Overcast with rain showers at times. Thunder possible. High 69F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%..

Overcast with rain showers at times. Low 57F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.

Hotter-than-average summers can lead to spending too much time indoors. Make some changes to your patio to help you enjoy being outside again.

Hotter-than-average summers can lead to spending too much time indoors. Make some changes to your patio to help you enjoy being outside again.

Is the summer heat making it difficult for you to enjoy your patio? Don’t let hot and humid Ohio summers force you to retreat into the house.

Making smart changes to your patio can help you reclaim your outdoor living space. Follow these tips for a comfortable patio in the summer.

Make your patio cooler by adding some shade. Consider installing overhead coverage such as a pergola, a roof, or a cantilever umbrella—all options are beautiful and effective. What you choose depends on your budget and the style you want to achieve.

Cantilever umbrellas have become a popular option for patios because of their versatility; move the umbrella to cover your seating area, dining area, or another space, such as the pool.

One of the best benefits of a cantilever umbrella over other outdoor umbrella types is that the pole does not come down from the center of the umbrella, so you don’t have to worry about arranging people around an obstruction.

Heat isn’t the only thing that makes a patio uncomfortable in the summer.

Pests — especially mosquitoes — can make your patio unwelcoming. That’s why the next tip for a comfortable summertime patio is to light fragrant citronella candles.

Citronella candle wax contains citronella oil, and mosquitoes and other pests dislike the smell of this oil. When you burn citronella oil around the perimeter of your outdoor space, you create a barrier between yourself and the mosquitoes. On top of these bug-fighting properties, you can use stylish citronella candles to help create a modern outdoor living space.

3. Install an outdoor misting system

If you want a fun option for cooling off in the summer heat, install an outdoor misting system. Depending on the system you choose and the environmental conditions, a mister can reduce your outdoor temperatures by as much as 30 degrees Fahrenheit!

You can connect your mister to any standard garden hose. Use the manufacturer’s instructions to hang the misters along columns, railings, or umbrella poles. When you turn on the system, you’ll enjoy evaporative cooling.

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