Patio umbrellas are, of course, great additions to the overall décor of the house by and in themselves. Just place the patio umbrella in the manufacturer’s recommended area depending on its type, which can be flush against the wall, in the center of a table or as standalone unit. Its functions will be as good without add-ons, accessories and ornaments to the basic structure.

But as with most things on Earth, there is always room for improvement and a patio umbrella is no exception to the rule. Improvements in terms of function, appearance and attractiveness can still be made on the patio umbrellas with the installation of other accessories, add-ons and ornaments to the basic units as well as to the surrounding area. You will soon discover that transforming a standard store-bought patio umbrella into a piece of vavavoom patio furniture is definitely worth the small amount of time, effort and money involved in the process.

So, what exactly are these add-ons that will improve on the basic aluminum patio umbrellas without leading to your financial ruin? Read on and see.

Lights in All Shapes, Sizes and Colors

As with an indoor room, the installation and subsequent manipulation of lights can change the ambience of an area from, say, casual to romantic with the flick of a switch. This is true with the patio and its umbrella, whatever the type it may be. And there’s also the fact that the addition of lights to the patio extends its use from daylight to nighttime.

The lights that can be added to patio umbrellas include:

• Small LED lights that appear to twinkle during the night like so many fireflies flying about
• Series lights from Christmases past that are still functional can be strung on the patio umbrella or on the ornamental plant beside it to add a gay ambience
• Solar lights on the ground and on the patio rails add dim lights to the area for a romantic vibe without additional toll on your electricity bill
• Small spotlights can make anybody feel like a star when focused the right way
• Torches and tiki umbrellas with lights add a tropical vibe to the patio

You must study how each light can affect the patio umbrella’s appearance and, thus, beauty so that you can achieve the desired effect. Then again, you can always experiment especially when the lights are the portable types.

Plants and Bushes

The patio, deck and terrace all look great with the addition of green plants and colorful flowers to the area. So it is with the placement of patio umbrellas alongside plants, flowers and bushes.

For example, plants, bushes and flowers can be placed in strategic places around the Market umbrella to create the tropical vibe of a native hut on the beach. Add in the torch and tiki lights at night and your patio becomes a tropical paradise.

Along with the plants, you can also add statues, figurines and other ornamental objects to accentuate the beauty of the patio. Just be sure not to crowd the area since you want the traffic to flow as easily as possible. Keep in mind that the patio is often designed to be a relaxing area, not a cluttered one.

With these ideas on how to accessorize patio umbrellas, you can start transforming your house from the outside in.