How to Decorate an Enclosed Patio
No matter how big or small your indoor patio is, it needs to be properly decorated for you to fully enjoy it. Patio space has one primary purpose: To provide a space for you to lounge, enjoy sunlight and your guests' company, and relax in general. Indoor patios usually have windows all around and are placed in the part of the house that receives the most amount of sunlight. It’s a perfect place to simply kick back and relax. Before you can lounge in your patio though, you are going to want to decorate it. The best decorations, of course, are in the eyes of the beholder, and therefore you can customize you patio to your taste. But, there are a few ground rules that will help you get the most out of your decorating experience.
Paint
To enhance the feeling of openness in your patio, bright colors are best. They allow you to see all of the space that you have and let you use it to its fullest capacity. Dark colors are no good because they will make your patio look dreary, cramped and dark.
Furniture
Patios are usually meant for intimate gatherings rather than large gatherings so a few chairs and maybe a coffee table are best. If you have windows in your patio, it's good to have a loveseat or nice comfy chairs to gather around in, but keeping the amount of furniture to a minimum maximizes intimacy and space to move around. If your porch is screened, make sure that you have furniture that can handle weather, especially damp weather. Good materials would be wicker, rattan, cast iron or plastic. Also, since your furniture will be exposed to sun often, make sure that you get furniture that won’t fade from rays.
Lighting
Obviously, there’s not much to the lighting. If you want a nice bright room, you will ideally have windows everywhere. But if you want to control how much light is in the room, while at the same time adding a softer touch, try putting blinds, bamboo shades, or shear panels that can be tied back. Also, if you want to use the patio once the sun goes down, install lights with a ceiling fan. This way, you’ll stay cool during the summer months at the same time.
Accessories
Plants are probably the most well-suited decorations for you patio. As your patio will ideally have a lot of light, they will decorate better than anything else. Plants that tolerate high sunlight are best (e.g., African daisies, zinnias, petunias). Having a patio with windows everywhere is advantageous because these flowers and most plants that you may want to decorate with will grow even in the winter.
Flooring
If you don’t have high quality flooring in your patio, you may want to consider upgrading. If you do have a nice floor, outdoor area rugs will go well to match.
