How-To

Creating an Outdoor Living Space

As of late, more and more people are entertaining at home. This being said, people are striving to find ways to more effectively utilize the space they already have. The back yard is one such space. It's not just for children and overgrown grass any more. It's become an extension of the interior of the home. There is a growing trend of moving the indoors outside and creating living spaces such as family rooms and dining rooms in the backyard. The following are some ideas on how to do so.

Think about how you're going to use the space. Take a slow walk around your backyard and take stock of what you have. What features are going to be important to you? Are you taking children and pets into consideration?

The placement of your space is an important consideration. Ideally you want it to be close to the house. Be sure to allow plenty of space outside your doorway. It should be easy to get in and out of your home, say, to safely carry food and drinks.

Do you like to cook? Your outdoor living space can be an extension of your kitchen.

There's nothing more enjoyable than entertaining your friends outdoors.

You will need furniture! Make sure you have plenty of seating available. Add chairs, tables... perhaps even a couch. Arrange your furniture in a way that brings people together, face to face.

Accessories can make all the difference. Container gardens are good for adding color and interest. Try planting flowers and ornamental grasses in various containers. Shrubbery planted in containers can make a great privacy screen to shield you from the neighbors. Large colorful pillows will add contrast and be inviting to guests. Add some candles for quiet ambience. Try imagining things you already have in your home, that could be utilized outdoors.

Of course having a roof over everything would be nice. Covered patios are one option. We've created many from cedar, which is weather-proof and beautiful to look at. Don't have the money for a project so big? A pop-up tent awning may suffice. Or, bridge the gap between fancy and convenient with a decorative wrought iron framed canopy. Just want some shelter from the shade? A simple sun umbrella will do the trick just fine.

For night time use, you will want to add attractive outdoor lighting that will make your space perfect for evening entertaining. Low voltage lighting is actually very easy to install yourself. We sell a wide variety of lighting for every application in your garden. A string of white holiday lights to your deck railing or your or around the edge of an umbrella can also add ambience.

When you've got most of these things up and going, it's time to sit and relax!