Small Apartment Patio Makeover

Hi friends! Today I’m so excited to share my latest blog post with you. I’ve lived in my apartment for a little over two years now and I FINALLY decided to make it a home. It’s hard trying to transform a space when you know it’s not officially yours, but I’ll likely be renting places for a while, so it’s time I started loving where I live! Today I’m sharing my Small Apartment Patio Makeover and how I completed this on a budget.

Overall I spent less than $500 on this entire project! I wanted to keep this budget friendly since 1) I am renting my apartment and 2) this is still a relatively small space. As you’ll see in the images, I was still able to achieve a gorgeous space without breaking the bank!

Patio Entertainment Ideas

I knew when I was first creating my patio space, I wanted to make sure there was enough space to have people come over! Although I have a relatively tiny patio (5×9 feet), I knew I could create some fun entertainment options for this space. I found some chic artist collab plates from Anthropologie and laid them over top of some classic, white, larger plates. I grabbed these on sale (or at Home Goods) for around $5 each!

I also wanted to incorporate multiple colors/patterns in this area! The yellow gingham pitcher was from Anthropologie as well, but I found it at Goodwill for only $1.99. I threw a monstera leaf in there (that I broke off with this very rug lolz) and it really tied this centerpiece together! I also loved this little $5 terrazzo serving tray from the Target dollar spot. I added some Pocky pieces and cauliflower crackers from Trader Joe’s!

The wooden stand is one that I found on Amazon and knew it would be PERFECT for this space! I built it in roughly an hour and a half and then zip tied it to my patio railing. It came with some support brackets, but my railing poles were too thick. We also cannot forget the citronella candle!

Affordable Patio Furniture

Patio furniture is one item that can get PRICEY. It’s also one of the hardest things to actually find on sale. That said, it is possible to furnish an outdoor space on a budget! My woven chair came from Target last year and I got it on sale. It’s best to wait until the end of a season to grab furniture that’s going on clearance. Every year Target marks these down around mid-June!

I found this cute little floor pouf at Home Goods and knew it would be the PERFECT aesthetic for my patio. I loved the woven fabric that gave a bohemian feel to the space, and the silver metallic stripes are chic final touch! I also knew I would need some stools to go with my wooden table stand, and I realized I’d seen ones at Ross a couple days before. These were only $25/each and they fit underneath like they were made together!

Patio Rugs on a Budget

I absolutely hated the natural wood of my patio. It was old, had bent nails, splinters, etc. It just wasn’t feasible for an enjoyable outdoor space! A rug was the main item I knew I wanted for my patio. They are able to tie together a whole space and also add a pop of color (or a pattern)! One of the easiest ways to make an outdoor space feel more elevated is by adding a rug.

In my case, I wanted a rug under $100! They can get pretty expensive, but I looked on RugsUSA which is my go-to for affordable rugs. They also have an outdoor rug section so you can make sure to get a rug that will work indoors or outside as well! This pink striped rug was less than $85 for a 5×8 size which I personally felt was a STEAL. They often cost more than this even at stores like Home Goods.

Outdoor Plants

I am a firm believer that every outdoor spaces need PLANTS! Frankly I think indoor spaces need them too, but I have another post about that (read it here). I personally wanted a good amount of plants in my patio space, so I started thinking about how many I wanted in this area, as well as what kinds of plants I wanted to highlight in this space! I ended up going with four plants total.

I love the tropical, relaxing vibe that Birds of Paradise give off. They’re also some of the cheapest, large houseplants you’ll find aside from ferns! I was gifted the small one below by Lively Root and she has been a trooper. They’re pretty easy to take care of and LOVE humidity (perfect if you live in the south like I do). It also came in this lovely basket! My other Birds of Paradise was one I bought from Lowe’s for around $13.

I also caved and ended up getting a Fiddle Leaf Fig. I’ve had one before and it decided to drop every single leaf in one week. They are MASSIVELY finicky and hard to take care of. They love heat and humidity too though, so I felt like buying this one on clearance at Lowe’s was a safe bet. Even if it dies, it was at least on sale! That’s a great mindset to have for patio plants.

Shop The Post

I hope y’all enjoyed this post about my Small Apartment Patio Makeover! I had such a fun time putting everything together and I am SO happy with the tiny oasis I have created in the heart of Atlanta! Even if I do end up moving to a new apartment, townhouse, or actual house, I’ll still have these lovely pieces!

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Photos by Hannah Lozano

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