.png)
OLD GLORY: The American Flag blows in the wind with the Statue of Liberty in the background. Flying Old Glory is one of many ways to decorate for the Fourth of July. (Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images)
The summer months are perfect for spending time outdoors on the patio. While everyday summer decorations are good for most of the season, it’s a great idea to decorate for the festivities of the Fourth of July. The holiday offers a great deal of decorating opportunities and the patio is the ideal place to pull them off.
If you want to make your patio more festive for this patriotic summer holiday, try some of the ideas below. They are sure to make your outdoor living space even more attractive than it already is.
Fabric Flags
The Fourth of July is a holiday where red, white, and blue reign as the color scheme. Instead of using paper, plastic or cardboard hanging decorations, make some quick fabric flags instead.
At the fabric store, look for material in the trio of colors that is thicker and more along the lines of a heavy-weight cotton. This will help your flags hang nicer and will keep them looking good longer.
At home, simply cut large triangles out of each color fabric. Hem the edges and sew them to a length of wide, heavy, decorative ribbon. Once all of the flags have been attached, you can hang them across the patio or gazebo frame.
When the holiday is over, take them down and wash in cold water. Let them air dry and store them for next year.
Pretty Pails
There is nothing like the shimmer and shine of a silver metal bucket. It is an object that truly gives the feel of outdoors while also adding a fun look. Invest in a few small silver buckets and paint them with acrylic paint. Finish them with a clear, paint-on glaze to protect your patriotic design.
Depending on your needs, you can fill the buckets with pebbles and a white pillar candle for extra lighting; or drill a hole in the bottom, add soil and plant a trio of red, white and blue flowers. Use the painted pails to decorate your patio.
Outdoor Placemats
The patio is usually home to not only the comfortable lounge chairs and recliners, it is usually also where a patio dining table resides. For this Fourth of July, create outdoor placemats that can be re-used year after year.
Using a large piece of red construction paper as the base, weave long strips of white and blue construction paper in and through pre-cut slats. Once your placemat has been woven, cover it with clear contact paper to seal it. Trim the contact paper so that there is at least 1/4”–1/2” edge all the way around. You will be able to easily wipe the placemats clean and store them flat for next Fourth of July.
Let the colors of the holiday inspire you in creative ways to decorate your patio. With a bit of red, white, and blue, your patio can take on a brand new look and a festive air.
Even with the inexpensive ideas above, you can make a big impact.
Alyssa Davis of Metal-Wall-Art.com specializes in creating stylish interiors with metal wall art. She is a staff writer and decorating specialist with Metal-Wall-Art.com where she offers stylish suggestions for decorating with metal wall decor.
