Easy & Inexpensive Patio Decorating Ideas + Mosquito Repellent Tricks

Want to decorate your outdoor space on a budget this summer? I’m sharing some easy, colorful patio decorating ideas along with mosquito repellent tricks for your outdoor areas today!

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It’s almost officially summer time! We’re so excited to be spending even more time outside, especially this year.

Our patio is still a work in progress (hooray for high maintenance acreages!), but I always love decorating it for summer so that our family can enjoy it.

Here are some ways that I’ve decorated our patio for summer on a budget, and how you can too! I’m also sharing tricks on how to help keep your patio free of mosquitos.

Watch my YouTube video with patio decorating ideas + mosquito repellent hacks:

DIY Mosquito Repellent Luminary

These luminaries in mason jars are so simple to make, and they help keep the mosquitos away. They look pretty on your patio, too!

Fill a mason jar with water, essential oils that repel mosquitos (I like lavender, citronella + lemongrass), a few sprigs of your favourite herbs, and a few slices of lemon and/or lime. Float a candle on top, light it, and set your jars out on display! I made three of these and set them out on our patio.

Dollar Store Patio Decor

I haven’t popped in to the dollar store since February, but luckily I had a few things from last year I could set out on the patio this year! I love Dollar Tree’s citronella candles for only $1.25 CDN each, and these adorable pineapple glasses from Dollarama. The dollar store is also a great place to find fairy lights and garden accessories on a budget.

Michaels Seasonal Sales

Michaels provides curbside pickup, and this happy palm patterned rug, turquoise drum table, faux palm fronds, and tropical pillow were all on sale this week. These few accessories helped brighten up our otherwise drab coloured patio for the summer. Keep checking the Michaels app for when they have their BOGO sale on seasonal accessories.

IKEA Patio Accessories

IKEA also offers curbside pickup, and their patio accessories this year are beautiful! I love the green and pinks they have, and they definitely inspired the color scheme for my patio this year. These textured outdoor green pillow covers and the pink striped pillow were both from IKEA.

   

Citronella Plant to Repel Mosquitoes

This large citronella plant I found at a local garden center was one of my favourite finds this year! I placed it on the storage unit between our patio sofas, and it’s amazing how it wards off mosquitoes. Plus, I love the lush look of it. Citronella plants are wonderful mosquito repellents, but so are marigolds, scented geraniums, mint and lavender. Consider planting these in pots around your patio to help keep the mosquitoes away!

      

Faux Ivy Wall from Amazon

As much as I’d prefer real ivy trailing down our retaining wall here, it’s not practical since we’re still working on our landscaping behind the wall. I found these strands of faux ivy on Amazon and tucked them into our retaining wall blocks to add more greenery to our patio. I wasn’t sure how they looked, but I was pleasantly surprised at the effect!

 

Now, our patio is ready to enjoy this summer. I can’t wait to enjoy al fresco dining out here with my family!

Now tell me: Are you planning to decorate your patio for summer this year? Have any amazing mosquito repellent tricks?