Summer is right around the corner and that means many will be spending more time outside enjoying the warmer weather. OK, so warm may not be the best descriptor for the blazing and humid heat that is inevitably on the way, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of ways to enjoy the outdoors. Whether it’s a cookout on the grill with some friends and family or an evening sitting around a fire pit, hot or not, there are good times to be had.
We have put together a few ways that you can turn your patio into a relaxing or entertaining, or both, for the summertime. The past few years have seen a rise in smart home devices that can help elevate your outdoor spaces along with some options to add some nature to your patio by growing your own herbs and vegetables for your weekend barbecues.
1. Install a home security camera
Sure, a security camera doesn’t sound all that exciting, but neither does having your outdoor oasis tampered with. Setting up any one of our top outdoor smart cameras is a great way to keep tabs on what’s going on on your patio. Whether your budget is a bit more and you can put up a rock-solid option like the
The Ring Floodlight Cam includes live video, automated lighting and a siren to deter intruders.
Ring Floodlight Cam
2. Set the mood with smart outdoor lighting
Lighting plays an important role when enjoying the indoors or out. Being able to properly light your space is key. When you’re cooking and then it’s time to eat, you may want the lights a bit brighter and with a cooler tone. But when it gets a bit later and it’s time to relax and converse with friends and family, then something a bit warmer. Perhaps it’s time to turn up the music on your outdoor speakers and have a little party, then you’ll want your lights to be a bit livelier.
There are a lot of amazing smart lights to choose from depending on the lighting fixtures you have available and the look you are going for. Of course, you can always opt for smart bulbs in your existing fixtures. But you can go beyond the boring smart bulb with some impressive outdoor string lights like the new Nanoleaf Smart Outdoor String Lights I just put up. Another option is these really great Govee Outdoor Ground Lights to illuminate the path.
If your patio space has a ceiling and is relatively protected from the elements, consider a smart fan. You’lld get the climate-enhancing benefits of a fan with smart lighting built in. Fan manufacturers like Hunter and Haiku make models that work with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Apple HomeKit.
Smart plugs can turn “dumb” devices into smart ones.
Molly Price/CNET
4. Turn up the volume with outdoor-friendly smart speakers
David Carnoy/CNET
No outdoor space is complete without some great tunes — at least not for me. An easy way to bring all of your new smart devices together on your patio is with a smart speaker. Not only does this mean you’ll have access to music on demand from the top streaming services, but you’ll also have voice control over things like your lights, timers and more.
If you’d like to take the Amazon Echo or Google Home speaker you already own outdoors, try a battery case. These handy devices are great for making your smart speaker, which is usually tethered to the wall, portable and allow you to access all the features you love.
If you want to go the route of a booming Bluetooth speaker, check out the Tribit MaxSound Plus, which is our favorite waterproof portable speaker under $75. If you still want to add Alexa to the mix, the Ultimate Ears Megablast is a portable, fully waterproof Wi-Fi and Bluetooth speaker that has Amazon’s voice assistant built in.
5. Extend your Wi-Fi outdoors
Of course, to access any of the wonderful smart devices you have added to your patio, you’ll need one thing: good Wi-Fi. If your home’s signal doesn’t reach every corner of your outdoor living space, there are a few things you can try to extend your Wi-Fi outdoors.
