Whether you want to entertain guests outside or simply want a nicer outdoor living space for you and your family to enjoy, upgrading your patio is always guaranteed to be a high-reward home improvement project.
But what kinds of electrical and technological smart home improvements should you be looking at making to ensure your new patio design delivers maximal value? This informative article will help you power up your patio with the top smart electrical upgrades for every season. Continue reading to learn more about the innovative upgrades you can give your patio that will see you enjoying this outdoor space year-round.
Invest in Outdoor Heating Solutions
We get some pretty gnarly winters here in Australia, but that doesn’t stop us (a nation of alfresco fanatics and barbecue buffs) from spending as much time as we can in the great outdoors. This is also why we’re seeing more and more outdoor patio heaters in Melbourne and other temperate cities across Australia.
There are a wide range of smart patio heaters available today, from portable to wall-mounted or even patio ceiling-mounted. The solution that you select will depend on your budget, personal preferences, and what’s practical and achievable for your situation.
With smart switches for home appliances, your outdoor patio heaters can also be turned on at scheduled times, meaning you can come home to a warm and toasty patio and sit outside with a steaming mug of tea to begin your evening winddown immediately. Suffice to say, this is a must for 9-to-5ers who are expecting to come home once the sun has already set for the day.
Add in some Ambient Lighting
A simple outdoor entertaining hack that can add a lively splash of ambience and style to your patio space is investing in fairy and/or smart festoon lighting. You can drape these around your yard – or over tree limbs, weave them into a trellis, or drape them around your pergola or gazebo and hang them in other places, too.
The soft, ambient lighting provided by these lights will transmute your outdoor area into a magical, glowing wonderland and will dazzle your guests with luminescent brilliance. You can use wall powered lighting if you choose, but if you’re concerned about the power bill from this ambient lighting, did you know you can buy solar-powered fairy and festoon lights? This way, you’re being eco-conscious while also saving cash on your electricity bill.
The only downside to solar lighting is that they may not charge fully on overcast days, which is something to keep in mind for urban homeowners. If solar energy availability may be a concern for your household during particular times in the year, then you may even opt to install rechargeable battery powered lights and replenish battery power using renewable energy (i.e. from rooftop solar panels). There are plenty of green options here, so feel free to pick whatever’s most suitable for your home.
A battery or USB-powered projector may also be a cool upgrade for your outdoor area. It can project dazzling lights or a galaxy onto your tree limbs, giving your backyard the appearance of a great outdoor rave, which leads on to our next tip…
Install an Outdoor Sound System
If you’re entertaining outdoors, you can upgrade your patio area with a solid Bluetooth sound system. Wall-mounted speakers and hardwiring solutions can aid in equipping your patio with fully integrated sound technology, making it easier to plug and play.
If you’re on a tight budget or maybe even just want to avoid hardwired installations, you could also opt for a portable speaker or soundbar that will do the job just as well. These more streamlined sound system essentials are also suitable for smaller patios, or spaces that you’d preferably like to keep wirefree – a must for families with kids and pets.
Whatever sound solutions you select, this upgrade project is sure to deliver good vibes, and help your patio space transform from serene tea sipping to hard party mode in just a matter of minutes. And with Bluetooth capabilities, you can even offer your mates or family the opportunity to connect their devices to pick the tunes and play DJ for the night. But we just have to acknowledge that the bonus to this tip is that you get to enjoy your sound system even when you’re not entertaining, such as when you’re gardening or simply chilling out outside by yourself.
Include Powerpoints for Added Convenience
Want to add a few more digital amenities to your patio space? Then you should consider installing some outdoor powerpoints or boards in your outdoor space. Once these are installed, you can charge your smart devices outside, such as your phone, laptop or tablet. And of course, your guests can utilise this cool amenity as well, ensuring that they can stay plugged in and connected while visiting you and enjoying your upgraded outdoor patio space.
A word of warning here – always use a licensed and qualified electrician for any power work, including installing powerpoints. You don’t want to risk it by attempting to DIY it, as this can result in a fatal injury. This is especially true for outdoor electrical powerpoints, which require extra consideration to ensure weatherproofing.
Home Security Systems for Boosting Property Value
While this upgrade isn’t as fun or exciting as the others suggested in this article, it is still a worthwhile upgrade. A CCTV system will protect your outdoor space, monitoring your home while you’re at work or away for the weekend.
There are a range of different CCTV systems available, and some are solar powered, so they don’t require hard-wiring and connect to your wifi, giving you notifications when movement is spotted. With this upgrade, you can have peace of mind that your cool patio space is monitored and protected all year long.
Elevate your Patio Design for Year-Round Comfort
From adding heating to powerpoints for easy device connecting, and wiring in some speakers and perhaps even some security cameras to boost your property value, all of the tech upgrades we’ve outlined today are sure to seriously elevate your patio and your property’s potential for entertaining from season to season.
And on top of making your home more liveable and ensuring amenities galore are on-hand both inside and outdoors, these electrical and technological patio upgrades will also help boost your property value, making them a pretty worthwhile investment.
