IKEA Grass Tiles Helped Rescue This Pee-Filled Fire Hazard of a Patio
Like any indoor room, an outdoor space often has to serve multiple uses: a hangout zone, cooking area, dining spot, and pet playground, to name a few. So when you have a small outdoor patio that’s not optimized to meet all of those requirements, things can get messy.
Take it from Marlana Bevan, who lives in a Philadelphia row home that has a concrete back patio. Since she has two dogs, they were getting the run of the area — and “it was mostly being used as a giant potty patch,” Marlana says. “Combine that with a too-large door that swelled shut in the heat, and we had a pee-filled fire-hazard waste of space!”
The Patio Constantly Smelled Because the Concrete Was So Porous
Because the concrete was so porous, no matter how much or how often she cleaned it, it got pretty stinky, Marlana says. She tried a combo blue paint/sealer to help make the area more resistant to stains and smells, but it didn’t really do the trick. And after a few months, Marlana says, “I ended up hating that blue.”
They Couldn’t Do Anything in the Space, but They Longed for a Change
Marlana knew a larger redo was in order. “We wanted somewhere we could grill, plant, and entertain without smelling dog pee constantly,” she says.
Over about a weekend, Marlana and her husband were able to completely transform their patio so it was a space that everyone — people and dogs included — could enjoy. They started by clearing out the patio area and cleaning it up before staining the walls with a black concrete stain. Over the blue floor, they used a much fresher-looking bright white patio paint.
For Their 2 Pups, They Created a Designated Dog Patch with Ikea Grass Tiles
“We wanted a more muted white for the floor, but everything was sold out,” Marlana says. They came up with a smart solution using what they’d already bought: “We took the white paint, and I used the leftover black stain from the walls to create a splatter effect to darken it up a bit.”
Marlana’s husband also built a new wooden door, which matches the wood bench that he also DIYed. Finally, he built a dog potty patch using a plan from Pinterest to get started.
With IKEA grass tiles, pressure-treated wood, a shower pan liner, and some supplies from the marine store, he created an area that contains dog activity. “Our pups love it, and it empties directly into our outdoor drain,” Marlana says. “No more smelly patio!”
The Couple Spent $600 to Maximize Their Outdoor Space
The refreshed patio made way for seating, planters, and a grill, so that Marlana and her husband can enjoy the space to the fullest. And the total cost was only about $600 — a bargain considering the huge transformation.
“Everyone says it, but paint has such a huge impact,” Marlana says. “We love that we have somewhere to sit and enjoy being outdoors while still serving its purpose for our beloved pups.”
Inspired? Submit your own project here.
Get all the IKEA UPDATES
Sign up for The IKEA Edit, our twice-weekly newsletter with the latest IKEA finds, deals, and hacks.