Outdoor Furniture, Patio Furniture and more!

Much of the east coast was blessed (or was it cursed?) with a brief taste of warm, spring weather.  There’s something about those mild temperatures that excites a renovation bug within our bellies.  After all, isn’t that what spring cleaning is all about?  Throw open the windows, move the furniture and vacuum up all that dust, finally get through that half-completed re-organization project sitting in the corner.

The same is true of backyards.  Once the weather starts to get warmer, all I can see are garden centers and outdoor living retailers creating gorgeous outdoor spaces.  The way the snow melts into the soil smells like opportunity.  A shiny new spring, a fresh new look at your backyard that hid under that snow all winter, a brand new chance to make your home exactly the way you want it to be.

One of the best backyard projects is an effective outdoor storage system.  No great gardens or outdoor dining areas can be created among clutter and tools laying around.  Creating an efficient and functional outdoor storage structure will help get all of your tools and supplies in line to create a more beautiful outdoor space.

Deck Boxes:  For those with minimal storage needs, one or six deck boxes might be a great solution.  Many deck boxes are made specifically to hold outdoor furniture cushions and other outdoor textiles, to help keep your patio furniture accessories clean and well-maintained in inclement weather.  Deck boxes are incredibly versatile, as they can double as patio chairs as well.  Though not terribly glamorous, deck boxes and patio storage can be used as a quick outdoor bench in a pinch.

Potting Benches: Potting benches are a godsend to any avid gardener.  A beautiful and high quality potting bench can add a dynamic element to your backyard space, as well as getting you organized.  Many potting benches have basins for potting soil, and all have specialized storage sections made specifically for a gardeners’ needs.  Say good bye to the pile of garden tools sitting in a rusty bucket by the backdoor. Say hello to your fashionable, functional outdoor potting bench.

Storage Sheds: If you’ve outgrown your current patio storage needs, and are currently re-configuring your garage’s intricate hybrid game of jenga and tetris… it’s time for a backyard storage shed.  The world of backyard sheds has come a long way, before you grimace at those plywood sheds often seen lined up in roadside parking lots.  Stylish backyard sheds can be customized to fit any space requirement, and can be built with high quality tongue-and-groove cedar interiors.  Work benches, green house windows, and porches are all available options on any top-grade backyard shed.  Create a garden structure that stores your stuff and elevates the style of your outdoor space!

Depending on your storage needs, a simple deck box may be all you need.  But, if you’ve been putting this off for awhile, a backyard shed might be the solution to your car perpetually parked outside your garage!  It’s nearly spring, start planning projects that will renew your home and garden now.

Tags: backyard shed, backyard storage shed, deck boxes, garden structure, outdoor bench, Outdoor Furniture, outdoor potting bench, outdoor storage, patio chairs, patio furniture, potting benches, stylish backyard sheds

Sometimes, I think August can have an eerie similarity to February.  You start the summer eager and excited for summer entertaining and outdoor dining.  But, by August the heat has exhausted you.  You yearn for cooler Autumn afternoons full of pumpkins and mums.  But, just as you tire of the snow and cold in February, don’t you regret missing that last chance to build a snowman with your kids?  As far as I’m concerned, wishing away a season is a travesty.

But even if the August heat makes you feel sluggish, a few simple tips can allow you to enjoy your picnic tables and outdoor furniture with the same eagerness that you did in May!

My favorite tip for keeping outdoor entertaining easy and fun is to ensure your outdoor buffet or outdoor storage is stocked.  Clean and dry your outdoor dishes and keep them all stacked and ready.  Remember, when it comes to outdoor dining, there’s a balance between paper plates and your grandmother’s fine china.  If you’re used to scrambling for dishes when eating outdoors, choose dishes to designate for the outdoor dining area.  Perhaps a set of dishes you picked up inexpensively at a thrift shop, or even indoor dishes that you don’t see fit for your formal dining room.  However you choose your outdoor dishes, creating a selected collection and keeping them outdoors will keep materials handy when friends stop by. Don’t forget cutlery, placemats, and napkins as well!

Another trick I picked up this summer is to keep a spray bottle of cleaner and a roll of paper towels in your deck box or outdoor buffet.  Unless you have an enclosed outdoor living space, like a gazebo or cabana, your picnic table or outdoor dining set is likely to get dirty sitting outside.  So, have a cleaner handy to quickly and easily wipe down your eating surface.  If you’re feeling a bit more formal, keep an outdoor table cloth on hand to throw over the table as well.

To keep everything clean, make sure you keep eating and serving supplies separate from gardening tools.  Though, there are two things I do keep in the potting bench that are essential to my outdoor entertainment enjoyment… bug spray and sun screen!

Don’t let the heat beat you down, and don’t lose a moment of outdoor living!  Keeping outdoor storage stocked will allow you to enjoy an impromptu garden or porch party without stress.  The most important part of outdoor living is making sure you enjoy yourself, and sometimes a few simple steps can make a huge difference!

Have Fun!

Hazel.

Tags: cabana, deck box, gazebo, outdoor buffet, Outdoor Furniture, outdoor storage, picnic tables