A patio by definition is a paved area outside the house used for outdoor dining and recreation. However, that has become rather backdated now. Today, a patio is almost an extension of the house. It is a place where you cook, dine, relax and even sleep. Yes, there are patio beds now, complete with canopy. However, how you are going use your patio depends largely on your taste and life style and so does the furniture you choose.

Do not buy a piece simply because the Jones has bought it. Rather see if you need one like that. Consider the location of the patio first.
• Some patios are screened; others are open to public view. Your activities will largely depend on this factor. If it is open to public view, you may not feel very free to spend as much time here or do whatever you would have done if it were screened. You can buy collapsible screen in such a case. That will make your patio more private.
• Next, see if it is open or covered. Very few materials can withstand exposure to sun and rain. Cheap plastic furniture will fade, some metals may erode, and genuine wicker will rot. The wicker patio furniture you see in others’ outdoor space is actually made either from resin or from PVC. Some PVC furniture is even genuine replica of wood furniture. Such is its versatility.

Among all the materials used in making outdoor furniture, synthetic wicker is the best. Wicker patio furniture is durable, comfortable and portable. Moreover, they can merge well with any setting. They go as much with English cottage style as with Mediterranean villas. If you want to have a country setting in your urban home, buy a set of wicker patio furniture and place brightly colored gingham-checked cushions on them.

However, make sure that you buy outdoor cushion for your outdoor furniture. Otherwise, a sudden drench may spoil your cushions for good. It is also easy to maintain outdoor cushions. Just vacuum clean them while you are doing the rest of the house. If they become soiled just wash them in soap and water and put them under the sun to dry. Since they are made of waterproof material, it does not take time to dry. However, since an outdoor cushion is given much to wear and tear you may have to replace them off and on.

The outdoor cushions go along way in making or breaking the patio décor. As I said, brightly colored gingham-checked cushions give a rustic aura to your urban home. Plant wild flowers all around to accentuate the feel. However, remember good drainage is necessary for growing these flowers. Also, be patient because wild flowers take time to establish, but once they have done so they will come back year after year.

Although patio umbrellas do not go well with the rustic look, we the urbanites cannot do without them and neither should we because too much sun can cause cancer of skin. Therefore, buy a suitable umbrella and camouflage them with umbrella covers. Look for thatch cover, which will make the umbrella blend with the whole theme. Palapa umbrellas too can create the right effect. If you are throwing a tropical theme party, just imagine what fun it will be.

You can also create patriotic theme for your patio with the outdoor cushions and outdoor umbrellas. Buy the cushions in red and blue. Place some white throw cushions on them. The head of the Eagle surrounded by a number of stars will make them look bright and beautiful. They can easily be appliquéd on the throw cushions for patriotic fervor. Stencil stars can be drawn on plain while wall and patriotic blankets can be thrown over couches. Buy patio umbrellas with red and blue canopy. There are hundred possibilities. All you have to do is to experiment.

You should not experiment with safety though; neither with patio umbrellas, nor with outdoor heaters. Make sure the patio umbrellas do not collapse on your toddler and cause suffocation. Outdoor heaters too can cause inferno if you are not careful. There are different types of patio heaters. Many people prefer chimenea for its old world charm. Others prefer the patio heaters that run on electricity or natural gas like propane because they find them far more convenient. Although all of them are equipped with all kinds of safety measures, you must make sure of that.