We need help! Ugly patio...?

Question

My ugly patio?
I need some ideas. We moved in and there was the concrete pad and some red pavers. We have since tried to spruce things up a bit, but the patio remains a problem. We are do-it-yourselfers (the yard was just dirt concrete and ugly pavers when we moved in) I have considered:

Pouring concrete: $800, plus ripping out old stuff

Putting in deck: $ ???, work, AZ is hard on wood I guess.

Laying flagstone: $ ??? but I think it would be at least $1500

Grass would die because of the shade. We are on attempt #3 of grass between patio and planter!

Pea gravel: $150?, easy, but my baby eats it, it isnt so pretty, and it hurts your feet. But, not out of the question.

Any ideas?
Check out my picture. Westfam.org Thanks!

Answer 1

have you tried priming and painting everything one color? or sealing/staining the concrete? then decorate with big pots of flowers/flowering shrubs/ evergreen bushes/hanging plants/etc. put nice wicker or even some of that plastic lawn furniture that can be hosed down. make sure the furniture looks a complementary color to the paint job....

Answer 2

You can always fall back on Astro turf but personally I have always thought that it looks kind of cheesy. I have used the gravel many times around my various homes. It has a dual purpose. first it can be raked into lovely paterns in the Japanese style and second it is a security benifit because of the noise it makes when people walk on it. There are many types of gravel. You can get types that are easy on the feet.
I have not had the problem of a child eating the gravel but we all have our own crosses to bear.
Large sections of small potted plants can be used to create patterns and this is beautiful and easy to do.
good luck