The word 'patio' has a Spanish origin. It refers to the 'roofless area which is adjoining and belonging to the house.'  A patio heater is used by people when they want to sit outside when it is very cold. Based on the fuel or energy used  to run patio heaters, and some other distinct features ,we can classify them as follows:

•    Propane or butane heaters
•    Electric heaters
•    Portable heaters
•    Space heaters
•    Wall heaters
•    Infra red heaters
•    Natural gas heaters

Certain precautions have to be taken before using a patio heater. They should not be kept under awnings or gazebos, especially if they are made up of plastic. As it gets very hot, children must be kept away from it. They should be regularly assembled and serviced. Once lit, a patio heater must not be moved. It should be placed away from strong winds. If there is a gazebo,it should be ensured that the gazebo is fire resistant.

Electric patio heaters are weather proof. It can be hung on the wall and it plugs into an ordinary outlet. From safety point of view also it is good. It is easy to assemble and wind does not affect it. Unlike the other patio heaters which run on fuels, it requires no refilling. The only disadvantage is that it gives an orange glow over everything. You may need more than one to provide enough heat.

On a hot sunny day we would need a patio umbrella. There is a wide range of variety in patio umbrellas. The market umbrellas are for restaurants or  commercial applications. Beach umbrellas have a spiked base for easy mounting on the sand. Patio umbrellas have valances which look nice and are a better option when shade is more important than a high grade frame. It is more economical to buy patio umbrellas than the others.

Umbrellas that can be tilted have their own advantages. These are light and can be tilted in accordance with the direction of the wind or either to have more sunshine or less of it, depending on what we want. Some umbrellas come with lights which run on the under side of the umbrella. Besides looking pretty, they can be switched on when it gets a little dark after sunset. These are good for a party with kids as well as for a romantic dinner.

A sit out is unthinkable without furniture. While deciding on the kind of chairs ,tables and benches that are to be put outside, we would have to take into account ,the space available, durability and, of course, comfort. We have to look for the furniture which are weather resistant, whether extreme heat or cold or rain. The tough one would be teak patio furniture. Teak wood is a tight grained hard wood which already has a high content of oil in it. The wood is easy to maintain. Just requires a little bit of oiling with teak oil to make it long lasting. Teak does not get cracks nor does it shrink much especially if it is kiln- dried. Kiln- dried wood is dry to the core with only 12-15% of moisture content in it. This wood does not get decayed nor will termites attack it. Machine made is better as far as consistency of the construction and quality is concerned. Look wise also, there is no doubt about the classic look and style in it. 

If the area outside the house is huge ,we can have teak wood bar tables and dining table sets with cushions on them. Teak wood storage bins can also be kept, for storing the cushions when not in use.

As we see, there are several ways of beautifying the area outside the house and making it comfortable as also making a great impression on family and friends when you have a party. The main point to remember is to take into consideration the utility, maintenance hassles, durability, weather resistance  and cost-effectiveness of whatever we purchase.