How do I make my patio up-to-date?

Add some color and patio furniture. Now is a good time to buy. An outdoor rug. Some twinkle lights. Solar lights around the edge of the patio slab.

You could paint the concrete or maybe stencil and seal it. I would definitely do some planting around the patio, and pots on the patio. I assume you have furniture on your patio, just out of the picture. Perhaps an indoor/outdoor rug to put that area together as a seating area. You could leave part of the patio covered and perhaps remove part so that your kids can play and swim in the shade, much healthier for them. You already have part of the patio uncovered, perhaps you could paint the covered part to make it go with the décor you choose to go with. You definitely need to add some color and spark to your patio area. Don't worry about your kids and plants, they will learn quickly not to trample or pick them, especially if you get them in on planting and put across how important it is to leave them alone so the can grow up to be as great as they are. If they think they are helping make it beautiful, they should respect them and leave them alone. I never had trouble with my kids and they helped me all the time, no matter how young they were. Let them help with everything you do, even the simplest things, like bring me the little shovel, it is never to early to start them with DIY. It is amazing how they really glean more than you think. Two of my kids are great at figuring out how to fix things, making something out of what they have, etc.

I’m not sure if cities still give out free trees, but I’d plant a couple out by the fences, just make sure what kind of root system they have, and if they could cause damage to pipes and such. Definitely some pretty shrubs to give you some privacy. Remember it doesn’t have to be done all at once, ask for gift cards to local nurseries, home improvement stores for birthdays and holidays, (give them to your husband🤭) in the Spring Ross has pottery at fabulous prices and even large sizes! You could put up bead board over that ceiling over your patio cut out a space to hang a couple of outdoor chandeliers, nothing fancy, thread the cords in between the original and the bead board. Get painters fabric drop clothes stencil,or paint them, or dip dye and make curtains. Make a fountain in one corner with potted plants and lights. Looks like a large yard maybe build a fire pit outaways sometime. But trees and shrubs is what I’d go for first.