Bring the pizazz to your patio

When just our immediate family is here, we are 20 or more. Everything and everyone is crowded and confined to our concrete patio slab. There is no lighting, no atmosphere. It is crowded and boring and all our outdoor furniture is in the beige/brown family color scheme - there is no pizazz. Please help create additional seating, color and some lighting. We've lived in our home for almost 24 years and I think it's time.

Design by Littman Bros. Lighting

• Budget: $5,000

Patti's back patio is lacking lighting, color and seating for her large family. Start with some landscaping and add color through bushes and flowers. This will also separate the patio space from the yard and create an area for low intensity landscape lighting.

Suggestions:

• Create a lounging area in one of the corners facing in toward the patio and grilling area. Padma's Barbados Rounded Sofa would be perfect to create a lot of flexible seating. Add some colorful outdoor pillows from Surya for some character.

• Eglo makes a few exterior table and floor lamps that look like wicker sculptures. They add a casual and soft lighting near seating areas.

• Finally, add some landscape lighting in to create a little light on all areas of the patio. Hinkley 1555CB is simple and creates a nice light in its seeded glass windows.