As promised, I'm back to share the other part of our patio makeover! I shared all the background about taking a 10x10 concrete slab and turning it into a pretty patio, here, so make sure to check that out if you're interested! One thing I didn't cover in that post was the reason we decided to have cement poured. Our first choice would have been tile or a floating deck and while either would be amazing, it wasn't in the budget. We also debated a screened porch but I already feel like our home looks a bit boxy and didn't want to add a "little box" onto the back of it. Plus it would affect lighting inside the house. If you can avoid giving up natural light, choose that option.
When researching affordable alternatives, I saw options like stamped concrete or pavers, and while those might be appealing, I figured if I'm not going to do something extra special (like tile!), I'd rather just save the cash and go the simple route. I planned to use an area rug anyway, so that worked for us. There are so many stylish outdoor area rugs these days and they can really elevate a simple concrete patio.

I will admit, I started with the lounging area because it's my favorite ;) But I can't be too mad about going from this...

to this...