Before and After: A Boho-Glam Patio Redo Includes a DIY Chandelier, Succulent Wall, and More

Written by

Sarah EverettAssistant Editor, Home Projects
Sarah EverettAssistant Editor, Home Projects
Sarah is an assistant editor at Apartment Therapy. She completed her MA in journalism at the University of Missouri and has a bachelor's degree in journalism from Belmont University. Past writing and editing stops include HGTV Magazine, Nashville Arts Magazine, and several…read more
published Apr 29, 2022
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Before: empty brick patio

There’s nothing like warm days in April and May to drum up excitement for patio season. If you’re looking to make improvements to your outdoor spaces, there’s no better time than these mid-spring, pre-summer days so you’ll have plenty of opportunities for relaxation en plein air all season long.

Some quick things you can do to zhuzh up your outdoor space? Add an outdoor-friendly rug (you could even paint a custom, fun pattern on it), hang some battery powered string lights, or create a statement wall with a stencil or plants.

DIYer and decorator Tahira Nagori (@the_aesthetic_side_of_homes) added all of the above (and more) to her once-“very basic and builder-grade” patio. While the patio was nicely sized and conveniently offered covered protection from rain and sun, it wasn’t really working for the Tahira’s family.

“Because it was boring and had no character, we never actually used it,” Tahira says. “I have always dreamt about having a beautiful backyard that feels like an oasis.” She spent about a week and $2,800 making her patio space feel like just that.

Around the patio itself, Tahira covered the bare dirt from before with gravel and evenly placed stepping stones around the perimeter, helping to define the space a little more and to create a more user-friendly (and cleaner) walkway.

Tahira also installed a succulent wall on the fence on the left using a $30 vertical hanging planter from Amazon — perfect for adding a bit of color to the once-monochrome space. On both sides of the succulent wall, she installed water fountains for extra serene vibes.

To up the coziness of the space, she painted the ceiling of the patio area and the trim on the doors a golden-brown color that matches well with the brick, and she created a DIY light fixture — a “statement piece” that strings together multiple pendants at varying heights and fills in the vertical space much better than the singular can light from before. She then filled in the rest of the space with rattan patio furniture: a daybed, end table, and accent chair with a metal twist.

Although the actual boho-infused transformation took about a week, Tahira spent about two months sketching and planning her vision. “I resolved every tiny detail in that process,” Tahira says. “Being an architect, I always love to draw and solve every single detail on paper before I actually start the project.”

Tahira’s advice for those looking to take on a similar project is to plan, plan, plan. “That way you can easily bring your vision to life and remain in your budget,” she says.

In the end, she couldn’t be more pleased with her new patio. “I am in love with how this space has turned out,” she says.