update your patio | The Manual

update your patioporchdeck for about 100 lead

Spring is here, gentlemen, and that means one thing is certain: it’s springtime! Beyond the painfully obvious, the arrival of spring also means that it’s time for some cleaning and sprucing of that outdoor space you’ll soon be able to enjoy more often. Make the most of the warmer months this year by making your outdoor area a bit more awesome on the cheap.

Now, if you live in a lovely home surrounded by acres of manicured lawns and terraced gardens, then you can go ahead and click away from this article right now, and might I suggest this link. For the gentleman who lives in the average home and has a patio/deck/balcony/porch offering a few score square feet of outdoor space who wants to make some functional and aesthetic updates that won’t break the bank, read on.

(And for the record, we’re going to assume you already have basic seating, a grill, and basic lighting – if not, you’re gonna spend more than a hundred bucks, man. Sorry.)

A Hammock

You don’t have to be a sailor of yore or a camper of, um, today to enjoy a fine hammock. And you don’t have to spend more than $16 to enjoy the Buffalo Double Wide Cotton Hammock, an extremely low priced, handsome hammock that can accommodate up to 450 pounds of person. String one up in your outdoor area for the ultimate personal lounge space, for added seating for guests, or merely as a colorful decoration. And if you ever want to take your hammock camping or on a road trip, you’ll be pleased to know it comes with a handy storage sack.

Solar Accent Lighting

A two-pack of Findway Mission-Style Solar Lights will cost you all of $8 and will provide a bit of nighttime illumination and a lot of charm. Buy a few packs of these lights to line your deck or stick with two and flank your door with lights. They look fine by daylight, glow softly at night, and of course they require nothing but sunlight to power up. And yes, they’re waterproof, so don’t worry about rain or spilled mojitos.

Vertical Wall Planter Bags

Even if you don’t have a green thumb, with the right hearty ivy or hanging succulent plants, you can create a wall of vibrant, living decorations by using this durable, affordable hanging planter system. Just fill the pouches with dirt, plant your chosen flowers, herbs, etc. and then add water. Why? Because plants need water. If you choose to transplant established plants, you can convert even an ugly wall into a point of attraction instantly. If you grow something from seed, you’ll learn a valuable lesson about patience and persistence. And all that for $11 with the Sumnacon Vertical Wall Planter.

Tabletop Fireplace

You don’t need a fancy copper fire pit or a wood-burning chiminea to enjoy the relaxing benefits of a lovely fire. Just shell out $40 and get yourself the Moda Flame Tabletop Fireplace, a clever little unit that burns ethanol fuel and produces no odors and needs no venting. It puts off plenty of softly flickering light and enough heat to warm your hands, and you can even add citronella oil to the fuel to ward of insects and people who hate the smell of citronella.

Storage Bench

Alright, granted: this one is going to take you close to our $100 budget, but it’s a great idea for adding storage, style, and seating to your outdoor area, so just consider it. This $95 Kester Storage Bench is made from a durable, weather- and fade-resistant resin and will last for years even in harsh climates. It provides a comfortable seat for two adults with or without cushions (those would be extra, yes) and when its seat is lifted, it offers a storage compartment measured at a 70 gallon BENCH 2 capacity. That’s enough space to store grill tools and charcoal, blankets, sporting equipment, and more. This bench not only adds seating, but it reduces clutter, and that always looks good.