Turn Your Carport Into an Outdoor Lounge With These Five Items

If you have found a new place to park your car and are ready to assign your carport a new job, consider turning your old carport into a beautiful and relaxing patio area. First, however, you need to soften up this quasi-garage and make it inviting. Here's what your carport needs to become an outdoor covered lounge:

1. Outdoor curtains

To soften up your carport, start with fabrics. Outdoor curtains can be purchased in a range of colors and patterns, and they can be easily adhered to any of the sides of your carport to create extra shade and privacy. Designed to withstand the elements, these curtains breathe style into any outdoor space.

2. Planters

You likely won't want to cover every side of your carport with long curtains so consider using planters to define the area. It is especially important to put in physical barriers if your carport is next to your driveway and you fear someone driving into it after you have converted it.

Concrete planters lining the sides of the carport offer a lot of versatility as well as strength, and they can be filled with anything from veggies to flowers. Similarly, consider using trellises and climbing plants around the sides of your carport for a soft look.

3. Twinkly lights or chinese lanterns

To create a bit of sophistication for the evening hours, hang twinkly white lights or cool chinese lanterns around the perimetre of your carport. If you don't' already have an outlet in your carport, hire an electrician to wire one in.

Once you've got power, you can even put in overhead lighting and stereo speakers if you like.

4. Decking

Now, that you've considered the perimetre of your carport, you should consider its floor. You can give it a good scrub down and use the concrete as it is, or alternatively, you can add decking to the concrete. That creates a porch-like effect and lends the project an air of permanence.

In lieu of decking, consider outdoor carpeting, a sheet of vinyl or stamped concrete that looks like patio stones.

5. Outdoor furniture

Finally, it's time to choose a few pieces for sitting and lounging. Most carports are large enough to handily fit an outdoor dining table and even a couple of outdoor lounge chairs. Alternatively, hang some hammocks (permitting the frame of your carport is strong enough to hold them), get some bean bag chairs and make the area super comfortable.