Outdoor Patio Covers by Southwest Builders

Although it may not feel like it right now, autumn is right around the corner: kids are going back to school, football season is underway, and cooler weather will soon find its way back to Oklahoma. Soon, your patio will be abandoned as rain and snow make it nearly impossible to enjoy the outside weather.

Or will it? By installing a patio cover, you’ll be able to transform your patio from being subject to the weather into addition to your home, free to enjoy anytime. Your new reading spot, breakfast nook, or perhaps just a place to watch the sun go down is just a few short steps away!

Patio Covers

Patio covers come in a variety of materials, allowing you to choose the feel of your new patio. Wood patio covers are great for an earthy, down-home feel, while patio covers made from aluminum are more modern. Depending on your needs, patio covers can also be retractable: enjoy the sun and the shade as you please with a simple crank of a wheel.

You don’t have to break the bank to create an addition to your home: patio covers are relatively inexpensive, depending on your needs, and can create extra usable space for your home. With so much extra shade near your home, your HVAC unit won’t have to work as hard to cool the home, leaving you with a little extra cash to decorate!

Outdoor Rooms

When done right, your décor could transform your covered patio into a cozy outdoor room. Begin by clearing out any clutter or storage items that would be better suited to a garage or attic. Then you’ll need to decide what the primary theme of your outdoor space is going to be to avoid conflicting colors or patterns.

Have you always wanted to visit Paris but haven’t been able to take a vacation? Bring Paris to you: a wooden patio cover can be draped with climbing ivy. Black iron café tables and red shades will have you thinking you’re half a world away instead of in your own backyard.

If your garden is your centerpiece, your patio doesn’t have to intrude. Using wood chips or pebbles can separate the garden from the seating area without intruding on the natural feel of the space; a water fountain or wind-chimes can also bring in a soothing atmosphere. Use colored vases on your outside tables to bring attention to your latest blooms, and fill them with colored pebbles or glass during the off-seasons!

For a more rustic room, perfect for football watch parties or enjoying the autumn evening, install a fire pit. By selecting a fire pit that is sculptural enough to stand out as a centerpiece, designing the patio around it becomes easier. Solid wood furniture, warm colors, and outdoor art can really bring a warm feeling to your patio even in the dead of winter.

Spice it up!

The most important part of turning your outdoor space into a functional, comfortable room—besides installing the patio cover—is to make sure it’s somewhere you would want to spend your time. If that means loading up on vegetation or water fixtures, don’t let anyone sway you from your design. Yellow is your favorite color, so don’t hesitate to splash some paint on that old furniture; your outdoor grill is just a few steps away from being an outdoor kitchen.

The patio cover is there to make sure you don’t get rained out—the décor is there to make it worthwhile. Make sure you’re bringing a little piece of your personality into the design; your guests are sure to love your new patio!