Updated DIY Small Patio Makeover | Before and After Tour
In today's video, I share a before and after tour of my updated Small Patio Makeover. Last year, I shared how I completely transformed this small patio into something I could actually be proud of. Go watch the video here if you missed it.
This is what the space looked like as of last May...
This year, I really wanted to add a pergola to my small patio but the majority of the pergolas that are available for sale are 10'x10' which is much too large for my 12'x20' patio. Plus, based on my research, smaller units tend to be very expensive. Then, Mr. Kate did a patio makeover for the Dolan Twins and I really liked the modern pergola that she used in their much bigger yard. When I priced out the unit, it was going to be well over $1000 which is way beyond my budget. After studying the design, I noticed that it was really just 8 pieces of wood attached together and a sail shade as a cover. I already had a sail shade and how much can 8 pieces of wood cost? The more I looked at it the more I knew this was something I could recreate and build with the help of my Contractor. I sent him a picture and asked him if this would be easy to recreate. His answer, "yes". That's all I needed to know.
The deadline was my daughter's 13th birthday party. I was hosting 16 girls for a slumber party after the day activities and this outdoor space was a significant part of the equation. I had also wanted to add artificial grass to the space to give it a more organic look. Unfortunately, grass carpets are extremely expensive, priced at around $38-$40/lf. That meant an investment of close to $1000 which again, was not in the budget. After doing more research, I was able to find this artificial grass carpet with really good reviews and it was very affordable - comparatively speaking. Unfortunately, the rug I purchased is currently unavailable but they have a thicker version here in various sizes and something that looks exactly the same here. What I liked the most was that it would cover the entire space which was the ultimate goal and it had finished edges. I'd gone through several smaller area carpets and they just chopped up the space and never looked that good. I figured one large carpet would make the space appear more spacious and I was right!
Here's what you'll need to DIY your own Modern Pergola
(most of these materials can be purchased at your local home improvement store):
-
- 4 x 4x4 Post Base
- 4 x 18-Gauge 2X Rigid Tie Connectors (you'll need to spray paint it black)
- #8 1-5/8 in. Phillips Truss-Head Drywall Screws
- 4 x 2x4x8' Redwood
- 4 x 4x4x8' Redwood Post
- full coverage wood stain
- area rug - Unfortunately, the rug I purchased is currently unavailable but they have a thicker version here in various sizes and something that looks exactly the same here.
- D Rings
- Quick Release Hooks (to attach sun shade to the d-ring
- 8x8 sun shade
- Black spray paint
