Anyone with a well-appointed patio or deck knows that it’s like having an additional room in your home. Unfortunately, a lot of homeowners take advantage of that extra space only during the sunshine and barbecue days of summer. Why not keep enjoying your bonus room into the cooler weather of the fall?

Well, you can do just that, and it doesn’t require major remodeling! The refreshing autumn weather and the stunning fall colors make for some of the best patio times of the year. The ideal way to welcome these days is with some additional lighting, a bit of extra heat and an outdoor space that rejoices in what the season has to offer.

The Colors of Autumn

Fall doesn’t look like summer. If you live in a four-season climate, you relish that fact! In the same way, an autumn patio doesn’t have to look like summertime. There’s a homey feel to the oranges, yellows and deep reds of the season, and the choicest fall patios embrace it.

A straightforward way to get started on a fall color makeover is by swapping out pillows and cushions. There’s an opportunity to try out not only some different colors but also some new patterns. Stripes and plaids are so familiar and welcome in the cooler weather; they’re like old friends coming around for a visit. Another way to celebrate the aura of the season is with an autumnal outdoor area rug. It’s amazing how a splash of new color on the floor establishes a new tone for a space.

Nature outdoes itself with its fall flowers and produce, and your patio or deck can join the party! Set out a few gourds, pumpkins, cornstalks or fall leaves to proclaim an autumn ambiance. Add some fall flowers, either in pots or planted at the edge of your patio. Asters, mums, sunflowers and black-eyed susans are a few of the choices.

Artificial gourds are as decorative as the natural ones. They boast the same evocative fall colors, and they’ll be ready to go next year as well. While you’re celebrating yellow and orange, don’t forget about white. A white gourd or pumpkin provides just the right accent to spark an extra bit of visual interest.

A Season for Lights

The days get shorter as the calendar moves into fall. That persnickety old sun just won’t stay out as long as we’d like it to. Fortunately, the sun isn’t the only option for bringing light to your evening dinners and parties.

You may have an external spotlight mounted on the side of your house, but you’ve no doubt noted that’s less than ideal. The light and the shadows it casts are harsh. As is the case indoors, it’s better to have multiple sources of illumination to create a backdrop of light that’s pleasant rather than piercing.

Patio lamps work outside as well as they do in the living room or den, providing either ambient light or more direct task light. Some are solar powered, and others use all-weather cords. Lanterns that run on batteries can hang from pergolas, overhangs or posts or simply sit on a table. Some have “flames” designed to resemble a candle. For that matter, actual candles make a charming supplementary light source. Increase the seasonal aura by using candles with scents like apple or pumpkin.

You might string lights from a ceiling or a fence. Use white bulbs or celebrate harvest time with yellow and orange ones. And you’ll never go wrong with a few solar garden lamps around the patio’s perimeter.

Comfort When It’s Cool

People won’t stay outdoors if they’re not warm, and it spoils the ambiance if you have to wrap yourself in a parka. Luckily, there are more convenient ways to keep it comfy. If there’s only a hint of a chill, a few throw blankets may be adequate. Blankets are another way to adorn your outdoor space with colors and patterns that suit the season.

To guarantee warmth when the temp drops more than a few degrees, consider the outdoor patio heater. Restaurateurs use them to entice visitors to their al fresco seating, and they work equally as well in residential backyards. You have a couple options to choose from. Electric wall-mounted units may look small, but there’s nothing tiny about the heat they generate, which covers up to 200 square feet. The other choice is the portable “mushroom heater,” a standing heater named for the distinctive cap at the top. These run on the same propane tank that powers your grill. You can easily move them around to provide an optimal heating pattern.

On a nippy outdoor evening, everyone loves a campfire. It may not be practical to pile up sticks on your patio and set them ablaze, but you can duplicate the campout experience with a fire table. Unlike its wood-burning alternative, a fire table is safe, convenient and mess-free. It uses the same propane tank as your grill or patio heater to warm up especially designed glass beads. A shield can protect the fire from the wind and little fingers from the fire. The arrangement is suitable for treats such as hot dogs and s’mores, and the table surface is available to prepare your fixin’s or to engage in a friendly game of cards.

A fire table makes an excellent addition to your current patio arrangement, or you might opt for a fire table patio set with matching chairs. With comfortable seats and a delightful heat source, your fire pit table set is a sure bet to be the scene of countless family-and-friends memories.

A New Level of Outdoor Cookery

Outdoor living means outdoor cooking. Make sure the grillmaster in your house is outfitted with all the necessary equipment to keep the season going into the cooler months, and keep warm meals on your dinner guests’ plates.

A Patio That Keeps On Working

A patio or deck brings indoor comfort to the back yard and, at the same time, refreshes you with its natural outdoor appeal. Why wouldn’t you want to extend this pleasure as far into fall as possible? With the latest in lights, heaters and autumn decor, your patio will continue to be a magnet for friends and family well after many of your neighbors have shut down their outdoor spaces. Let this be the season when cooler weather and earlier sunsets don’t drive you indoors before you’re ready to go!