In our last post, we taught you how to find an apartment with the perfect patio for your apartment living routine. However, we understand that many apartment dwellers do not follow a set routine and would like to keep their patio cool and pest free around-the-clock in the summertime! You never know when the perfect apartment pool-side party will end with popsicles on your patio at sunset, or if one morning you’d like to read with your cereal outside. To be prepared for all scenarios, we have compiled a few tips for keeping cool and pest free all summer long.

Plants and water features minimize the amount of concrete or wood that gets heated by the sun because they absorb and trap heat. It may be helpful to keep up with an herb garden or have a few potted succulents and ferns on your patio. You’ll also reap the benefits of having fresh basil or even tomatoes for summer salads! Water features, such as fountains, are also a cooling feature for apartments because when water is evaporated, it absorbs a large amount of heat. Placing an umbrella over patio furniture can also offer shade and a cooler apartment living atmosphere. To keep cool in humid climates, portable box fans under the umbrellas can also help. Box fans also help keep flies away from food.

On the topic of flies and pests, we know how annoying they can be for any apartment living situation, especially in the summer! One way to keep mosquitos away from patios is through using mosquito repellent candles, tiki torches, and sprays. Apply lavender essential oil to skin for a more natural approach. To repel flies, hang a plastic bag full of water with a single penny or a piece of tin foil inside above your patio. This is an old (and highly debated) trick to refract light and to alter the vision of flies. Because they have thousands of eyes, it is said that the way the light is reflected and affects their vision keeps them away.

Do you have any patio apartment living tips to share? Reach out to us on Facebook and Twitter. We’d love to hear your thoughts!