About Parlor to Patio
Two People, One Very Practical Obsession
Parlor to Patio began in a rented duplex in an ordinary U.S. suburb—the kind with a shared driveway, landlord-beige walls, and a landlord who considered eggshell a personality.
The first real project was a small 48-square-foot balcony with one plastic folding chair, a few plants, and a Pinterest board that had been waiting patiently for two years. The makeover cost about $180 and took one Saturday. It was simple, affordable, and surprisingly effective.
We documented the result with a phone camera and shared it with friends. Soon, the same question kept appearing:
“Where did you get that?”
Then came the follow-up questions:
- How much did it cost?
- Would this work in a rental?
- What size rug should we buy?
- Can this be done without hiring a contractor?
- What would you change if you did it again?
Eventually, answering the same questions in private messages became more work than building a website. Parlor to Patio was created to collect the useful answers in one place.
Design Meets Practical Know-How
Behind Parlor to Patio is a couple with very different—and very complementary—ways of looking at a space.
She brings the design eye: color, layout, proportion, materials, styling, furniture selection, and the small details that make a room or outdoor area feel intentional rather than merely occupied.
He brings the practical side: engineering, construction logic, measurements, tools, assembly, repairs, materials, and the question that tends to arrive just before a project goes wrong:
“What is this actually attached to?”
One of us notices that the proportions feel wrong. The other checks whether the furniture will fit through the doorway. One sees a forgotten corner that could become useful. The other figures out how to make it sturdy without turning a Saturday project into a structural investigation.
Together, we look at homes from both sides: how a space should feel and how it needs to work.
What We Share
Parlor to Patio is a resource for practical ideas about improving the places people live and use every day, including:
- Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and bathrooms
- Apartments, rentals, and starter homes
- Patios, balconies, porches, and backyards
- Garages, entryways, laundry areas, and utility spaces
- Home staging, furnishing, decorating, and organization
- Small renovations, repairs, makeovers, and outdoor upgrades
Our goal is not to make every home look identical. It is to help you make better decisions for your own space, budget, lifestyle, and level of commitment.
Sometimes that means a full makeover. Sometimes it means changing the lighting, moving the furniture, adding a properly sized rug, or finally dealing with the corner that has been collecting bags since 2021. See our Backyard & Patio and Living Room guides for a place to start.
Realistic Ideas for Real Budgets
We are not building fantasy rooms with unlimited budgets, a contractor on speed dial, and a warehouse full of replacement furniture.
We care about ideas that can work in real homes and ordinary situations:
- Projects that can be completed over a weekend
- Improvements that do not require a complete renovation
- Affordable alternatives to expensive designer solutions
- Rental-friendly updates where possible
- Furniture and decor that balance appearance with everyday use
- Materials and products selected with practical limitations in mind
- Solutions that look good without making maintenance impossible
We also believe that “budget-friendly” should not mean “buy the cheapest item and replace it next month.” Sometimes the smart choice costs a little more upfront. Sometimes the best solution costs $30 and comes from a flea market. The skill is knowing which is which.
We Learn by Doing
Our recommendations come from research, testing, comparisons, and our own home projects. That also means we have made mistakes.
We have measured from a photograph instead of measuring the actual space, underestimated flat-pack furniture assembly, trusted a paint color to cover more than it could, and learned that outdoor products need to survive actual weather—not just look attractive in a product listing.
Those experiences shape how we write. We try to explain not only what looks good, but also what can go wrong, what to check first, and where professional help is the sensible option.
Because a “quick project” can occasionally become a second trip to the hardware store, a return shipment, and a conversation about why the instructions say “two-person assembly.”
Inspiration With Common Sense
The articles, images, and videos on Parlor to Patio are designed to inform and entertain. They are not a substitute for professional architectural, engineering, construction, electrical, plumbing, landscaping, design, or other licensed advice.
Every home is different. Before starting a project, consider the structure, materials, local requirements, permits, HOA or rental rules, safety risks, and your own skills and equipment. For work involving electricity, gas, plumbing, structural elements, roofing, heights, major demolition, or other serious hazards, consult a qualified professional.
We would rather see a project completed safely than see someone attempt advanced work because a thirty-second video made it look easy.
Why Parlor to Patio Exists
We created Parlor to Patio because improving a home should not require a limitless budget or a design degree. A thoughtful layout, the right measurements, a few durable materials, and a realistic plan can change how a space looks and feels.
Our aim is to make that process clearer and less intimidating by sharing ideas that are attractive, practical, and grounded in real experience.
Start with the space you have. Work with the budget you have. Measure before ordering the rug. Everything else gets easier once the floor stops looking like a parking lot.