10 ways to update your home on a budget

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If youre in the city, it doesnt have to be a large area, and if youre in the suburbs, a patio can help define your space. To me, says Dangel, I see a lot of grass, I see a lot of work. Anything that gives you a landing place so youre not looking out into a sea of grass with nowhere to sit is great.
Outdoor space can be as simple as a DIY patio made of pavers and landscaped with a container garden or as complex as the $80,000 mahogany deck with grill, counters, and small refrigerator that Storey built for a suburban home last year. The important thing is to know what you want. I always advise people to get yourself a deck and patio book, says Toomey. Nobody can ever picture what they want. You cant look at too many books.