All Outdoor Patio Furniture

Now that you’ve cleaned and repaired all of the concrete and asphalt around your house, it’s time to relax for awhile.  So, invite a few friends over, throw some steaks on the grill, and get the picnic table ready.  After you eat, sit back on your porch furniture and socialize, or take a snooze in the hammock.

Once you’re well-rested, you can start surveying the landscape again, with fresh eyes, to see what other tasks there are to be done before summer fades away.  For one thing, you may want to get a heads-up on the tree situation, as low-swaying, dead, or diseased branches can be quite hazardous, especially in cold, stormy weather.

For example, they can rub against, and damage, your roof, siding, and gutters, while steadily dumping loads of leaves and sticks.  They can also hurt other outdoor structures, such as garages, gazebos, sheds, cabanas, and pool houses.  Furthermore, in high winds, or when laden with ice and snow, they are famous for dropping entire limbs, or dropping entirely.  On top of that, they act as natural bridges and ladders to your home, for rats, mice, and squirrels trying to find places to hole up; and you don’t want to have these worries hanging over your head all winter.

Therefore, in order to preclude the impending peril posed by these precarious perches, it’s imperative that you pinpoint and prune them, pronto.  Identify the ones that are the biggest threats, and, as long as you can get to and remove them safely, cut them back, or cut them off completely.  If you see any branches that are obviously dangerous, but out of reach, or any that you’re not sure about, you may have to call a certified arborist and/or tree removal service.

This is also a good time to take another look at your deck.  By this point in the summer, it has probably been continually supporting a lot of people, pets, patio furniture, and planters; and it’s been constantly exposed to the elements.  If it has been treated regularly with a sealer, that shouldn’t be a problem; otherwise, it may have taken on a great deal of moisture.

Moreover, if it’s left to endure a winter of ice, snow, and rain, the wood will repeatedly absorb water, as it expands and contracts, and will develop cracks.  As they deepen over time, the water will penetrate further, and the deck will get weaker.  If you can’t remember the last time you sealed and/or stained it (or if you’ve recently moved in, and haven’t done it yet), do a quick test.  Just pour some water over the boards, and if it beads up, you don’t have to worry; but if it sinks in, the deck needs another treatment.

Besides looking for cracks, and making certain that it’s water-repellent, examine your deck, top and bottom, for loose boards.  Shake the railings to ensure that they’re secure, and inspect the stairs, too, as the expanding and contracting of the wood can also dislodge hardware.  Any nails or screws that are sticking up should be refastened, or replaced with galvanized deck screws.

There’s no over-emphasizing the importance of keeping decks strong and healthy, considering how many of them collapse every year.  So, remember – a check of the deck prevents a heck of a wreck!

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

Tags: Cabanas, Gazebos, hammock, outdoor structures, patio furniture, picnic table, Planters, pool houses, porch furniture, Sheds

classic Pasisian balconies

If you have a small porch, you may be confronted with the issue of choosing and arranging outdoor furniture that will make the most of this outdoor space.  But, before you start fretting, take a moment to give thanks!  Even a small Parisian balcony is something to be thankful for, as an outdoor space attached to your home is a wonderful gift.

But, now that you’re thoroughly thankful for your porch, it’s time to figure out how to make the most of it.

For you dwellers of the small porch, don’t shy away from adding patio furniture.  I find Adirondack chairs and outdoor rocking chairs the most versatile pieces for smaller porches.  They’re easily transportable, fun to re arrange, and can be grouped or separated as needed.  Try facing all of your patio chairs outward to face the view.  You might be thinking, “My view is of a busy road and a neighbor that frequently mows the lawn in his underwear.” You could look into planting trees or trellis sections along the edge of your yard to block that view entirely with green.  But, we’re focusing this post on porches! So, why not try hanging a multitude of hanging flowers and plants around your porch?  Or, if the situation is serious, see if you can hang durable indoor-outdoor curtains or sheers to help camouflage the view. But, also don’t discount the fun of people watching.  While you may have tired of your exhibitionist neighbor-landscaper, your guests might find it thrilling!

Using a mix of outdoor rocking chairs, Adirondack chairs, patio chairs, and other outdoor furniture, you can arrange them to all face out but cluster them to still encourage conversation.  If you feel comfortable, by all means go for larger porch gliders or garden benches, but don’t over-crowd your porch if the space just isn’t available.

Also, evaluate how you’ll use your porch carefully.  Are you looking for a space to relax or to relax… and eat? Or both?  Your porch might not fit a picnic table, but there are plenty of outdoor bistro sets and trestle picnic tables that are perfect for small outdoor spaces.  Plus, you can pull the chairs or benches from that bistro set over to your other outdoor chairs if you have a few extra people over to sit a spell.

If outdoor dining is really your preferred method of enjoying your porch, by all means go for it!  Survey your options for patio dining sets and outdoor bistro sets until you find something that fits your space, your style, and your budget.  And, don’t be afraid to ask for customized options!

If you have the room, make sure to still craft a little secluded corner for yourself.  Even if you use an outdoor rocking chair you plan to pull over to the larger group when guests arrive, have a home base for it.  Add an outdoor accent table for piling books and setting your drink on, and know that that little corner of the porch will be your special spot.  If you prefer afternoon naps to afternoon snacks… string a hammock in the corner of your porch.  It will give you a retreat, while adding a hint of relaxing whimsy to your over-all design scheme.

No matter the size of your porch though, porch swings will work anywhere!  In fact, you might want to use one  to craft that personal retreat I mentioned earlier.  Find an outdoor furniture retailer that provides customizable lengths, measure the widest part of your porch, and ask them what size they recommend to get the most use from the area.  Don’t forget to also get plush outdoor furniture cushions and throw pillows to make your porch swing a destination!

So, no matter the size, shape, or view from your porch… remember that it’s a blessing! Use your space wisely with expert outdoor furniture arrangement, and you’ll enjoy it for longer!

Have Fun!

Hazel

Tags: adirondack chairs, garden benches, hammock, outdoor bistro sets, Outdoor Furniture, outdoor rocking chairs, patio chairs, patio dining sets, patio furniture, picnic table, porch gliders, porch swings, porches, trestle picnic tables

Nearly everything, including the way we dress and decorate, the tools and equipment we use, the food we eat, the places we go, and even the way we live, changes with the seasons.    Consequently, many of our possessions are stored in garages, sheds, attics, and cedar chests, for the better part of the year.

Right now, for example, patio furniture, grills, picnic tables and baskets, shorts, tank tops, lawn games, and mowers, are being used or worn every day.  Two months from now, however, we’ll be packing them up, and getting out our warm clothes, rakes, and fall decorations.

Even those who live in regions where the weather barely changes throughout the year, have to adjust to the seasons.  The only difference is that they don’t have quite as many things to put into storage; and that’s good.  After all, it’s sad when something that has been indispensable for months, suddenly becomes a worthless object that’s merely taking up space.

So, it’s always nice to find ways to be able to use things beyond their traditional seasons.  For instance, many people who live in cold climates enclose their porches, patios, and gazebos, so that they can enjoy their porch furniture year-round.  Millions of people have also decided that their Christmas lights, rather than being buried in boxes, should be strung around their arbors, trellises, and pergolas, to add permanent sparkle to their outdoor décor.

Picnic baskets, too, can be functional all year long; yet, people usually put them away at the end of summer.  That’s a shame, because they sometimes get dirty or damaged, or even gnawed by rodents, during the winter (the baskets, that is, not the people – or so one hopes).  Furthermore, like the other types, picnic baskets are attractive, and available in different designs and colors; and they can serve a number of purposes.

Therefore, it doesn’t make sense to keep them hidden away, especially if you have more than one picnic basket, as many people do.  Keep one on your porch or deck, near your favorite lounge chair, and use it to hold magazines, board games, knitting supplies, binoculars and bird books, or anything else that you want to have handy.

In your pool house, you can fill picnic baskets with towels, tanning lotion, bug spray, hairspray (just don’t get those two mixed up!), or other health and beauty products, for guests to use.  Larger baskets can hold extra blankets or outdoor throw pillows, for those chilly nights when you’re lying in your hammock or swingbed, gazing at the stars.  At backyard parties, put them on your outdoor buffet table, to hold napkins and utensils.

Of course, you can always use picnic baskets in your kitchen.  Fill them with snack foods, such as cookies, crackers, nuts, protein bars, and even cereal, rice, and beans (as long as they’re sealed in plastic bags).  You can also keep napkins and tablecloths in them.

In the summer, drape some cloth napkins in pretty patterns, such as gingham, around the edges of the picnic basket, and put a bouquet of dried flowers on top.  Use russet-colored napkins and, perhaps, dried leaves or Indian corn, in the fall.  At Christmastime, use red and green napkins, along with any of the multitude of seasonal decorations.  When spring comes around, try flowered or pastel napkins, and some colorful flowers.

Truly, if you let your creativity flow, you’ll think of a hundred uses for picnic baskets.  If you can save just one of them from the jaws of a rodent, it will be worth it.

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

Tags: Arbors, cedar chests, Gazebos, grills, hammock, outdoor buffet table, outdoor decor, patio furniture, Pergolas, picnic tables, Pool house, porch furniture, Sheds, swing bed, trellises

I am positively BUZZING about today’s premier blog hop for Kathy Peterson’s Adirondack Chair.   Our first Adirondack chair comes from Pat Sloan!

Pat Sloan has been creating since she was a child.  From the first shoebox dioramas to sketches for a fabric line, there has always been creative energy flowing.  When she tried her hand at quilting in 1985, she never looked back.  Now, owner and founder of the quilting design and publishing company Pat Sloan & Co., she has published over 20 books, more than 100 patterns, nearly 10 fabric lines, and has had her work featured in major quilt magazines.

Pat first began sharing her knowledge through her publications, workshops, and lectures, but has expanded her reach through social media.  She has built quilting yahoo groups, forums, facebook communities, and even the group “Quilters in Second Life” for quilting enthusiasts using the popular virtual world, Second Life.  Also interested in beading, painting, and paper crafting, Pat’s overall passion has always been to help others harness their creative energy.

As a quilt designer, she designed her Adirondack chair to look like a double wedding ring quilt pattern.  My favorite part about it is that the warm, comfy feeling I get when wrapped up in one of my mother’s quilts is so similar to that relaxed, happy feeling I get when sinking into an Adirondack chair.  It’s the perfect pairing!

She shows you the steps to create it yourself, as well as materials, tips, and cute quips!  Hop on over to check it out!

Click to see the rest of Pat Sloan’s Double Wedding Ring Quilt Adirondack Chair

Have Fun!

Hazel

Tags: adirondack chair, blog hop, Outdoor Furniture, painting, pat sloan, patio furniture, quilts

If you’re looking for an excellent summer project for you and your family, look no further than the blog-osphere!.  TV designer, Kathy Peterson, is using her exclusive new line of patio furniture, Kathy Peterson Inspired-Outdoor Lifestyles to excite creative mastery in crafters everywhere.

“When I was creating my line of patio furniture, I wanted to offer as many color options as possible,” said designer, Peterson. “But, I also wanted to invite the creative in all of us to participate in the fun, so I crafted each piece from Cypress to allow for easy painting and decorating.”  Cypress, a resilient hard word with natural oil embedded in the heartwood, makes it naturally resistant to insects and decay. When kiln dried, cypress has little tendency to warp or cup. But, beyond its durability, it readily accepts all sorts of paints and stains.  “I wanted to find a way to inspire people to put their own personal touch on their outdoor living spaces,” Peterson commented.

To reach this goal, Kathy Peterson hand selected five diverse designers with talents in all areas of creativity.  Each designer will be putting her own unique decorating touch on an unfinished Adirondack chair from Kathy’s line.  Highlighting a designer project every Tuesday from July 20 to August 17, each blogger will be posting photos, directions, inspirations, and materials for her distinctive spin. Everyone involved is anxious to see the completed projects.  As the coordinator, I can tell you that everyone has been buzzing about how each designer is putting her own creative touch on it.

If you thought that once you’ve seen one Adirondack chair, you’ve seen them all… think again!  Kathy Peterson gathered five incredibly unique crafters and designers that will each redefine how you see an Adirondack chair.  And, seeing them all is as easy as ever!

Just stop by this blog (or any of the designer blogs) every Tuesday to see a sneak peak of the decorated chair and a link over to the featured blog.  Then, hop on over there and see all the photos and inspirations!

These versatile designers include Margot Potter, The Impatient Crafter TV personality cracking up readers and inspiring creativity in six humorous how-to design books; Kathy Cano-Murillo, author of the crafting book “Waking Up in the Land of Glitter”; Julianna Hudgins, an HGTV and DIY network regular; Julie Fillo, an off beat painter whose work reflects folk tendencies and soul-searching inspiration, and Pat Sloan, a highly sought quilt designer and master quilter.

Beaders, Jewelry makers, quilters, scrap bookers, glitter enthusiasts? How can you not be dying to see what they’re plans are for an Adirondack chair?! It kicks off with Pat Sloan, quilter, tomorrow morning.  So, stop back to see the creativity and get inspired!

Have Fun!!

Hazel.

Tags: adirondack chairs, blog hop, Kathy Peterson Inspirations, Outdoor Furniture, patio furniture, tv designers

In most areas of the country, this is considered to be the best time of the year for selling homes.  In fact, unless they have urgent reasons for doing so, many people won’t dare to put theirs on the market when the weather is cold.

The general feeling is that houses look a lot friendlier when the sun is shining, the sky is blue, the trees and grass are green, and flowers are in bloom.  Patio furniture is also a factor, because, in the winter, it is either stored away, or hidden under outdoor furniture covers.  Undoubtedly, a porch swing, some comfortable patio chairs, and a pitcher of lemonade on an outdoor coffee table, make a much more inviting tableau.

On the other hand, every season has its drawbacks; and, in summer, one of the biggest is that the fast-growing vegetation can quickly get out of control, making your home look unkempt.  Therefore, it can be a struggle to maintain “curb appeal,” the term that refers to the desirability of a home, when viewed by passersby, especially prospective buyers.

Indeed, this first impression can influence a person’s decision about whether or not to even bother taking a tour of the house.  Moreover, many realtors say that the landscape is so important that, if it looks shabby, some people won’t even get out of their cars.

Of course, even if you’re not selling your home, it’s a good idea to keep it in (or close to) showcase condition at all times.  For starters, practice regular maintenance, and you’ll catch minor problems that can be inexpensively repaired, rather than letting them sneak up on you and become major headaches that you may have to pay professionals to fix.

These things can take us by surprise, because we’re so used to seeing our homes and yards, that slight changes often go unnoticed.  They can be anything, from vines that are trimmed one day, and strangling roses the next, to a minuscule spot of mold that doesn’t draw attention until it destroys an entire wall.

To evaluate your own home’s curb appeal, try looking at it through the eyes of a potential buyer.  Every so often, park across the street, and approach it, as if for the first time, taking in every detail.  Start from the actual curb, and check to see if your parking spots, driveway, and walkways are free of debris.

Look at your mailbox.  If it’s battered or rusty, replace it with a nice, decorative mailbox; and get a new mailbox post, too, if yours is dilapidated or splintered.  Glance around and make sure that the greenery is perfectly manicured, and that your outdoor décor items, such as birdfeeders, planters, porch furniture, and outdoor lamps and lanterns, are clean and attractive.

Whether or not you’re going to be selling it, this exercise is a good way to, at least, get an idea of where your house stands.  I mean, appeal-wise, of course.  Obviously, you know where it stands, or you’d always be getting lost.  Well, you know what I mean!

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

Tags: birdfeeders, decorative mailbox, outdoor coffee table, outdoor decor, Outdoor Furniture Covers, outdoor lamps, patio chairs, patio furniture, Planters, porch furniture

As I believe I’ve mentioned a time or two (hundred!), every year, millions of people turn their yards, porches, decks, patios, and gazebos into outdoor living rooms.  This has been going on for quite some time now; and it doesn’t appear that the trend will ever end.  In fact, it’s reaching new heights, as these exterior spaces are also being made into outdoor kitchens, dining rooms, bedrooms, game rooms, guest rooms, and just about any other type of room you can name.

If you’re trying your hand at this kind of landscaping, and you have a large area to develop, it may be difficult to know where to begin.  That’s no wonder, because it’s like trying to decorate a house that doesn’t have walls or ceilings.  Wait a minute.  Like that?  No.  It is that!  After all, without walls and ceilings, it’s not a house; it’s a yard.  So, there you are.

Still, you can approach the task as if you’re remodeling the inside of your home.  All you need is some structure; or, rather, structures, as in, the garden varieties.  Yes, you can use garden structures, such as trellises, arbors, and pergolas, to define your outdoor rooms, and then work on each section as a single, manageable project.

Start by determining how much space you have, and how many outdoor rooms you want.  Make sure that they will all be large enough to suit the functions that you have in mind for them.  Otherwise, you may have to give up a room, or design one for dual purposes, as you don’t want things getting too crowded.

A dining area should be spacious enough for, at least, a grill, a picnic table (or outdoor dining table), some patio chairs, and a few accent tables.  To add more privacy or shade around a pool, place some trellises in key locations, leaving an adequate expanse of grass open for playing lawn games.  If you want just a quiet little retreat, you may need only a remote corner of your yard.

If you already have a gazebo, pool house, cabana, or sunroom, use it as a focal point, and build around it, tailoring the other areas to specific uses.  You can use anything, from a simple trellis, to a paneled garden screen, depending upon the degree of isolation, and the style, that you desire.  Even if you have limited space, one carefully-chosen piece, such as a gated arbor with a swing, or a double planter bench with a lattice back, can instantly become a miniature haven.

Actually, you can have a lot more fun – and a lot more freedom – designing rooms in your backyard, than you do when working within the confines of your house.  For one thing, having trellises as walls lets you change the size of an area any time you wish.  Moreover, with patio furniture now available in so many styles and colors, there are tons of decorating options as well.

Of course, you’ll also be able to select from thousands of varieties of gorgeous climbing flowers, which will surround you with color, and bring your outdoor rooms to life.  So, I guess that would make them living rooms, in the truest sense.

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

Tags: accent tables, arbor with a swing, Arbors, cabana, double planter bench, gazebo, grill, outdoor dining table, paneled garden screen, patio chairs, patio furniture, Pergolas, picnic table, Pool house, sunroom, trellis, trellises

When designing your outdoor spaces, it’s hard not to take inspiration from country lifestyles.  When our pace of life seems to be constantly racing, it’s no doubt that we dream of simpler times full of sweet iced tea and lazy afternoons.  Anyone who grew up on a farm will certainly be quick to tell you that the country lifestyle has just as much, if not more, work than a suburban dwelling.  But, let’s keep our dreams idealistic and create country-rustic-wonderful outdoor living areas to enjoy!

The best outdoor space to decorate for country living is a large, hopefully wrap-around, porch.  If you are lucky enough to have a big porch to work with, there’s no need to gloat! But, do consider yourself incredibly lucky.  Everyone else out there, don’t sweat it.  Gazebos, pergolas, and other outdoor spaces can just as easily transition to country living.

Use Functional Storage: It’s hard to say “southern” without adding “hospitality” after it. My grandmother can tell you that part of living in rural areas of the south is always being ready to entertain guests.  While, you may not agree with being quite so available, make your porch or outdoor area transition to a gathering space as quickly and easily as possible.  Keeping outdoor buffets and patio shelving stocked with outdoor dishes, table clothes, and even table games will make hosting get-togethers no problem at all.  One way to truly harness country charm is to make it obvious that your porch or outdoor space is not just an area you occasionally use… but one of the central spots of your home.  The more functional and lived in it is, the better.

Mix Bright Whites with Color Accents: Using bright clean whites will make the whole area look sunny and dazzling.  You can do this by using white wicker outdoor furniture or painting your patio furniture white.  Don’t go overboard, it’s not a hospital, but mixing  white garden benches or picnic tables in with your designs will recall that white washed country charm.  Then, add focal points with light blues and deep greens.  Don’t feel limited into only adding a blue patio chair or maybe a green outdoor table, weave these colors throughout your outdoor dishes, table dressings, center pieces, and ever flowers.

Don’t Skip the Porch Swing: There are few pieces as essential to a country porch as a porch swing.  Luckily, your options are endless.  Whether you choose to paint a wood porch swing white or one of your accent colors, choose a classic wicker, or even just stick with the natural wood… it will add immediate appeal to your outdoor space.  Plus, besides its stylistic perks… a porch swing is just a wonderful addition to your home!  Sway away your cares as you devour that book you’ve been meaning to read, catch up with a friend, or even just close your eyes and listen to the wind blow.

Mix Rustic and Refined: My mother’s house is bursting at the seams, all full of furniture and “stuff” that my great grandmother saved for my grandmother, that my grandmother passed along with a bunch more “stuff” to my mother, and now I am laying in wait for all of it, plus more, to be passed on to me! Sound familiar?  No self-respecting country porch would go out and buy all new furniture and décor, so don’t be afraid to use patio furniture that is well loved.  You can paint it to add color and hide some major wear-and-tear, and continue to use it and enjoy it.  But, of course, every generation keeps accumulating more wonderful décor! Mixing older rustic pieces with highly styled luxury makes a perfect balance of comfort and fashion.  Prize your keepsakes and show off your style!

Add Some Green: You certainly don’t need to have the best tulips on the block to have a great country porch.  If you’re an avid gardener, pull those container gardens and planters up into your space and fill up those window boxes.  Using green ferns and other plants will create warm and inviting spaces.  While brightly colored flowers will add those “simply nice” touches we all love.  Not into digging your hands in the dirt? Stop by a farm stand or other garden supply center and fill vases or old mason jars full of fresh cut flowers to enjoy their splendor.

And, if you’re really passionate, you’ll add the last perfect finishing touch: a big woven sun hat with a brightly colored ribbon and a tall glass of sweet tea.  Ahh, sounds perfect to me!

Have Fun,

Hazel.

Tags: garden benches, Gazebos, outdoor buffets, outdoor table, patio chair, patio furniture, patio shelving, Pergolas, picnic tables, Planters, porch swing, wicker outdoor furniture

While you’re getting your patio furniture, picnic tables, and grills ready for all of the cookouts that are in store this summer, remember that you’ll also have to be prepared for the arguments that will inevitably take place at many of these gatherings.

Now, I’m not talking about nasty squabbles, or drunken brawls.  No-o!  I’m referring to the disagreements over the cooking of the food, which always seem to arise, especially when there are a lot of “armchair quarterbacks” (or, in these cases, “Adirondack chair chefs”) present.  These are normally friendly debates, which can be about anything, from the best cooking techniques, to whether gas grills or charcoal grills are better, to whose barbecue apron has the funniest saying.

Among the most common disputes, however, is the difference between barbecuing and grilling.  While many people use these words interchangeably, they really do have separate meanings.  One of the best ways to describe the two methods is to say that grilling is high and fast, while barbecuing is low and slow.  Naturally, to some, these distinctions are unimportant; but, to those who consider themselves barbecue aficionados, they are crucial.

With all of the varying opinions about the real meaning of the word, barbecue, it seems only appropriate that its etymology is also a source of heated discussion.  Of course, it’s no surprise, as this is the case with countless other words in this language.

Although several theories have been offered, most authorities agree that the word, barbecue, is derived from the West Indian word, barbacoa, which is a raised platform or framework for supporting meat that is being slow-cooked over hot coals that have been placed beneath it.  It is believed that the colonists adopted this way of slow-roasting meat, and that barbacoa became barbecue in the vernacular of the early settlers.

While the natives, who were first observed using the barbacoa, often cooked venison and whole turkeys, in the South, where many claim that the barbecue, as we know it, originated, pork became the staple of the spit.  This is understandable, because, in the “barbecue belt” states, which include Louisiana, Missouri, Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina, pigs were an omnipresent source of food.

They were also low-maintenance, as there was little or no cost involved in feeding them.  They carelessly roamed free, uh, pigging out, on whatever they found on their own.  Oh, yeah, that was the life!  Unfortunately, they didn’t realize that they were effectively fattening themselves up for their own slaughters, which were festive occasions, wherein entire communities were invited to share in the food and celebrations.  This is thought to be the way that the traditional Southern barbecue originated.

In the ensuing years, all of the ingredients of the barbecue, including rubs, sauces, woods used for smoking the meat, the types of meat, and everything else involved in its preparation, have varied, not only from state to state, but from region to region.

So, it’s no wonder that the definition of a true barbecue is such a bone of contention!

Yours Outdoors,

Kathy

Tags: adirondack chair, charcoal grills, gas grills, grills, patio furniture, picnic tables

Have you ever considered using a storage shed as a stylish garden structure to heighten the fashion and function of your backyard? Many people worry that storage sheds are just cheap, composite-board structures that look clunky, uninteresting, and should only be used for storing weed whackers and lawn mowers.  But, while this may have been true in the past, it is certainly not true anymore!

Storage sheds have jumped on the fabulous outdoor living trend and dolled up their appearance to be a true contender for your outdoor living space.  No longer are they the simple, square or barn-shaped structures (though those are still available, of course) of days gone by.  Storage sheds come in all shapes and sizes, with unexpected roof lines and eye-catching color combinations.  Are you ready for the count down?  Five ways storage sheds are cleaning up their image!

Storage Sheds with Porches: You love to decorate your porch with patio furniture, why not gain another porch on your storage shed?  You don’t have a porch? Well, now you can have one!  Complete with porch railings and posts; your shed’s porch will give you a place to pull your art or gardening projects outside, while stay within reaching distance of your tools and supplies.  A porch will also allow you to keep the windows under the porch open, without worrying about a lot of rain blowing in.  Even if you just use your storage shed for lawn equipment, having a small attached porch will elevate it stylistically.  Passersby will assume your shed is used for something rare and unique, and you’ll never worry about it being an eyesore.

Potting Sheds Instead of Storage Sheds: Many storage sheds have made a full transformation into potting sheds.  Potting sheds are specialized structures used for nursing plants in the same way as a green house, as well as a place to store all of your garden tools and do your indoor gardening tasks.  Outfitted with rows of windows, as well as a large polycarbonate skylight that takes up nearly the whole side of the roof, you’ll create a veritable greenhouse that can be used for so much more!  Potting sheds also feature a long work bench so you can work on your container gardens and do all sorts of outdoor projects and crafts without dragging any dirt into your home.  A potting shed is a near necessity for any serious gardener, and is now as widely available as traditional storage sheds.

Storage Sheds with Skylights: So, potting sheds have skylights to create a greenhouse.  But, even if you’re not interested in doing gardening work in your shed, you can still have skylights!  No more dark, dingy, and mold-smelling storage sheds… imagine a world of bright and well lit storage that can be used endlessly.  See your tools and supplies with a skylight in your storage shed.  Just like a car is instantly more fun with a sunroof, your shed will be immediately upgraded with a skylight.

True, Screened, Opening Windows in your Storage Shed: Skylights let in light, of course.  But, a window can do so much more than just let light in.  New storage shed styles feature true, house-like windows.  Complete with screens to keep bugs out and the ability to open vertically, these are real windows! Again, if you’ve ever been in a more traditional shed, you know that the stuffy heat can be overwhelming.  But, imagine just opening up those windows to allow cooling air flow to flood the space.  Not only do the windows allow your shed to look more like a little house in your backyard than just a shed, you can get them complete with shutters in any color to truly design a stylish structure. Now, that’s a place for a lawnmower!

Storage Sheds with Flower Boxes: You may have assumed that flower boxes attached to windows should be an attribute included in the sections about windows.  But, I disagree!  Though attached to windows, flower boxes add so much more than just window décor to your storage shed.  You can add bright colors with flowers and plants that will liven up your structure.  It adds a homey, cottage feel that will lend your shed to a little hideaway, instead of just a storage spot.  It encourages you to do to some fabulous container gardening, right next to your gardening storage.  Flower boxes turn drab storage sheds into quaint retreats, truly.  Plus, if your husband needs a place to store his ATV or antique car, you can compromise on a storage shed with strong enough floors and large drive-through doors… that you get to decorate!

So, yes.  It’s true.  You can now create lovely little cottages like the charming wee bungalows seen in fairy tale art prints, and use it to stow your dirty lawn mower!  The only downside is that now you have even more options to try to choose from when considering a backyard structure!  Oh well, you’ll just have to get more than one!

Hazel.

Tags: backyard structure, garden structure, patio furniture, potting shed, storage shed