All Outdoor Patio Furniture

I truly believe that any garden is enhanced by an outdoor living space.  A simple seating group or even a dining area will allow you to enjoy your garden as much as you work in it.  After all, having a place to spend more time in the fruits of your labor will only lend to your overall enjoyment.  Sure, the sweet smell and exciting sights of your blooms and plants while walking along your garden path are certainly enchanting.  But, imagine sitting in it while reading a book, while sharing coffee with friends, while simply thinking about how much you love your garden!

Though, as many people embark to create an outdoor living area, they feel overwhelmed.  Flipping through gardening and home magazines, it would seem everyone would need to be an interior designer with years of experience and unlimited funds in order to craft comfortable seating or dining areas.  Is it possible to achieve relaxed balance?

In reality, it’s much simpler than you might think.  There a few simple planning tricks to keep your spaces even-looking, without seeming sterile.  I’m here to convince you that anyone can!

Start With The Basics: Before considering which historic architect your living space is aiming to exude, try dialing back and thinking about the bare essentials.  What do you want to get out of this space?  A relaxed retreat for just you and perhaps one other person?  An open-air dining area to share meals with big groups all summer long?  Or, are you looking for a more intimate setting to linger over tea and conversation?  Pinpointing these kinds of expectations will allow you to add the details in a much smoother way.  Remember to keep your purpose in mind throughout the entire process.  While picking each piece, ask yourself if it lends to your original intent.  That way, your entire outdoor area will keep a consistent feeling.

Rustic or Refined: Once you’ve decided whether you’re creating a big family living room or a quiet and secluded oasis, you can consider how lavish of a direction you’d like to take.  Many people thrive on the rustic, untreated wood settings.  If using cedar outdoor furniture, you can enjoy the sweet aroma of western red cedar while viewing the beauties of nature.  The natural luster of the wood can reflect the perfect simplicity of a day spent in the garden.  Of course, there’s also something to be said for luxurious outdoor spaces equipped with big patio umbrellas, outdoor furniture cushions, pillows and throws; as well as outdoor ceiling fans and even electric outdoor lighting.  Again, a lot of these decisions will relate back to the first one.  There’s no wow-factor quite like a plush outdoor room, but that also means that you’re likely to spend a bit more money and up the continued work required to maintain it.  If you want to add some amenities, but aren’t looking for over-the-top luxury, just add one or two things that you would find most helpful.  Hate the still air? An outdoor ceiling fan will keep the breeze going.  Worried about the sun? A patio umbrella in a bright color surrounded by more rustic furnishings will create a wonderful space.  Also try simple, unadorned outdoor furniture cushions to keep your back side comfortable without adding needless luxury (unless, of course, you want it!)

Vary the Pieces: While this probably applies more to outdoor living areas than open-air dining spaces, it’s important not to get too stuck on just one type of furniture.  Create a dynamic area by grouping porch gliders with Adirondack Chairs, garden benches with outdoor rocking chairs and unexpected accent tables.  Having a lot of different pieces will not only create interest and start conversation; it will also make it more comfortable for more people.  Some people love to relax in a chaise lounge, while for others a porch swing is the height of relaxation.  Cater to yourself, cater to your guests, and add as much variety in seating options as you can! Often, you can get all different kinds of outdoor furniture with a common thread—like a heart shape cut into the back or a similar line in the legs.

Add Color: Besides adding variety, the best way to make your living or dining area reflect you and look fantastic is to add color.  The ways to do this are nearly endless.  Some people choose to use their fabrics to create comfortable pairings of natural wood and coordinating colors. I would suggest having two or three colors in mind, before you embark on the fabrics.  Also remember not to overdo the patterns.  Stripes on your outdoor furniture cushions, plaid pillows, a flowered throw blanket, and a block-print patio umbrella is likely to be a bit overwhelming.  A no-fail strategy is to pick one area to highlight a pattern, and keep everything else solid colors.  Another great way to add color is to use paint.  This will allow you to make a wonderfully bright and unexpected space, or you can simply use a well placed lime green accent table, to draw the eyes around the entire space.  Imagine a porch with white wicker outdoor furniture, with muted blue outdoor furniture cushions paired with a matching blue porch swing off to the side.  The coordination of color will allow the entire porch to hold together as one living space.  Deciding on your colors and pattern placements before going into the project will ease some of those overwhelming choices, though.  So think about which garden hues make you most excited about being out in nature.

Make it Functional: Even the most lavish outdoor living area can still be extremely functional.  As I’m sure you’ve considered, designing a room completely exposed to the elements can create some decorating pitfalls.  Two big tips I would give come right down to the tables.  First, consider your tables!  Whether you use several accent and side tables, or one big coffee table, think about how you’re going to use it.  Personally, I love the outdoor tables that have a little bottom shelf.  It gives me a place to stash magazines or even dirty dishes until I’m ready to come inside.  Having a place to keep your “stuff” while keeping table tops clear makes me feel a bit more at ease.  But, if you’re someone who likes everything right out where you can see it, you should look for nice big table tops with room for all your outdoor helpers.  You might also want to consider storage or deck boxes.  A lot of really nice looking storage and deck boxes are available that can be used as a coffee or side table, or even just set out of the way to remain available for emergency extra seating.  These can hold your pillows, throws, even your furniture cushions.  Of course, it can also hold board games, outdoor dishes, or anything else you’d like to keep outside, but worry about its reaction to harsh elements.   Also, if you’re aiming for a dining area, remember that many outdoor dining sets are foldable.  This will let you simply fold them up and stash them behind your back porch when they’re not in use.

Well! I hope that helped.  Please don’t let another season go by without creating an outdoor living area within or near your garden, simply because the task of decorating another space seems overwhelming.  It’s true, outdoor room design is a bit more complicated than indoor rooms because the options and space constraints are so, well, unrestrictive.  But, relax! Have fun, try different things, and develop a space you can’t wait to use and enjoy by keeping unity while adding variety.

Tags: accent tables, adirondack chairs, cedar outdoor furniture, chaise lounge, deck boxes, garden benches, outdoor ceiling fans, outdoor dining sets, Outdoor Furniture, outdoor furniture cushions, outdoor lighting, outdoor rocking chairs, outdoor tables, patio umbrellas, porch gliders, porch swing, wicker outdoor furniture

If you have been thinking of adding a backyard structure to your landscape, but are not sure what direction to take, allow me to suggest the emulation of a Japanese Tea House. Called a Chashitsu in Japanese, these small buildings were designed to hold traditional tea ceremonies.  While a beautiful and ancient tradition, you don’t necessarily need to commit your backyard tea house to Japanese tea ceremonies.  Instead, you can use it to embrace the Far Eastern ideals of meditation, contemplation, and unity with nature.

Use a Simple Wood Structure: Tea houses were traditionally created from wood.  Using a backyard cabana designed with large screened windows and a double roof to emulate pagoda roofs will serve you well.  Of course, an open gazebo will also work, but I suggest adding screens to still create a place of tranquility.  You want your space to be connected with nature, but still separated enough for inward concentration.  Western Red Cedar is the most likely to blend in seamlessly with your surroundings.

Place it in the Garden: This style is perfect for those who have already pursued gardens.  The Japanese often see gardening as a symbol of uniting and learning the sacred ways of the natural world, and tea houses most traditionally situate themselves within these gardens.  Try to situate your tea house within a grouping of trees, instead of doing major landscaping to remove them.  Allow your garden to sit close to the structure so you can view it from the windows.

Employ a Bridge: A bridged entryway to your tea house is beneficial for two reasons.  First, adding water or, at least, the illusion of water to your tea house will truly emulate the Japanese landscape.  Plus, water is calming and encourages natural reflection.  Further, you can recall Japanese tradition with specialized bridges.  Far Easterners often use bridges to give the feeling of transition.  Using a garden bridge to cross over into the peaceful sanctuary of your tea house will give you that same feeling.  Many of their bridges were designed to zig zag, as it was thought that evil spirits did not have the ability to move in anything but straight lines.  But, when you open your mind and move out of the straight lines, you can avoid evil.

Provide Simple Furnishings: Traditionally, a tea house would contain no furniture.  Instead, the host and guests would use mats and sit on the floor.  But, unless you are looking to completely recreate a Japanese Tea House, you may want to consider just transitioning to simple outdoor furniture, instead.  Using cedar patio groupings or even more American-style rustic outdoor dining sets will help characterize it as uniquely your own, without taking away from the original intent. If creating a seating room instead of a dining area, don’t be afraid to use low-to-the-ground outdoor coffee tables to reflect traditional chabudai. Don’t hesitate to throw some outdoor furniture cushions around the table for an afternoon tea, as well.

Decorate Naturally: There’s no need to go out and get exciting and rare décor, stick to simplicity.  Potted flowers, a vase full of bamboo sticks, or even a strip of mutely patterned fabric hung from the wall will all invite tranquility.  You may want to go as far as purchasing a bonsai tree to set in the tea house to truly bring the entire theme together. If you do decide to use outdoor furniture cushions, try to steer clear of patterns or jarring colors.  Remember, just keep thinking, “tranquility.”

A Japanese Tea House is a wonderful endeavor if you’re looking to create an outdoor space that acts as a secluded oasis of relaxation.  And even if you’re not interested in such a large backyard project, using some of these simple techniques will help to bring Far Eastern harmony to your outdoor living area.

Tags: backyard cabana, backyard structure, cedar patio groups, garden bridge, outdoor coffee tables, outdoor dining sets, Outdoor Furniture, outdoor furniture cushions

As we’ve established, when packing for a picnic that won’t be held close to home (yours, or anyone else’s) it’s important to include anything and everything that you could possibly want or need.  Now, I don’t know whether or not anyone has ever actually accomplished this, but I do know that even the most organized, fastidious, list-making perfectionists can slip up sometimes.

Strangely enough, often, the overlooked articles also happen to be some of the most basic and obvious, such as salt and pepper, ketchup, or other condiments.  Another interesting-yet-common mistake that people make is forgetting something that is closely related to another item that they have already packed.

For example, they’ll put in the silverware (or plastic ware, as the case may be), but not the serving utensils, or the long-handled forks, tongs, and barbecue mitts that are needed for safely cooking on grills.  Likewise, they’ll bring blankets, but forget outdoor throw pillows, or towels (if they’re planning to go swimming).

Therefore, it’s best to think of things as belonging to certain families, so you’ll be able to make quick associations when you’re readying for an outing.  Perhaps you may even want to draw up some “family trees” for the essentials, and store them in your picnic basket.

Among the oft-forgotten things that should be on your lists are cutting boards, if you’re going to be slicing anything, and sharp knives, not only for said slicing, but for when you’re serving meat; in these cases, plastic knives just won’t, well, cut it.

You may also want to set aside an attractive, unbreakable vase to take with you on occasions when you wish to dress up the picnic table.  Fill it with flowers from your garden, or wildflowers that are growing near your picnic site, and you’ll have a lovely centerpiece.

Outdoor folding chairs are great to have along as well, but if you don’t have room for them in your vehicle, load up some of your outdoor furniture cushions.  You can use the ones from your patio chairs to sit on, and those from your lounge chairs for napping or sunbathing.  Take a beach umbrella with you for extra shade, even if you’re not going near the water; and don’t forget the first aid kit, insect repellent, and sunscreen.

Books, magazines, puzzles, and lawn games, such as croquet, horseshoes, badminton, and quoits, are absolute musts for traditional outdoor family fun and recreation.  Of course, to make it official, you’ll have to leave the video games and other high-tech gadgets at home, turn off your  cell phones, and don’t check your e-mail (yes, I realize that’s a preposterous suggestion, but, at least, try it; you may enjoy your triumph over technology!).

Well, since I can’t think of another famous bear to quote, I’ll end this blog on a serious note.  While we’re all having our safe and happy Memorial Day celebrations this weekend (and that is what I wish everyone), the most important thing to remember is the true reason for this holiday.  It is meant to honor all of the women and men who have died while defending our great country, and showing appreciation to veterans, as well as those who are still serving in the military.  Without them, life here would surely be no picnic.

Happy Memorial Day!

Kathy 

Tags: beach umbrella, Croquet, lawn games, outdoor folding chairs, outdoor furniture cushions, patio chairs, Quoits

Colors play significant roles in our lives; so much so, in fact, that they’ve seeped into the fabric of our language and our culture, and have even saturated our sensibilities.

Each color has its own, special meaning, and many are used universally to represent and convey specific feelings and ideas.  Colors influence our moods, and can be used to warn, welcome, comfort, excite, soothe, and inspire.  They are famously invoked to denote rage (I’m seeing red!), envy (the green-eyed monster has reared its ugly head), sadness (I’m feeling blue), cowardice (yer yella!), good health (I’m feeling in the pink!), and more.  Those that aren’t used in expressions are often turned into names, such as Violet, Sienna, and Pearl (although the term, “pearls of wisdom,” puts that last one into both categories).

In some cases, colors are crucial to orderly societal functions.  For example, when driving, everyone knows that red means stop, green means go, and yellow means step on it!  (Just kidding, of course!)  Likewise, we’re all aware of the indications when we hear “red alert,” or “code blue.”

Colors are commonly associated with pride, strength, and unity, as on a nation’s flag, or a team’s uniform.  They are also integral to some of our major celebrations and holidays; on Independence Day, red, white, and blue prevail, while at Christmas, red and green dominate the scene.  Some monumental affairs, such as weddings, are completely planned around theme colors.

Even the degree of happiness that we feel in our own homes is affected by colors.  When we decorate a room, no matter what style we choose, or which materials and furniture that we use, our satisfaction with the results often depends largely upon the color scheme.  This is equally true of our homes’ exterior areas, including porches, backyards, patios, decks, and gazebos.  Actually, because these have become, for millions of people, the main places for entertaining during the warmer months, outdoor décor is more important than ever.

Fortunately, it’s very easy to bring color to these spaces.  Besides your natural surroundings, which may include a variety of multi-hued vegetation, you can plant some garden beds, and display flowers in window boxes and planters, as well as on trellises, arbors, and pergolas.  Furthermore, because outdoor furniture comes in so many different shades these days, patio chairs, picnic tables, outdoor dining tables, and porch swings, can be just as colorful as the flowers.  Even solid wood outdoor furniture groups can be embellished with outdoor furniture cushions and patio umbrellas, which are available in countless colors and patterns.

So, just as is the case with everything inside your home, your outdoor furniture can reflect your taste, style, and personality; or, perhaps I should say, it can show your true colors.

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

Tags: Arbors, Gazebos, outdoor decor, outdoor dining tables, Outdoor Furniture, outdoor furniture cushions, outdoor furniture groups, patio chairs, patio umbrellas, Pergolas, picnic tables, Planters, porch swings, trellises

Ain’t it always the way?  After months of cold weather and cabin fever, suddenly, there’s an endless list of things to do outdoors; and that would be great, except that now, there’s not enough time to do them all.  Naturally, just as you’re rushing to prepare for summer, and the upcoming holiday that signals its unofficial beginning, it also happens to be one of the busiest months of the year for gardening.

So, besides getting your outdoor furniture, picnic table, patio umbrella, and grill ready, you have to do a lot of yard work, if you want the greenery to make for pleasant scenery at your Memorial Day cookout.

At this point, in most parts of the country, the weather is mild enough to plant nearly anything, except for the most tender perennials, annuals, and vegetables.  Just make sure that the average date of the last frost in your region has passed, before you put tender plants into the ground.  Remember, the soil must be warm and easy to work with, not having too much, or too little, moisture.

Now is a good time to plant lily, dahlia, tuberous begonia, and gladiolus bulbs.  In fact, if you continue to plant a few gladiolus bulbs every week, through the early part of July, you’ll have a steady show of blossoms throughout the summer.

Remove the faded flowers of daffodils and tulips, and give them some fertilizer; but don’t disturb the leaves, which are necessary for the production of next year’s buds.  Pinching about a half-inch off chrysanthemum stems that are over six inches high, will help to make the plants fuller and more prolific.

You can also plant hardy annuals, such as petunias, pansies, snapdragons, and dianthus, as well as primrose, coral bells, candytuft, and most summer-flowering plants, including phlox and daylilies.  Harden off houseplants and seedlings, little by little, by setting them outdoors for increasing amounts of time every day.  Put them in shady spots at first, gradually working up to sunnier places.  Cut back geraniums that have spent the winter inside, and repot them with new soil.  Lightly fertilize perennials as they begin to pop up from the ground.

Bring some extra color and life to your patio, by adding trellises, pergolas, and arbors, and planting climbing flowers, such as roses, clematis, and morning glories, to cover them.  Planters and planter benches full of vivid flowers are spectacular touches as well, and can be moved around to create eye-catching arrangements, seating borders, and centerpieces.  When you go shopping for flowers, choose some in colors that coordinate with your patio furniture, or your outdoor furniture cushions.

If this seems like a lot to do, well, it is; but don’t worry – there’s much more to come.  We haven’t even gotten into dealing with weeds, and the myriad other things that will constantly challenge your efforts to produce and maintain a beautiful garden.  So, actually, this is only the beginning of a never-ending battle!

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

Tags: Arbors, grill, Outdoor Furniture, outdoor furniture cushions, patio furniture, patio umbrella, Pergolas, picnic table, Planter Benches, Planters, trellises

Well, another season of barbecues and outdoor celebrations is about to begin.  Memorial Day is only a few weeks away, and people all over the country are eagerly getting their grills and picnic tables ready for action.  Now, there’s certainly nothing new about the excited anticipation and preparation for the upcoming get-togethers; it’s a May tradition that goes back a long way.

Undoubtedly, though, there are a few things that have changed lately.  For example, there was a time when it seemed that everyone had the same rectangular wood picnic tables.  Sure, some had attached benches, while others had detached benches; but, for the most part, they all looked pretty much alike.  Furthermore, when they were worn out, they were usually replaced with nearly identical models.

Over the past several years, however, outdoor living has risen to another level.  These days, because people are spending more time than ever in their backyards – relaxing, eating, and entertaining – many consider them to be outdoor living rooms.  At the same time, millions of people are enclosing their porches, patios, and gazebos, in order to create indoor/outdoor rooms that can be used year-round.  In any case, they want to be able to furnish these spaces as stylishly as the rooms in their homes.

Because of this trend, patio chairs and other pieces of outdoor furniture have gotten drastic makeovers in recent years.  Even the humble picnic table has been elevated to such a prominent role, that there has been a major evolution in the shapes, materials, colors, and sizes, in which it is available.  With all of these choices, shopping for one is more fun than ever; but, because it’s also somewhat more involved, it’s good to know how to select a picnic table that will fit your needs, budget, space, décor, and lifestyle.

Naturally, a lot will depend upon how you’re going to use your picnic table.  Do you want one that’s strictly utilitarian, one that’s integral to your décor, or one that’s fairly inconspicuous?  If you have wood walls, a closely-matched wood picnic table is more likely to blend into the background.

On the other hand, if you want to make a bold statement, create a festive atmosphere, or complement your motif, you’ll have no problem in doing so, because you can find picnic tables in just about every color and style imaginable.  The huge variety will also allow you to duplicate inside colors, which will not only establish a smooth transition from the indoors, to the outdoors, but can make an area appear larger as well.  Outdoor dining tables are great, too, and you can get them with outdoor furniture cushions that come in scores of colors and patterns.

Indeed, there are countless factors to consider when buying a picnic table.  Of course, even with all of the fun, new options, millions of people will still stick with the old, ubiquitous picnic table that we all remember from childhood.  Uh, not that there’s anything wrong with that!

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

Tags: Gazebos, grills, outdoor dining tables, Outdoor Furniture, outdoor furniture cushions, patio chairs, picnic table, picnic tables, wood picnic tables

Are you feeling a little overwhelmed with Earth Day? Perhaps you feel pressured to fly up to Northern Canada to personally save a baby Polar Bear today… or completely renovate your roof to be one of those green-roofs you saw in photos from Europe.

Believe it or not, you don’t have to wrestle down global warming with your bare hands to celebrate Earth Day. Relax.  Today should be fun! Here are 10 ways you can celebrate Earth Day today without making over your whole life.

Use a Reusable Bag, or Reuse a Plastic Bag:  Heading to the store?  Even if you’re just picking up a quart of milk or even going clothes shopping, using a reusable tote bag really cuts down on the waste you’re producing today.  Don’t have a reusable tote yet? Don’t be afraid to grab a plastic bag you got with another purchase earlier this week.  Then, at least, you’re getting more than one use out of it! And, if all else fails, really consider whether you NEED a bag or not.  Have you ever noticed that if you just get one small item, they always give you a full bag?  If you can simply carry the item in your hand, or even stick it in your purse, just say “no” to another plastic bag!

Have a Picnic: Your Earth Day picnic can be as expansive or as simple as you want.  If you have an outdoor grill, picnic table, or outdoor dining set… have at it!  Invite friends over, cook outside, skip the paper plates in favor of reusable ones, and celebrate how great it is to be outdoors.  If you haven’t created an outdoor room, don’t be afraid to spread a blanket out on the grass, cook your food indoors, and just enjoy it outside.  Working all day? Do what I’m doing: make your lunch (in my case, that’s heating up a can of soup and grabbing a yogurt) and take it outside to eat!  No matter how you do it, just enjoy one of your meals outside today.

Plant Flowers: Not everyone has the time and space for a full garden.  Heck, some people just don’t like it!  But, try it out, just for today.  You can get already blooming flowers that just need to be put in the dirt.  Or, you can go get a pack of seeds and spread them.  No yard? Try putting them in a planter or even just cutting the top off an old plastic soda bottle, filling it with dirt, and putting the seeds in there!  Today’s the perfect day to get your hands a little dirty and plant something that will grow.

Get Out Your Patio Furniture: If you haven’t done it yet, today’s a great day to get all of your patio furniture out of storage.  Remove those outdoor furniture covers, dust off the outdoor furniture cushions, and get your porch swings, porch chairs, and garden benches back to their favorite spots.  This will not only get you working outside today, it will open up opportunities to enjoy the outdoors for the rest of the summer.

Fill a Birdfeeder: Help out a fellow creature today by filling a birdfeeder.  Hanging a birdhouse or birdfeeder will help the birds get ready for the summer and give them plenty of nutritious food.  You’ll feel good helping out your local wildlife, and will probably learn something too.  Make sure you can see your birdhouse or birdfeeder from a window or a favorite piece of outdoor furniture.  You’ll be amazed how many kinds of birds and birdcalls you learn just by casually observing them.  And, remember, the first step to saving our earth is learning about it!

Go to a Farmer’s Market: Ditch your usual go-to super market today, and hit up the farmer’s market.  Buying fresh and locally grown fruits and vegetables is good for your health, good for your local economy, and good for the earth as it reduces the amount of fossil fuels used to transport food over long distances.  You’d be surprised how much of your usual foods you can pick up at a farmer’s market, and usually for not any more money that you’d pay normally.  It’s an extra stop, but it’s a stop that makes a big difference!

Go For a Walk: Adopt a lower impact form of entertainment this afternoon.  That’s right, turn off your television, turn off your computer (After you finish reading this blog post, of course! … or not, you can click out and shut off your computer now if you want.) , even leave your cell phone at home (can you do it?) and go for a walk.  And, don’t bring that ipod either!  Listen to the birds and the wind in the trees.  Focus on the smell of the air and the colors of spring.  You’ll be glad you did.

Use Water Bottles and Travel Mugs: Still reading? Okay, good.  But, seriously.  Go for a walk and have a picnic after you’re done reading this post! Don’t you dare grab a one-time-use bottle of water to take on your walk, in fact… don’t do it all day! If you stop for coffee on your way to that farmer’s market, bring a travel mug with you.  You won’t believe how many plastic bottles and paper coffee cups people throw out every single day.  Changing to a reusable water bottle or travel mug will reduce your impact a ton.

Hang Clothes Out to Dry: Did you know that people cooked, cleaned dishes, and washed laundry before modern appliances? It’s true!  There were no clothes dryers on the frontier.  Reduce your use of electricity by doing things in a more “old fashioned” way.  Hanging your clothes out to dry instead of throwing them in the dryer will reduce fading, make them smell fresher than any dryer sheet, and uses absolutely no electricity whatsoever! Run a line in your backyard, or even just pull your clothes rack out on your back porch.  If it’s sunny, it won’t take very much longer than a dryer anyway.

Make Earth Day Resolutions: Doing things like using water bottles and travel mugs, going outside instead of watching TV, hanging your clothes out to dry, going to farmer’s markets, and using reusable bags are all great things to do today.  But, imagine if you adopted some of these practices into your everyday life?  You don’t have to revolutionize your daily routines overnight, but just make one or two commitments for the rest of the year.  Will you change all your light bulbs to the Compact Fluorescents? Will you always remember to keep a travel mug in your car? (FYI: If you’re driving through a Starbucks and hand them a dirty mug, they’ll gladly rinse it out for you before filling it backup), how about opting to hang-dry your clothes all summer?  Little changes can make a big difference!

Happy Earth Day!

Hazel.

Tags: bird house, birdfeeder, earth day, garden benches, outdoor dining set, Outdoor Furniture, Outdoor Furniture Covers, outdoor furniture cushions, outdoor grill, patio chairs, patio furniture, picnic table, planter, porch swings

It is difficult, if not impossible, to name all of the benefits of container gardening.  Even if you pick a single word, to explain just one advantage, you can still take it in a thousand directions.

For example, let’s try the word, choices.  Just for starters, they are endless, when you’re looking for things that can be cultivated in planters.  The list encompasses nearly everything that can be found in a nursery or a garden center, including ferns of all sizes, flowering and non-flowering plants and shrubs, rosebushes, all kinds of vegetables and herbs, and even trees.  Furthermore, if you live in a cooler region, you can grow warm-climate plants in containers, keeping them outdoors in the summer, and bringing them inside when the weather gets cold.

If you’re a novice gardener, you can experiment in a planter, before deciding whether or not to try it on a larger scale.  Because a container garden can be confined to a window box, or cover a great expanse, you have tons of choices, even if you live in an apartment building, or a home with very little yard space.  Not only can you bring your small terrace, deck, balcony, or porch, alive with beautiful, aromatic flowers and herbs, but you can enhance your outdoor décor with colorful planters.

That’s another area in which there are more options than ever, with wood, metal, polywood, vinyl, and plastic-coated steel planters and planter trellises, available in all sizes, styles, and colors.  Scatter them around, group them together, or put them right into your flower beds.

You can create multi-colored or monochromatic gardens, or even choose flowers and planters that match your patio furniture, outdoor furniture cushions, or patio umbrellas.  If you wish to attract butterflies and birds to your yard, use brightly-colored flowers, and hang birdfeeders nearby.  Put plants and flowers that you want to showcase on display, in centrally-placed planter wagons or wheelbarrows planters.

When you’re having an evening party, add candles to your containers, in candleholders or hurricane lanterns, making sure that there’s nothing nearby that can catch fire.  This will give the entire setting a soft, lovely glow; and if you use citronella candles, they will keep mosquitoes away as well.

Containers can also be switched around to new locations and positions whenever you want a fresh look; and they can be moved to places where plants will get more sun, or shade, at different times of the year.

You can also dress up your planters with garden decorations; and there, you’ll have another million choices.  Just be sure to get something tasteful; and not one of those cut-outs of an old lady, bending over, exposing her unmentionables.  That would be perfectly dreadful.  In fact, I’m sorry I mentioned it!

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

Tags: outdoor decor, outdoor furniture cushions, patio furniture, patio umbrellas, planter trellises, planter wagones, Planters, wheelbarrow planters

One barrier many outdoor livers run into is the problem of using color with their patio furniture sets.  It’s often thought that too many Cedar and Pine pieces will overwhelm any space with a brown, wood tone.  But, adding color to your outdoor living space will spruce up your patio furniture and allow it to be holistically designed and stylish.  Though, take caution, too many colors and patterns will make your porch or gazebo look too busy.

Use Paint: The most obvious choice is to use paint on your patio furniture.  Cedar outdoor furniture won’t take paint well, so it’s best to just stick with a stain sealant.  But all varieties of pine and cypress work well with paint.  If you’re creating both a sitting and outdoor dining area, try painting both sets of patio furniture different colors to create more separation between the two living areas.  Though, if possible, consult with a paint expert at the store to pair colors that have a similar tone or richness to make sure the contrast isn’t too jarring.

Put Up Patio Umbrellas: Though this isn’t the best option for those creating outdoor dining areas under porches or inside gazebos, anyone with patio furniture out in the open should consider a patio umbrella.  Not only does it provide protection from the sun’s harmful rays, it is also a wonderful opportunity to add some corresponding color.  Modern patio umbrellas come in nearly any combination of colors and patterns, so choose carefully.  You want an outdoor umbrella that coordinates with the rest of your decorating scheme, so it’s important to have ideas in mind before you start looking around for one.

Coordinate Outdoor Furniture Cushions and Throw Pillows: Have you read this far and are still thinking, “Well, I have Cedar patio furniture and I’m using it in my gazebo.  Don’t you have anything for me?” Yes, I do!  Outdoor furniture cushions and throw pillows will create instant colored accents to your outdoor seating group.  If you’re worried that your cushions will become ruined sitting outdoors, you can breathe a sigh of relief.  Most modern outdoor furniture cushions use special soft-woven techniques to create incredible durability and mildew resistance without sacrificing style or comfort.  Outdoor throw pillows are a great way to add some exciting patterns to your patio furniture.  Matched with a solid colored outdoor furniture cushion, a striped or patterned throw pillow that coordinates with the surrounding colors works well to add interest. As long as you brush off any dirt and put them away in the winter, your outdoor furniture cushions should serve you well in both comfort and style!

Accent with Table Cloths and Outdoor Dishes: A picnic table or outdoor dining set is a great place to add some soft color.  Something as easy as a table cloth or placemat can be changed easily to mix things up for a special occasion or holiday.  If you already have special dishware for outdoor dining, it can be fun to match one of the colors or designs in your dishes to a new table cloth.  If you haven’t yet invested in picnicking dishware, shop for table clothes, place mats, and outdoor dishes together to make sure to create a well-designed and well-balanced set.  Bringing the entire area together will make it look as refined as your indoor dining room!

Grow or Pot Colorful Flowers: Of course, the most natural way to bring color to your patio furniture group is through flowers.  Whether you choose yellow and white daisies, red tulips, or green foliage… the natural coloring is sure to compliment almost any design scheme.  Plus, living and growing color adds a certain depth that even fabrics cannot match.  Try using windows boxes, planters, or planter tubs and arrange them on the steps of your porch or surrounding your patio furniture.  It can either continue your garden onto your porch, or create a garden if there never was one!

Using color in your outdoor rooms is as important as the porch swings, picnic tables, and other patio furniture that invite everyone to come together.  And, having an outdoor living space that’s as colorful and masterfully decorated as your interiors does not require a lot of maintenance or incredible design expertise.  Outdoor living is about leaving the anxiety of everyday life at the door; don’t let it become drab and certainly don’t let it become stressful!  Relax.  Have fun!

Tags: Gazebos, outdoor dining set, Outdoor Furniture, outdoor furniture cushion, outdoor furniture cushions, outdoor umbrela, patio furniture, patio umbrella, patio umbrellas, picnic table, planter tubs, Planters, porch swings

We’ve been to Tuscany, Japan, and Paris.  But, perhaps we should veer our travels to a more exotic climate.  Imagine an outdoor living space in your own backyard that likens itself to the Brazilian or Caribbean Tropics.  Drinking out of the ordinary cocktails and snacking on pineapple and guava, you’re sure to feel complete and total escape from the daily grind of temperate climates.  But, you might be thinking that you just live too far north to feel such equatorial repose.  You’re in luck!  I can show you how to recreate a tropical paradise no matter where you live.

Recreate Tropical Vegetation:  Even if you don’t live in a tropical climate, you can recreate a tropical feel by planting foliage in layers to mirror natural growth patterns.  Mix and match broad-leaf greens of different hues, shapes, and sizes with vines and ferns to create a holistically wild feel.  Then, add tropical-style flowers in vibrant colors.  The kind of flowers will depend on your gardening zone, location, and maintenance time… but hot pinks, purple orchids, fiery reds, and striking yellows will give the warm and close look of the rain forest.  Have fun, and don’t worry too much about everything going together perfectly.  You’re not paying homage to the manicured gardens of English royalty; you’re mirroring the untouched wilds of the rain forest!

Use Wicker Furniture with Teak and Eucalyptus Accents: Allow your outdoor furniture to mirror your tropical garden with inspired furnishings.  The deep and natural coloring of wicker patio furniture is a perfect choice, and the softness creates the rustic ideal of a hidden retreat.  Teak, a material harvested in the rain forest, is also a wonderful pick; whether you accent with a Teak side table, Teak garden bench, or even teak chaise lounges, the durable hardwood will bring out a tropical feel.  Lastly, for an even more exotic look, try FSC Certified Eucalyptus from Brazil.  It has an organically, completely authentic, tropical sense with hints of deep red in the tight-grained wood.  Again, don’t let yourself have a moment of anxiety over some kind of exact ratio of materials.  Use whichever material you like the best, and mix and match it to your liking!  An exotic approach means a relaxed approach, so let your more experimental design instincts run wild!

Having outdoor furniture that reflects the rest of the vegetation will bring your entire outdoor living space together.  Whatever material you use, it’s also very important that your patio furniture reflects your personality and desired use.  Chaise lounges and garden benches are perfect for families looking to lounge and socialize all afternoon; while picnic tables and outdoor dining sets are best for people hoping to eat most of their meals outside.  If you plan to do a lot of entertaining, a bar set or refreshment stand will offer both style and function. Of course, if you have enough space to allow it, you can have both a living area and a dining area for complete versatility!

Use Bright Colored Fabrics: While your garden furniture highlights dark, natural colors… you’ll want to bring out the vibrant shades of your tropical flowers with fabric accents.  Outdoor furniture cushions, patio umbrellas, table cloths, or outdoor pillows are all great ways to add lively hues to your decorating scheme.  Choosing solid colors in the same or similar shades to your most used tropical flowers will bring the whole space together.  Use stripes and patterns carefully, or even sparingly, to keep the more simple and rustic theme in tact.  The best place for busy patterns is on dishware or urns to reflect the rich and brightly decorated pottery often found in tropical climates.

Couple a Fire Ring with a Water Feature: Even if you live in the most temperate climate, you can give the steamy feeling of the rain forest by mixing fire and water. Of course, you can choose to install a swimming pool for the height of luxury and function, or have a small garden or koi pond put in.  But more than having a pond or pool, moving water, like a water fall, is really ideal for a tropical garden.  Whether you have a fountain, or water gently flowing over rocks, the sounds of water through out the garden will be the absolute best for exotic gardens.

Adding a fire pit or fire ring will create wonderful contrast.  Like striking camps set up in the rain forest, a place for a true burning fire will make the entire area seem authentic while creating an inviting appeal.  Plus, having both fire and water work together will lend the steamy appeal without all the humidity!

Create a Hidden Retreat:  For the ultimate in tropical outdoor spaces, create a hidden retreat.  Accessible by a winding garden path away from the rest of the house, the sky and your imagination are the only limits to creating a unique area.  For people interested in large-scale entertainment, a tiki bar gazebo can be a wonderfully conversational garden structure that will have guests flocking.  But, if private repose is your prerogative, a spa shelter for a hot tub will certainly serve you like a fresh hot water spring!  A Red Cedar Cabana or Gazebo also make perfect hide-aways.  Decorated with the same wicker, teak, and eucalyptus outdoor furniture, you can also install an exotic outdoor ceiling fan with palm or tropical leaf blades.  Try setting it up with a small desk with typewriter and leather bound notebooks to give the appearance of an explorer’s outpost.  Or, use chaise lounges and a well placed hammock to make a tropical retreat fit for royalty.  After all, you will be the King or Queen of your retreat!

Traveling and vacationing are wonderful pastimes, but creating brilliant outdoor living spaces with the design and luxury of far away retreats allows both your family and your friends to escape at any time, all year long.  A tropical outdoor living space will allow you to feel like you’ve flown to a resort in the Bahamas at a moment’s notice.  Integrating large-leaf foliage with bright colored flowers along side natural wicker, teak, and eucalyptus furnishings accented with bright, solid fabrics will set a calming and interesting color scheme.  Mixing fire and water features will give the appearance of steamy climates without the humidity, while creating a hidden retreat can be both a hub for entertaining and an escape for true repose!  Experience the versatility of a tropical outdoor living space!

Tags: bar set, cabana, fire pit, fire ring, garden benches, garden furniture, garden structure, Gazebos, hammock, outdoor dining sets, Outdoor Furniture, outdoor furniture cushions, patio furniture, patio umbrellas, picnic tables, refreshment stand, spa shelter, teak chaise lounges, teak garden bench, teak side table, tiki bar gazebo, wicker patio furniture