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Posts Tagged ‘backyard’

Beyond the Patio Table – Choosing Garden Furniture for Your Backyard

Wednesday, May 26th, 2010

It’s relatively simple enough to buy patio furniture for your patio or backyard. You decide on size, color and style and once you’ve made those decisions it’s pretty much a matter of purchasing an outdoor dining set, some lounge chairs or a bistro table. But what about the rest of your backyard? Choosing the right kinds of garden furniture to define the different areas of your outdoor living space can transform it into a place where visitors are welcome to enter your garden and enjoy the view. Having a plan in mind will ensure that the garden furniture you select for beyond the patio complements and enhances the overall mood and look of your backyard.

Just like in the rooms of your home, creating focal points in the backyard draws attention, not only to the specific parts of your garden but also to the area as a whole. Placed in front of a window or in a corner of the yard, the Oakland Living Sunflower Birdbath in Antique Bronze, particularly when surrounded by bird-attracting plants, will be esthetically pleasing to both winged creatures and humans alike.

Another way to create a focal point in your garden is with an outdoor bench. Make the most of your time in the backyard during the warm summer months or the warmer days of autumn by placing a bench near a favorite flower bed, tree or a water feature like a small pond or outdoor water fountain. You’ve worked hard to get your rose garden or special flower bed in tip-top shape; a garden bench is the ideal way to sit and appreciate your handiwork.

Showoff your gardening skills by using a trellis or arbor in creative ways to make a statement or to draw attention to a particularly attractive section of your garden. A wrought iron trellis or a wood arbor with a whimsical motif like elves, fairies or butterflies will give your backyard a less formal, landscaped look.

The ultimate symbol (next to the barbecue of course) of backyard lazing is the hammock. Use one to create a welcoming place to veg underneath a favorite tree or beside the pool or next to a colorful flowerbed.

Don’t forget that your house has windows. Decorating a backyard with garden furniture and outdoor furniture improves the look of your house from the outside, but it also increases the esthetic appeal of the interior of your home. A well-planned, well-dressed backyard helps give both your home and its grounds that certain character and individuality that makes your backyard a welcoming place to spend some down-time.

Planning an Outdoor Living Space

Tuesday, May 25th, 2010

 Creating an outdoor living space not only increases the functionality of your backyard, it also increases the value of your home. When furnishing a patio, balcony or backyard area with the comforts and styles of indoor furniture, it not only creates an appealing place to entertain family and friends, it also allows you to make the most of the good-weather seasons. Don’t know where to start? It’s easy: just use the same principles for decorating a backyard space as you would a living room or bedroom or any other room in your house.

Location! Location! Location!

Start by picking a spot in your backyard or on your patio. Measure the space to ensure that you will have room for everything you want to include and that the grill or the patio furniture won’t impede traffic flow to the other areas of the yard. When choosing the location for your outdoor living room, don’t forget to take into account how much sun or shade the area will be subject to.

Have a Plan

 As with any successful decorating or home improvement project, it’s always good to start with a plan and a budget. Make a list of everything you would like to include from an outdoor dining set to a gas grill to a fire pit or patio heater. Sketch out a “floor” plan to help you visualize what it will look like. Write out a “to-do” list (repave patio, buy new lounge chairs, clean grill, etc.)

Divide and Conquer

Divide your to-do list into stages. It’s best to start from the ground up, especially if you need resurface or choose a type of flooring for your patio or outdoor living space.

Creating Privacy

An outdoor living space wouldn’t be complete without “walls” and “ceilings;” must-have components when creating a sense of privacy for your family and your guests. Using hedges, some type of fencing, an arbor, trellis or folding screen make great walls to block out prying eyes and unwanted street noise. “Ceilings” such as patio umbrellas, canopies and gazebos will protect you from the elements, increasing the enjoyment of your backyard.

Making it Happen

Once all of the ground work has been completed, you are now ready to place and arrange items in your outdoor living space. Start with the larger pieces first. Just as when decorating a living room, you will want the area to be functional and practical, but look good too.

Pulling it Together

Accessorize your outdoor living area to make it comfortable and inviting. Water fountains, wind chimes and decorative planters with colorful flowers will increase the look and appeal of your backyard. Placing candles or lanterns on a table not only will provide light, it will also help create a festive mood.

Because we tend to focus our efforts and attentions on the inside of our homes, we sometimes forget that our living spaces have windows! The view you see from the windows of your home should be incorporated into a comprehensive design plan that includes the outdoors as well. Especially if it can be seen from a living room or dining room window or patio doors, creating a beautiful outdoor living space for your family and friends to enjoy improves the esthetic and monetary value of your home, both inside and out.

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