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Patio Pizzazz!
Tips for making your outdoor space…special.
by Sandy Dixon, Interior
Arrangements, Inc. |
There’s
one spot that is often overlooked when searching for more
living space: the outdoors. Backyards aren’t just a place
for swing sets and barbeques anymore. More and more people
are treating their backyards like another room. Whether you
want an inviting, entertainment area, a private retreat or
simply a spot for basking in the sun or stargazing, your
patio can be easily transformed to perfectly suit your needs
and desires.
A porch or
patio, surrounded by nature is the perfect setting for
sharing with family and friends---or simply to relax
quietly. Just like the interior of your home, your exterior
decorating and arrangement will be as individual as you are,
where you can showcase your own style and preferences.
Following
are a few simple, ideas that will give your outdoor space a
feeling of welcome and beauty all its own:
Inspiration
Choose a
theme that reminds you of a favorite setting or vacation
destination to create a sense of flow and unity…a Caribbean
island, a mountain hideaway, a European village, botanical
gardens…
Color
-
A
variety of colorful plants in the ground, pots, railing
and window boxes,
hanging baskets or a variety of interesting containers
such as wagons, wooden or metal boxes, old boots (your
only limit is your imagination!).
-
A
painted fence, gate or shutters will give eye appeal to
bright flowers…whether it leads to anything or not.
-
Coordinating chair cushions, table cloths, and
umbrellas.
-
Paint
a back or side wall. This will accent your backyard
landscape and give you a color break and interest as you
look out the windows. The color of your plants and
garden accessories and yard art will pop against your
newly painted wall.
-
Are
you tired of looking at that old garage or wood pile
from the back porch? Put up a wood fence to block the
unsightly view. Paint it a bright color and plant your
favorite perennials in front of it. This can be fun and
functional at the same time.
Accessories
Personalize your outdoor living space with either
handcrafted or store bought items made from fabric, wood or
metal:
-
Statuary
-
Yard
‘art’ (stakes, sculptures, weathervanes, colorful
windsocks and flags).
-
!!
For original accents, search for garage and basement
‘finds’ such as old buckets, stepladders, watering cans
and furniture---either paint or leave to weather in the
elements. Clay pots, decorated by your children or
grandchildren (or you) add a light touch.
-
Trellis and garden arbors.
-
Stepping stones to connect separate areas in the yard or
as walkways around the outside of the house.
-
Birdhouses and birdfeeders: welcome wild birds by adding
hand painted
birdhouses and decorative feeders.
Lighting
For added
drama in the evenings, use
-
String
lights to accent an arbor, railing, umbrella or trees.
-
Add a
floodlight to highlight trees or garden statuary.
-
Line a
walking path with luminaries.
-
!!
Minnow buckets with pillar candles make unique and fun
luminaries.
-
Solar
lighting for railings, gardens, window boxes and
pathways.
Sound
-
Supplement the sounds of nature by adding
-
A
tiered, table or free standing fountain.
-
Hang
wind chimes from patio ceiling or in nearby trees.
Comfort
An added
benefit to spicing up your patio with color, interest and
comfort in mind, is that you can bring the outdoors in, by
creating a view to be enjoyed when working inside. A burst
of color, a bird house collection, statuary, the sound of
wind chimes and water can brighten your day when you are
working indoors.
The
possibilities are endless when it comes to outdoor
spaces---an exotic getaway, a calm refuge or a lively,
gathering place can be created without leaving your
backyard. Have fun and be creative when decorating your
outdoor ‘room’. ENJOY!
P.S. For more ideas on decorating your garden and patio,
check out
www.OutdoorDecor.com
www.ABirdsWorld.com
www.Bellacor.com
