How to Set Up a Budget Patio or Tambayan at Home

When I was thinking of creating a small outdoor spot at home, I primarily had one goal in mind. I wanted a place to relax or hang out without having to go outside. It’s a chance to enjoy fresh air, save money, and create a space that feels just for me.

Sometimes, the best way to unwind is right at home. Whether you want a spot to relax after work, enjoy fresh air, or take a break from screens, setting up a budget-friendly patio or tambayan can turn any small outdoor space or even a sunny corner indoors into your personal retreat.

During summer, taking into account my usual 12-hour workdays, I realized I couldn’t survive working in the heat of my room with only a standard fan. To make matters worse, not a single room in my mother’s childhood home in Quezon City had air conditioning to escape to.

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Why having a budget-friendly patio set helps

Safety, budgetary, and weather factors aside, turning one of my into reality was also about how I could reduce my screen time at work. As a writer and former researcher, I’ve been working with a laptop ever since I graduated from university in 2014. Not to mention, my entire time in college demanded nearly the same brutal laptop time.

A worm’s eye view of surrounding trees from my tambayan. It’s the closest I can get to experiencing nature from home!

Nonetheless, I love what I do, and I can’t afford to switch to a non-computer-requiring career even if I wanted to. Rather, I figured I should focus more on transforming my lifestyle so I could find the balance between doing my best at work and taking care of my body, particularly my eyes (I just got my third pair of eyeglasses).

I thought: Why not make myself a budget patio or tambayan? After all, I love nothing more than the outdoors, al fresco dining, and fresh air (at least, air that doesn’t come out of an overheating fan). Studies about how prolonged screen time affects overall health, including mental well-being, made me realize I needed a change

Also read: 13 Tips to Help You Stay Productive Amid the Coronavirus

Small patio ideas on a budget: what you’ll need

With all that said, how then did I manage to make one of my a reality? What I can tell you straight up is that it (surprisingly) wasn’t difficult. And even if I didn’t put a lot of time, money, or effort into it compared to the home makeovers or improvement activities of other people, my DIY tambayan has certainly been helping a lot. In fact, here are all the fundamental things I got:

The foldable chair and table I ordered, photographed before I bought them. Image credit (L-R): Nayonah Rizz Estacio Pamonag; Lojesimca Casim Lamonte

1. Outdoor space, no matter how small

Luckily, this I didn’t have to worry as much about. As I’ve mentioned, I currently live in my mother’s home in the city. It comes with a front yard mainly used as a pathway between the gate and the house. It easily gets flooded during the rainy season. But otherwise, it’s the perfect spot to build a budget patio or tambayan.

If you don’t have the same private outdoor space, an alternative can be setting up one right beside a window. The basic idea is to have as much access to natural light and ventilation as possible. This can also apply if you live in a terrace-less condominium unit or there’s just no available space in your place.

2. Budget-friendly foldable table and chair

I have to admit that until I realised I finally needed them, I never gave foldable furniture the attention that they deserve. Because of our limited clean outdoor space, a foldable table and chair became my salvation. This also helps prevent it from looking more crowded than it already is (we keep our washing machine, bicycle units, and other things nearby).

I decided to look for them on Facebook Marketplace and Carousell, rather than the usual Shopee and Lazada. With the option for same-day delivery, I’d be able to just buy them and lessen the chances of feeling buyer’s remorse. In the end, I got my custom-made foldable wooden table for ₱700 (including varnishing) and foldable beach chair for ₱500.

3. Any kind of entertainment that works

You can really get creative with this one. In my case, I opted for games, books, food, and music. For these, I have an I Spy book (the exact copy my siblings and I used to play with when we were young); any of the books from my room (I’m currently reading Into Thin Air, which I bought in Nepal); a Happy Snackin’ tub; and a portable speaker that I like to borrow from my brother.

While I often have these on standby, mostly I find myself simply playing comfort music and spend hours staring into nearby trees, the sky, or people passing by particularly on a warm clear day. Essentially, the same things I would enjoy when dining in cafes or hanging out in a foreign destination. Really, it depends on the kind of hobbies you love!

Also read: 5 Quarantine Activities That Have Stretched My Patience

How to make the most of a home tambayan

Finding the balance between being an outdoor enthusiast and a work-from-home writer was, for most of the part, challenging. It’s not like I could just decide to work in al fresco cafes or even our yard any time I felt like it. Besides not having safe and convenient access to a power outlet, doing so meant dealing with outside noises and other distractions.

I put all my available non-electronics entertainment together for this one photo. I only really use a few of them at a time.

Considering the circumstances, here’s how I’ve been able to make one of these work to my (or even your) advantage.

1. Use at select times of the day

I use my budget patio set during breakfast, the remaining minutes of my lunch break, and right after work five days a week. More than the “relatively fresh” air, I get to use this time to get much-needed Vitamin D while allowing my eyes to rest from my laptop screen now and then. On weekends where I do flexible freelance work, I use it as an impromptu workspace; but only until my laptop’s battery lasts.

2. Disinfect the furniture regularly

After use, I normally fold my table and chair to keep them out of the way. But that doesn’t always exempt them from dirt, insects, and other things that might render them unclean while in the open. My siblings also made it a habit to use the table for online deliveries. To keep them sanitised, I wipe the table with alcohol and spray Lysol on the chair regularly.

3. Recycle on top of buying items

Before buying the custom-made foldable table and brand-new foldable chair, I first scoured Facebook Marketplace and Carousell for used ones. I also looked at the things we had at home to help me save more. But the only one I could reuse was a worn-out plastic chair, which I use alternately with the foldable chair.

4. Leave less room for electronics

In the time we’re in now, I honestly thought it was impossible to survive an entire hour without looking at my phone, listening to music, or watching a movie during free times. Although I still turn to my go-to song playlist when I’m at my budget tambayan, I keep it to a minimum. Aside from powering down, staying in my DIY patio is a great way to reconnect with our pet cats.

5. Again, be as creative as you like

While I just stuck with a basic table, chair, and entertainment set, feel free to decorate your mini patio set as extravagantly or simply as you want. If you’re a dedicated plant-lover, you can even place a potted plant on the table or invest in fancier furniture. That is, if you’re after a specific cafe-like ambience and style.

When I use the tambayan to eat, I often do it at the adjacent roofed section so the leaves from the trees don’t fall onto my food and drink. But this is an exception!

Creating a DIY patio or tambayan does not have to be expensive or complicated. With a little creativity, some budget-friendly furniture, and the hobbies or entertainment you love, you can carve out a space that is perfect for relaxing, reading, or simply enjoying the outdoors right at home. It is your own little escape, available anytime you need it.

Also read: Budget Room Makeover Tips, According to a Pinay Architect

Like others who create cozy corners at home, I set up mine largely on a whim, finding a simple way to destress without leaving my space