Be Bold With Color
Neutral colors and earth tones look great inside homes, but outdoors they get lost in the surroundings. Black furniture looks stylish in your home, but when outside it will heat up from the sun’s rays and fade after time. Why not add pops of color here and there to brighten up your outdoor living space? Light colored outdoor furniture is popular in shore towns. Brighten up your coastal outdoor living space with bold and bright colored furniture cushions and other outdoor accessories, such as, drapery, lanterns, planters, hammock, and rugs. Not a fan of bold colors or patterns? Start off small with your accessories. A little bit of color can go a long way. If you are adventurous, try adding some bold colored Adirondack chairs. They will add an element of fun and playfulness to your outdoor space.
Create Drama With Lighting
Lighting is a wonderful way to make your outdoor space look more inviting. During the warmer months we tend to spend more time outside. Set the mood with some tasteful and dramatic outdoor lighting. An easy option is to string up some holiday lights in trees or around your yard, patio, or deck. This will make your outdoor living area safer because it will help prevent people from tripping over things in the dark. It will also transform your yard into a inviting place once the sun goes down.
Good landscape and deck lighting can accent the assets of your outdoor space, while allowing the less attractive elements to fade into the shadows. Instead of adding lighting with holiday lights, a more dramatic and upscale option in Ambiance Lighting built right into to your deck rails. Lighting isn’t limited to only rails, you can also add pergolas with lighting built in.
Outdoor Kitchens
Where does everyone end up hanging out when you have company over? If you answered Kitchen, then why not add another kitchen to your outdoor living space? Why have everyone cooped up inside when they can be outside enjoying fresh air and a home cooked meal? Adding a second kitchen won’t only save you time from constantly going back and forth between the grill and your indoor kitchen, it will also create an amazing space for entertaining. Outdoor kitchens in your backyard or on your rooftop deck makes cooking feel less like a chore and more like something fun to do.
The center of an outdoor kitchen is usually the grill, but you can add so much more to it than that. You can have a full kitchen installed with a refrigerator, sink, prep areas, and even a brick oven for pizza. The possibilities are endless. Don’t forget to add seating. You can go the inexpensive route with picnic tables or go with high end granite bar countertops and bar stools. Go a little farther and add a complete bar with beer taps. Now that is an outdoor kitchen!
Add Warmth With A Fireplace Or Fire Pit
A backyard fire can be captivating and it can also bring families together. Whether it is a mild winter night or a cool summer night, roasting marshmallows with the family is always special. A backyard fire can be as simple as a hole dug in the ground and as fancy as a gas fueled fireplace. It all depends on how much you would like to spend. Chimineas and homemade fire pits made from bricks are both very popular. Make sure you look up your local fire codes before purchasing or building a fire pit or outdoor fireplace.
Water Features
What could be more relaxing than listening to water trickling over rocks or down a small waterfall in your yard? I can’t think of anything. Water provides a soothing and tranquil sound that will instantly put your mind at ease. Water features can come in several different forms, from small store-bought fountains to cascading waterfalls, it all depends how much soothing tranquility you want in your yard. Koi ponds are also a great option if you live in a milder climate. To be sure your Koi survive the winter, check the surface of the pond to make sure it isn’t frozen over. If it is, make holes in the ice so they do not suffocate.
Establish An Enclosure
Making an outdoor space that feels like it has a purpose and sets it apart from the rest of your yard can be done by creating a form of enclosure. An enclosure can be as simple as creating a seating area with its own floor that sets it apart from the lawn. Or you could create more of an enclosure by building low walls around a seating area to make it feel like an additional room of your house. Another option is putting up a pergola. A pergola is considered an enclosure but it is wide open and allow plenty of sunlight to shine through. Incorporate vines and other plants that climb the sides of the pergola to add color and beauty to your pergola.
Outdoor Products
A common mistake made by home owners is putting furniture outside that is weatherproofed and meant to be outside. Invest in quality outdoor items so they do not deteriorate when exposed to the outdoor elements. These products often come with a hefty price tag, but it is well worth it because you will not be replacing furniture after every season.
Create a Focal Point
When a person steps outside of your home and into your yard they should know where to go. Create a centralized location that is welcoming and the obvious place hang out. Whether it is an outdoor kitchen with a bar, a patio with a fire pit and seating, or a picnic table your guests should be drawn to that space.