope that the current situation will change fairly soon, the upgrades people are making to their patio will continue to be really beneficial well into the future, so it really is a good thing to invest in right now.
