Easy outdoor upgrades to get you in a partying mood

That annual backyard get-together you scheduled months ago is now only a week or two away, and yet, you have not had time or the money to make major improvements to your yard. YIKES!

What can you do in a hurry that will make a big difference?

Consider spending some time staining your concrete patio or deck if you want to make a big yet inexpensive change, suggests Dormie Roberts, spokesperson for Blain's Farm & Fleet, 629 S. Randall Road in Elgin. You just have to do it far enough in advance to give it sufficient time to dry and you can choose literally any color you desire because stains are custom-mixed.

“If you want a bright pink patio, we can mix it up for you,” Roberts quipped.

She also suggests adding inexpensive and easy-to-install solar lights to your landscaping, or purchase tiki torches and let them blaze away to add both light and atmosphere to your party.

If you want more protection from sun and mosquitoes than your deck or patio now offers, consider an 8-by-8-foot fabric gazebo with mosquito netting. They set up quickly and then provide protection for both your guests and the furniture in which you have invested. Besides, they add an exotic, finished look to your yard and are relatively inexpensive at approximately $170. Some people even set them up over their hot tubs.

The addition of a hammock or glider to your yard can also be fun and give it a relaxed atmosphere. But if relaxation is the last thing on your mind, consider purchasing a trampoline with a net enclosure for the kids, or yard games, such as the ladder toss game or a bags game. Yard games appeal to both kids and adults, so you can keep everyone entertained whenever they visit.

You can also quickly improve the looks of your yard by enhancing your gardens with mulch (which gives it a professional look) and purchasing some already-planted pots of flowers or hanging baskets, says Jean Bragdon, operations and marketing/special events manager at Lurvey Garden Center, 2550 E. Dempster St., Des Plaines.

“Container gardening is awesome because they are portable so you can move them around and group them differently, depending on the circumstances,” she said.

Bragdon is also a fan of using garden art to create a quick focal point. You can make your yard more fun or more formal or add drama or even give it a theme that changes every year or two by adding a gazing ball or birdbath or fabricated birds to hang in your trees or another unique type of yard art.

The use of trellises with climbing plants like morning glories or honeysuckle vine and the incorporation of large pots with unique focal points like bamboo posts can also enhance your outdoors and do it relatively quickly. And don't overlook the use of small fountains, in which you can just add water and plug in. Children love them and everyone enjoys the soothing sounds, Bragdon said. The soft gurgling noises often really help you relax after a tough day. Wind chimes have a similar effect.

“When you are adding the finishing touches to your yard, patio or deck, you just want to be sure you appeal to as many of the senses as you can, with gentle sounds, motion, color and fragrances and that can usually be done relatively quickly with strategic purchases,” she said.

Gas or wood-burning portable fire pits can also be added with a minimum of muss and fuss, suggests Dan Mayer, owner of Northwest Metalcraft, 413 S. Arlington Heights Road, Arlington Heights.

“Often you can walk out the door of a store with a fire pit in hand,” Mayer said. “They are really nice when you are having family or friends to your home. Fire pits seem to get a conversation going. In addition, people are often really mesmerized by a fire. Keep in mind that if you want to be able to cook s'mores or things like that, you want to get a wood-burning fire pit because the gas ones can be very hard to clean and s'mores often fall off the stick.”

Consider surrounding that fire pit with colorful, heavy plastic Adirondack-style chairs that don't need cushions and don't blow away in the wind. They add a nice punch of color to a yard, Mayer said.

He also suggested adding lighting that you can string through your trees or wrap around the railing of your deck for a quick upgrade. Table lanterns that are fueled by alcohol gel are also popular and a conversation-starter. The flames spin like a small tornado and generally run for about 2½ hours.

Finally, Mayer often recommends that homeowners purchase an electric heater if they aren't sure how warm the weather is going to be at this time of the year or later in the fall. The new ones don't take up much room and remain unobtrusive but generate plenty of heat so you can extend your outdoor season.