Adding a patio to your home does more than just give you a place to relax and entertain outdoors. It’s also one of the most in-demand features potential home buyers look for, according to Kiplinger. Whether you already have a patio or outdoor space or are looking to add one to your home, making it as comfortable as possible and as much like the rest of your home as possible is important. When your patio is an enjoyable place to be, you’ll be more likely to get a lot of use out of it. Here’s what you can do to maximise your home’s outdoor space.

Add Comfortable Furniture

Gone are the days when patio or outdoor furniture consisted of metal or rubbery folding chairs. Today’s patio furniture looks like a lot of the furniture you’d find inside a home. That includes full outdoor sofas, chaises, and upholstered chairs.

The key difference is that outdoor furniture features materials that can withstand the elements, from rain to wind. Make sure to try any furniture out before you buy it and compare different furnishings that you’re interested in (such as teak vs. acacia outdoor furniture) to ensure that you pick the best long term option. If you can’t see yourself spending hours comfortably lounging in a chair or on an outdoor sofa, it’s best to pick something else.
 

Control the Temperature

While you can’t add central air conditioning or full-on heating to your patio, you can extend the amount of use you get out of it by finding ways to make the temperature more comfortable. In the heat of summer, that can mean having an attractive patio cover as well as strategically placed fans to create a cool breeze. As an added benefit, a fan can help keep mosquitoes from bothering you and your guests, according to the New York Times.

In the cooler months, a patio space heater can increase outdoor temperatures, so your patio remains a comfortable place to relax, even as the evening air becomes chillier. You can also install a fire pit outdoors to help warm yourself and your guests in colder weather.

Coordinate with the Rest of Your Home

One way to make your patio an extension of your home is to have it match or coordinate with the rest of your home. Pick features or details that blend in with the details on the interior of your home. If you’re choosing a fire pit and you have a fireplace indoors, look for a fire pit that complements your indoor fireplace. Have the pavers or brick on the patio match the exterior of your home or coordinate with any stone or brick inside the house.