How can I cozy up this patio?

Looks like a very big patio, you didn't say what your budget was or if you like bright colors. If it were me, I would paint the ceiling with different colored squares like a Piet Mondrian painting

Don't know if you can paint the concrete to look like area rugs. If you were going to add more patio furniture I would go with bright primary colors for the cushions and throw pillows for a start. Maybe a couple of ceiling fans later on if it gets hot where you are. And nice hanging swing or papasan. World market has a lot of nice things at reasonable prices . They have some nice colorful woven mats that are too expensive that might look nice on the wall. You can find some cool things at yard sales too.

You have a really nice big patio, take your time and figure out what kind of a look you want, you can always add to it. Have fun decorating.

Thanks! A mat on the wall - that's something I hadn't thought of. I love the bright colors but my DH runs from them. It is a big patio which is probably part of the challenge.

Hmm. What about Spanish tiles over the concrete, or paint to look like terra cotta tiles. I'd string cables wherever I wanted screening and hang sheers or fabric shower curtains that could be pulled back to the wall in wind storms. Pick up an old dresser or buffet piece to repurpose into a serving/bar (on wheels). Paint a mural or hang that rug on the wall, shutters on the doors, and bright cushions. Got room for a fab outdoor chandelier? Good luck, You've got a great spave to play with!

https://www.pinterest.com/explore /inexpensive /patio ideas/

I would paint the ceiling and roof supports a sky blue, the support pillars a dark.color or 'house in' with wood columns. ( personally this I would have someone do all that for me) Repair floor and/or resurface and paint it. Then cover any bad spots with some rugs. Paint walls a nice creamy buttery cream yellow/white. Then enjoy decorating as your outdoor paradise. (add a wall water fountain and an aviary)

Put curtains on the outside of your windows.

place sheets only at the corners of patio.

you have kids devide patio in half, make it fun for them being outside.

put sheets up for ceiling or paint the underneath, you can put a lot of lights up so it sparkles like the stars.

place sheets only on the corners.

if you want you can put them all across one area.

square the patio up for one side and staple sheets up so that you can grab all of them in the middle and put a chandler up.

i could go on, but maybe this helps

Johnchip's idea of a wall fountain sounds great! You have a big enough blank wall space for it. I've seen several diy wall fountains over the past year so it shouldn't be hard to accomplish. Just Google it. Being in the dry southwest I would think sitting on a Patio with the soft sound of running water would be soooo relaxing!

Sharing my thoughts and experiences here for you: We have a large 20x20 patio that had concrete that had cracked and didn't want to go to the expense and mess of having it all redone. We bought the 24x 24x 1/2" rubber pavers from Menards (similar to Lowe's) in a terracotta color (they come in black and gray also). They are a patterned texture rubber paver made in the USA and very heavy and durable, which we wanted to protect from the wind and elements. Both sides are patterned differently so be sure to choose your best side before laying them down because of being heavy you don't want to go through it again.

They cost about $7 each on sale (which is cheaper than getting them during their save 11% sale). You don't glue them, just lay them down. they are very cushiony for the grandkids and anyone else who might take a tumble. If you have to cut them to fit the edges, my hubby used a jigsaw and his sawhorse table. It's best to put something sturdy under and on top when cutting because they are floppy.

My patio roof is made of the white vinyl lattice panels that are boarded and screwed into the crossbeams. Each Spring it is power washed to get rid of the bit of green moldy stuff from the damp winter snow.

Our house is gray and we have white built-in benches along the 2 open walls that help with the seating and any other projects that we do. I love to set my annual flowers there before I plant them for the summer. I hang 6 flowering baskets along the open sides and have multiple floor pots filled with colorful flowers to add some pizazz to my little piece of heaven on earth here during the summer.

We also hang some mesh curtains at the corners to help with the sunlight and he built lattice panels along the upper half of the walls for privacy.

We finally found a wind proof 36" square table and 4 chairs made of recycled milk jugs at a local dealer and since it is very heavy it doesn't move either.

We have a small portable floor fountain along one wall and red metal mechanics

rolling cart that I use as a hostess cart when we entertain out there.

I think if you power washed your ceiling it would brighten it up a bit and if you don't like the rubber paver idea, perhaps you could just paint the concrete and add a colorful outdoor rug and lots of flowers and pretty cushions on your patio furniture. Good luck!

I would use the rubber pavers on the floor. I think lattice panels would look good on one side (provide some shade and could use as a windbreak). The curtain idea would be good as an additional wind barrier. A wall fountain or a a bright rug on the wall would give your patio the pop of color it needs. Additional seating could be made with nice wood benches and a heavy table could be constructed to provide a useful work or entertaining surface. A repurposed dresser on wheels could be a bar cart or planting table (whichever you prefer). Have fun decorating it; make it as unique as you are!!

Thanks so much. It is so windy here some days that I've had cedar fence boards blow right off! Curtains would be dirty in no time, too. Everyone is pointing to the floor as the problem and I agree. Loving all these great ideas.

If you like plants then build planters to put around the outside of the porch, like making them from pallets would help with the cost. Since you have sand blow in the planters could keep most of it off your porch.

If you power wash the ceiling and paint it a sky blue or a shade darker than sky blue then, cut vinyl lattice to fit on the lower portion of the metal beams snug so you don't have to permanently adhere them to drop the height a bit, you could string fairy lights between for 'mood' lighting. You could also use the beams as tracks for spring loaded tension rods putting hemmed lengths of light weight fabric on to soften the ceiling ... https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/9b/e8/c0/9be8c09f1d5948c68c57674e43ec708b.jpg like this. Instead of sewing two lengths together to make the pockets for the rods, simply fold the fabric over itself and sew a pocket to loosely fit the rod, this will cover the rod on the visible side and save having to buy two lengths. If you want to go on the less expensive side, just buy drop cloths at the building store and cut them to length adding the drape depth for each drape and 1.5" for each rod pocket (approx.) then add a two inch border on the sides iron over one inch, then using an iron on hem tape iron the second inch over sealing the hem. If you are handing with a sewing machine, you can also add a sewn hem once you iron it flat to save buying the hem tape. I love the idea of painting a Navajo rug on the cement, you can 'fill' any major cracks with an all weather paintable caulking then paint right over it. I helped a girlfriend do this to her kitchen floor when she was in the middle of construction, the floors hadn't come in and their company Christmas party was that weekend. We looked through all her old paints and came up with a cool pattern theme and got busy, tassel edges and all! To help warm up the area and fill in the vast space look at a feed store for storage and furniture ideas. Aluminum water troughs would make great plant boxes or tables with an awesome piece of heavy wood for the tops, using L brackets you would flip the wood upside down, place the trough on top and trace the outside edge of the trough on the wood to get an idea of where to screw the brackets into. On the inside of the line screw the brackets into place so that the short side of the L is on the underside of the table top and the long side is on the side of the trough. With a marker put a small dot on the rim of the trough so you can see where you need to put the hole in the side of the upper lip of the trough to screw the two pieces together...if you want to weight it down, put a bag of gravel inside the trough before you put the top on it-don't dump the gravel out, just keep it in the bag. You could also put hinges on the top instead of L brackets so you can lift the top and store the cushions for your seating inside when you know it will be exceptionally windy. Heavy wood planters would also work for these ideas too, put two together with a seat made of 2x8's to make a seating bench or as many as you want to fill the length of an area. If you were to put them between two of your metal posts put a wooden planter box on either end and measure from the inside edge of the inner portion of the planter box to the opposite box. Position your 2x8's on the ground side by side, measure from the outside edge of the planter box to the far edge of the opposite planter box and cut two 2x8's to that length and lay them on either side of the inside 2x8's. Now take a piece of wood that you cut to the width of all the boards laid out and drill two holes to attach each board into the cross board. Lift the seat boards up and on top of the planter boxes. You could also wrap the boards around the posts if you want to block off the access of walking around them. ReStores often have cast-offs from building sites that are amazing deals!

water trough idea... https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/3d/d7/88/3dd7885f8ceaa7788ec4acf35f996329.jpg

planter seat idea... https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/63/b4/c9/63b4c9219416badf0b010db88b5020d4.jpg this is actually a more simple idea than what I explained! lol

First I would define spaces, seating, eating, another seating area...use different colors to define spaces..maybe painting the floor..but stay in same color family...then place furniture in those areas...utilize the wall with large art pieces, use fabric on seating..keep it fun...also on beams hang fabric...don't forget lighting..decorate as an inside space...have fun with it, make it inviting so you will use it..good luck...I did mine two years ago..I put an antique porch swing on mine and everyone fights over it...also I put oriental rugs...to define my spaces, people can't believe I did this..but it works..

No, they are sold individually. It took about 100 to do our entire patio. Perhaps you could put a pretty wall hanging behind your fountain or a piece of metal grating of some kind to make it stand out a bit.

Extra stuff aside, like you said. It's visually sterile.

First the tin , you have a high contrast between the beams holding the ceiling up and the tin, I suggest a closer color to beams. This will help you he eye not notice the tin. The tin is not the issue, it's the high contrast.

2nd, the cement. You can paint or stain the cement. Do research and determine if your up to staining it. I suggest getting as close to the natural (meaning local sand color) as possible, so when then sand blows in, it blends and doesn't bug you as much. You'll get to cleaning it away when weather dyes down.

3rd, the wall, you need something on the wall. Be it shutters, iron work and planters, or could be a combination of the aforementioned . Just consider what critters might move in to any safe haven you might be creating for them. Caulk it down to prevent hiding spots- but that's me, I hate insect's. If your buying deck furniture, consider the silent of style, out of metal simply because the weight it's less likely to blow away. I have Homecrest patio Furnishings from the sixties and seventies. It's metal with a powder coat finish and doesn't blow away. I live in farm country and we get quite a bit of wind. Todays faux wicker would. As for the rugs, if it's for visual purposes only, paint a rug on the cement. Than you can just sweep it clean. If you really want a actual rug, use your patio furniture to anchor it. Or fun tack, poster adhesive.

Sorry for the typos, my phone keeps changing things and I don't always catch it. I hope you get a he drift of my suggestion's dispite the typos.

Treat you patio or deck area as you would any other room of your house. It's just a room with a view. Paint is cheap and easy to change. Paint or stain your floor if you like, you can even tape off 24" squares with 1/4" masking tape before you paint and create a tile effect. Sponge on several different tones of gray or browns to create a slate or terra cotta tile effect (check the Opps section in the paint store for cheap samples or use several 4oz samples of choice colors.) Remove the tape and you have instant grout lines. Seal with polyurethane, 2 coats. Decorate the walls with artwork that you would use in your home. Candle sconces are a nice touch and a great way to incorporate citronella candles when bug season starts. Hold area rugs down with furniture. Keep your seating away from the walls so that the area seems more like a room and allows for air flow. We use our deck 10 months of the year. It's our favorite room of the house.

All great ideas.Also if you want to change up the look of the ceiling you could buy fish net to attach.It does come in a wide array of colors and weaves!

Definitely put more pillows outdoor drapery larger mat on the floor pick a color or two make it softer with textile

Thinking about the heat, makes me wonder if having your ceiling insulated to keep the heat from coming through, finished and painted, (possibly add a ceiling fan) would feel good? And of course, big planters and comfortable seating with a small table to set your cold drinks on, keep the cool cement floor, but paint it, and I love the idea of hanging some ambiant lighting for evenings on the porch. You've got a beautiful space, just make it comfortable and refreshing and you'll use it a lot!

On each end you can put indoor outdoor drapery. Either just for looks, pulled back on each corner. Or have them where you can pull shut if it rains or to block the sun. Also for a cheaper way just have them hang individually with space in between each one. Sheers look really good also.

I like the idea of painting the beams you could also place light sheets of insulation between them to cut down on the heat from the tin.

You have a nice open wall, accent it by hanging an light weight outside rug , or stencil a design on it. make the space an extension of your inside rooms. cushions and small tables lighting, I have clear Christmas lights around my porch all year long

you said wind blows dirt in I thought of roll up blinds, lowes, home depot, even Walmart has them, look threw this site for ideas......https://www.pinterest.com/explore/outdoor-blinds/

here is one to check about the floor

https://www.pinterest.com/explore/stencil-concrete/

good luck on what ever you do, just remember it is your home to enjoy

Having lived in the SW I understand! I refer to it as 50 shades of brown! So... if possible add a ceiling fan and lights. I would wrap the beams with wood and crown molding (this would provide the opportunity to add electricity if not currently available for the fan and lights). It is difficult to stain existing concrete. There are a variety of patio paints available and I would add lots of color. Terra cotta, turquoise, lime green, etc. maybe each section of concrete a different color. Wooden benches with built in storage for brightly colored cushions and pillows, a dining table and chairs. If you do not need a rug I would skip it...sand gathers and will not leave! Large colorful pots for your desert plants and you have a great fiesta and siesta place. If you want more plants on your wall and can't find tins try upcycling gutters otherwise metal or terra cotta wall art. Post a picture when you finish- love to see what you do!

That looks like a pretty big space. You could add some decorative iron work to the walls along with an outdoor potting bench/hutch type thing. A wall fountain might also be a nice idea. To protect the patio fro the large open areas how about some "curtains " made simply from muslin or painter's tarp type material. Easy to wash. Instead of painting the tin to match the beams I would paint the beams a lighter color.I would also suggest trim around your windows to give them more depth and interest. It looks like you would also have room for a swing or even a swing bed! I think the ceiling fans are a good idea ,but again looking at the space you may want to use more than one. And it definitely needs some substantial furniture. Table with chairs for eating and comfy seating all around for relaxing and/or entertaining. Good luck!

Well of course you can always paint the metal ceiling but go figure, I like your ceiling & dark beams. Go industrial Southwestern with metal, wood, even steampunk pendant lighting. I don't know what your budget is or if you even want to do any manual labor like re-finishing or painting etc. but I'd find some used furniture that will be OK setting out in your climate & go to town on it or buy new . Some pieces of heavy furniture like a big farmhouse table and chairs & benches, pallet furniture on wheels, an old hutch, cupboard, & use some Unicorn Spit gel on them & they would look awesome. A little Wine/Beer Bar made from a cabinet for refreshments & Shiplap would also looks great outside with recycled wood on the side of the back of the house (patio area) or on large frames mounted as you would a picture frame if you don't want to mess with the integrity of the house's structure itself & a few hanging lights. Posting pics for ideas. Good Luck!

Its so hot where you live I would get at least 1, maybe 2 ceiling fans.. to start.. the painters tarps mentioned earlier come in various sizes and colors Stripe of fabric can be sewn on across the top and or bottom , add large grommets along the tops or hooks, and hang. I'd use narrow pipe (painted or not) mounted to the posts. , a grommet in the bottom corners w/ hook anchored in the post for the bottom . would keep the tarps stable. Open and closed as needed, When windy you can unhook the bottom, slide it to one end and secure to the post as needed. This looks like a big area,, divide it into 2 spaces by grouping the furniture: a dining / food area and a casual gathering space. You already have a rug, I'd add a table and chairs for dining area. You can also "paint" a rug on the cement to define the spaces. Many now are easy to clean w/ hose and water. and mold resistant even on the underneath side.. A potting bench makes a great casual serving center , buy or build; sturdy yet casual for entertaining. Again, sand and paint it to match. Search out vintage ( or new) furniture for the casual side..sand and repaint as needed. Add some bright outdoor cushions and pillows to match. A water feature, electric or rechargeable w/ timers add a relaxing touch.. Every "room " needs something living , "earthy" or organic. It adds LIFE to an area.. Large pots are easy to do,, fill the bottoms part way with styrofoam chunks to move easier, and fill with soil.. and bright flowers/plants that grow in your area.. Succulents and cactus are the only ones I know of ( I'm from soggy Washington) sorry. A chimnea close by or fire pit.. would also be inviting for late evenings- depending on the area of N.M. Finish the look with a few large lanterns with candles or " flameless" candles with timers. Nice to come on every night.. Fun lights strung around, again on timers if you choose.... What a fun project...