Creating a backyard patio experience where people want to spend time can extend the size of your home to add another room. It doesn't matter whether you have an acre of space or a small courtyard only big enough for a handful of people. There are several products you can add that will make the space more functional and comfortable.
On the practical side, adding seating, lighting and music are all easy ways to enhance outdoor entertaining. One way to take those kinds of products to the next level is to inject some connectivity into them. For example, smart home lights can be programmed to function the way you what via your phone. Similarly, a Wi-Fi speaker will have more flexibility than a Bluetooth one and will make your patio space more fun. As always, the prices listed may fluctuate over time.
If you're looking for some ambient or accent lighting outdoors, the Govee Outdoor LED Strip Lights are a solid choice. I loved that its length came in over 30 feet which meant it could cover plenty of area at an economical value. The strip lights are IP67 rated for water and dust (minus the actual power adapter) so they should be able to handle the natural elements all year round.
I put one of these strips along a back wall to add some accent lighting. It helped define the outer perimeter and added a touch of fun with an assortment of colored patterns. Inside the Govee app, you can customize each section of the strip with the brightness and color if you want that level of detail. There's also a built-in microphone so the lights can respond to sound in all sorts of creative ways.
Coleman's Living Collection Bench is a clever solution for people with limited space. This seat does not need to be kept outside year-round and can be folded and stored when it's not needed. It can also pull double duty at home or on trips and kids' sporting events. When it is needed in the backyard it can be a very roomy single seat or hold two people and be moved around as needed. Roasting marshmallows? Pull up this bench seat for a cozy time.
Don't fret if you just don't have very many options for running light strips or hanging bulbs across your yard. You can still replace your outdoor light with a smart, connected one from Philips Hue that will bring unique colored lighting along with all sorts of smart home controls. There are plenty of styles available, but personally, I like the Philips Hue Lucca Wall Light for its modern design and economical price. This light can tap into smart home platforms from Google, Apple or Amazon and allows for all kinds of automation.
Sonos' most powerful outdoor speaker, the Move works on Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. In the backyard, in range of your home wireless network, the speaker can work like other Sonos speakers and keep playing even if your phone leaves the area. The speaker also works with a direct Bluetooth connection to your mobile device if you want to take it on a trip or out to the beach.
There are a ton of good Bluetooth speakers that are made for being outside, but a speaker on Wi-Fi, that won't be interrupted if you get a call or click on a video, is much better for parties and group gatherings. This speaker is IP56 rated for water and dust. Plus, it has a battery capable of playing music for 11 hours. If you don't need this level of volume, the Sonos Roam is also a good speaker for patio use.
Drive-in movies are fun but even better is the late-night backyard movie that you don't need to drive to or drive home from. The Nebula Mars II Pro projector, a division of Anker, is a projector that can handle premiers on the patio. The projector provides a brightness level of 500 ANSI lumen so you can see the picture during dusk, without waiting for pitch black lighting conditions.
The unit has a battery with a three-hour runtime so it can power through an entire movie without needing to be set up near a wall outlet. It also has Wi-Fi, HDMI and Bluetooth connectivity, along with Android 7.1 onboard to run streaming apps directly from the projector itself. While the Mars II Pro only has a 720p output resolution, it was good enough for movie night or watching a baseball game outdoors at a 100-inch size.
I discovered Outer's patio furniture this year and couldn't be more thrilled with its style, materials and technology. The company makes chairs and sofas that can be mixed and matched to provide seating for as many people as you need. And, whether you prefer a wicker or metal frame look, the design is very stylish.
One feature I thought was clever was the cushion covers that the company calls OuterShell. Each seat has a cover that rolls up behind it and then can be attached at a moment's notice. The cover also includes a handle to make moving the cushions a piece of cake.
Of course, the fabric the company uses won't fade and is resistant to water and stains. It's also machine washable if you do need to give it a good cleaning at some point.
The Outer Wicker Outdoor Sofa with Armless Chairs is a premium offering, but it is an impressive one. It comes with free shipping and a 14-day money-back guarantee. Plus, there's a 5-year warranty on the wicker and cushions and a 10-year warranty for the legs and frame.
If you don't have space or the money for a patio structure, or even a large umbrella, the Asteroutdoor Sun Shade Sail is a great option to add cover from the brutal sun. This particular shade is a triangle measuring 10 feet on each side and comes with 5 feet of rope to attach to each corner.
There are multiple sizes, shapes and colors available, but the key is its fabric the company says is rated to block 95 percent of ultraviolet rays. This particular shade sail has over 15,000 reviews and a 4.5-star rating at the time of this writing.
A fire or heat source is a solid way to keep people interested in staying outdoors after the sun goes down. The Solo Stove Bonefire 2.0 is a perfect option that doesn't need a plug or fancy equipment, only some firewood. The Bonefire 2.0 is still a smokeless fire option, but the company added a removable ashtray in the new version to make clean-up easier.
There are multiple-size fire pits available from Solo Stove, but this medium Bonfire 2.0 is big enough for a group of people in the backyard, yet portable enough to be taken out to a tailgate party. It even comes with a carrying case. (While the Bonfire 2.0 retails for about $400, it has been on sale regularly for closer to $250.)
Buy at Solo Stove for $399.99.
Another idea for ambient patio lighting, while also adding a touch of flair, is to add one or more of these Grand Patio Floor Lamps. The free-standing lamps come in several different wicker patterns and in two different heights to be able to match most outdoor decors. The lights are solar powered so they don't need to be plugged in. And they can be set to come on automatically at dusk after collecting power from the sun each day.
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