Whether you already own a patio or you’re shopping for one, creating an inviting, relaxing space doesn’t have to be expensive. This list of eight great ideas for decorating your patio can help you stay within your budget – while creating a beautiful, tranquil space for your family and guests.

Garden Boxes

Whether you make them yourself out of pieces of scrap wood, or repurpose old wooden containers, garden boxes are an easy way to create a hanging garden around your patio utilizing your fence or patio wall. If you so desire, paint them with flowers, designs of your own making, animals, or whatever else you choose, attach them to the wall, fill them with potting soil, and go to town! Bonus idea: plant insect-repelling herbs and flowers, such as marigolds, citronella or lemongrass, for a bug-free patio experience.

Drapery

If your patio has an overhang, adding drapes can be a wonderful way to add color and personality to your patio, and it also creates privacy if you use particularly opaque fabric. If you happen to be deft with sewing, you can go to any fabric store and shop their clearance section, and sew them yourself! Adding cinches or beaded cords to your patio drapes can add fun accents. Make sure to weight the bottoms of them with stones or metal ball bearings so that they don’t fly everywhere on breezy days!

Photo by Harrison’s Landscaping – Discover contemporary patio design inspiration

String Lights

This is one of the best ways to both light your patio and create personality. String plain white holiday lights in a radius style from a given point and string them outwards, or simply attach them to your overhang in a swooping pattern. You can also use icicle lights for more light and a little extra style.

Potted Plants

If you have a bit of space or a tiered holder, pot some herbs, flowers, or succulents to add more green space to your patio. As with the wall garden boxes, you can plant insect-repelling plants or anything else that will add color, beauty, and personality to your patio – seeds are cheap!

Paper Lanterns

Paper lanterns can be found at almost any mercantile or discount store, and whether you choose plain solid colors or wild patterns, they are an especially inexpensive way to add flair – and even romance – to your patio. You can also place low-watt bulbs inside of them to create warm and ambient lighting for spending a quiet evening out of doors.

Photo by Alderwood Landscape Architecture and Construction – More traditional patio ideas

Throw Pillows

Whether you have wicker easy chairs or a settee, throw pillows are a colorful and inexpensive way to add comfort and flair to your patio. As with patio drapes, if you can sew, these are incredibly easy to make – especially if you stuff with old scrab fabric instead of purchasing pillow stuffing!

Murals

Wall or fence murals can be a fun project for those artistically inclined, or those looking for a family project. Latex and spray paints are inexpensive, as are stencils, so a mural can take on any shape or idea you’d like. Experienced artists may want to paint something truly original, or a replica of an existing painting – and if you ever sell your home, it may become a newfound treasure for those moving in.

Bottle Trees

Bottle trees are a southern conceit that make use of dead trees, shrubbery, or stick bundles tied together and staked into the ground. Choose bottles of any color stripped of their labels and simply slide them onto the branches. Blue glass bottles are especially popular, but any color can be used.

All of these are wonderful and inexpensive ideas to add life, personality, color, and comfort to your patio – and can make for fun projects for the entire family.