The past few weeks have really brought the wonderfully welcome changes of spring to our world, and most of us would say that it’s not a moment too soon. Living in an area where we spend a good portion of our year cocooned inside our homes, spring offers exhilarating opportunities to get back outside and relish the fresh air, sunshine and warmer temperatures.
Nearly everywhere you go these days, you can see people outside enjoying this glorious time of year. Jogging, walking dogs, playing in the park, and riding bikes are all clearly popular pastimes.
But have you really considered how you spend your less active time outdoors, as well? Creating truly comfortable, stylish outdoor living spaces is a huge trend in the home furnishings industry right now, and new introductions among every category of furnishings make it so much fun.
Gone are the days when our choices for outdoor furniture materials consisted of nylon webbing, hard, hot metal or plastic! Today’s outdoor furniture, appliances and accessories are oftentimes hard to distinguish from what we use indoors, giving us the capability to multiply our living spaces by extending them beyond the boundaries of our traditional walls.
The process of creating an outdoor room begins with site selection. The most obvious choices include a spacious porch, patio or deck. If, however, you don’t have any of those, you can certainly choose a favorite area of your yard just as effectively. Find a spot where both sunlight and shade can be enjoyed, as well as one with a pleasing view.
Outdoor living spaces can be as simple or as elaborate as you want to make them. The basics, however, include comfortable seating and a place to set a beverage or book.
In the old days, that would mean a few folding lawn chairs and a folding metal side table. Today’s outdoor furniture, however, offers so much more.
New advances in the materials that go into outdoor furniture now give us the luxury of fully cushioned seats, upholstered in beautiful fabrics which stand up to the elements and foam which allows rain water to drain right through it.
All-weather framing materials may look like yesterday’s rattan and wicker, but now resist drying, cracking, and mildewing, and never need painting. Figure out how many people you’d like to be able to seat comfortably in your space, and then have a ball selecting some beautiful chairs, or even an outdoor sofa or loveseat.
Beyond the basics of seating, your outdoor room should also include coordinating occasional tables within easy reach. Did you know, however, that you can now add the finishing touches of outdoor lamps, artwork and rugs as well? All of these and more are available to be used outside, giving us the ability to truly create a “room” outdoors!
Most of us love to dine outdoors in the summertime, too, so incorporating some type of dining table and chairs is a great idea. Once again, the comfort and aesthetics that are available today far surpass the utilitarian options of years ago. Don’t lock yourself into the old standard styles and materials; explore all the options!
If you’re a really avid fresh air and outdoor cooking fan, you might consider creating an outdoor kitchen. Take a look at the endless possibilities among grills, refrigerators, even beverage coolers that are designed for the outdoors, and let your imagination go wild with ideas for how those might be incorporated into a wonderful space for cooking and entertaining.
Outdoor living is a true joy for many of us, and a more-than-welcome alternative to the months that we spend indoors much of the year. Whether you choose to make your outdoor living space simple and functional or out-of-this-world and elaborate, the key is to have it be comfortable, inviting, and reflective of your personality. And then, to take the time to sit down and enjoy it!
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