Patio Ideas on a Budget

Concrete Stain

• If you have a drab, concrete patio, give it a fresh new look with concrete stain. Concrete stains come in a wide variety of colors, and application is similar to wood stain. Use more than one color to create simple patterns like a checkerboard or to create faux stones. It is also possible to use red stain and a sponge as a brick stencil to create faux bricks. You also can add texture by splattering or sponging layers of different colors. Always clean and etch the concrete before staining per the manufacturer's instructions.

Stone Patio

• If you do not yet have a patio, one of the most budget-friendly options is a natural stone or paver patio. Stones or pavers are simply set in an excavated bed lined with a layer of gravel and a layer of sand. They do not need to be joined with mortar. The joints between the stones are instead filled with sand, which creates a solid stone patio. Use weed-blocking fabric under the gravel layer if you need to prevent weeds from growing between the stones. Inexpensive, premanufactured pavers or flagstones are available for purchase at home and garden stores or, if you are adventurous, you can head into nature to find your own stones.

Native Perennials

• Softness, color and texture are added to any patio with the use of potted plants and flowers. Planting and maintaining annuals every year, however, is sometimes costly and time-consuming. Instead of using annuals in planters on your patio, use perennials that are native to your geographic region. Perennials will last for more than one growing season and native plants are already well adapted to the climate, therefore they require little care. Perennials can be purchased or grown from cuttings taken from plants naturally growing in your area. For added interest, find unique items to use as planters, such as painted tires, wood barrels, birdbaths or metal tubs.

Homemade Lattice

• Create shade, privacy and a site for growing climbing plants with homemade lattice. Begin by collecting long sticks and removing the bark. Homemade lattice is then made by laying the sticks out in a grid or diamond pattern and securing the joints with wood glue and nails or screws. As opposed to manufactured lattice, lattice made with sticks has a natural, organic feel. For an added rustic appearance, tie the joints together with jute. Jute is a twine made of natural fibers. Use a wood sealer to preserve and extend the life of the lattice.