Tips To Creating An Inviting Outdoor Space

Being inside is great – those rainy Sundays spent reading a book on your warm sofa – nice. But what about your outdoor living spaces. Not much beats dining al fresco or entertaining friends in front of a warm fire outside. No matter the size of your backyard, or any yard for that matter, you can create an inviting space ready to step into and make memories.

What you need

When creating your space, you’re going to need a few things. One of these will be furniture. No mater how great your space is, without furniture, well, you’ll be sitting on the ground. These days outdoor furniture is quite beautiful, and not so much different than indoor furniture. Whether you are going with wicker porch furniture or teak patio furniture, you’ve got options. The main difference is in indoor and outdoor furniture is the weatherproof aspect of outdoor furniture. With different materials, most of the outdoor furniture can withstand some pretty harsh weather, including rain, heat and cold. Whether you have a couple of chairs and a small table, or lavish couches, ottomans and armchairs, furniture will help make the space where you want to be.

Another thing you may want when thinking about furniture and this space is a rug. Depending on what style flooring you may have, a rug can be a nice piece to add cohesiveness and that feeling of bringing the indoors out. Look at some sisal or other all weather rugs. You may be surprised at the selection.

Dual purpose pieces are great for outdoor spaces. Garden stools are great pieces as they can be used for sitting, footstools or tables and are small enough to move around. They come in a wide variety of material, styles and colors. Benches are nice, too, as often they have storage space while providing great seating.

What you may want

Some things are not as essential as the furniture outside, but it’s the extras and accessories that can turn a good space into a fabulous one. This is where your personality and style can shine. Here are some great tips for enhancing your outdoor space:

• Lighting – Whether you go with fairy lights whimsically strung around the area or candles glowing for the evening or even solar lighting, soft lighting will enhance the evenings. Go for things that don’t need to be wired in to save money and increase flexibility.
• A mirror – In your home you may use mirrors to bring the outdoors in, do the same here. If you have a big wall that faces your beautiful lawn or garden, hang a mirror. It will bring that garden glory to another facet.
• Plants – Sure, it’s your yard, you probably have plants aplenty, but add some to your porch or patio in great containers. Again these containers can be an expression of your style, whether they are bright, modern pots or repurposed antiques. Not only will the containers be a statement, but the plants themselves will be nice pop of color.
• Separate areas – One area is great, but more might be better. Whether it’s a magical spot for the kids to hang out in full of fairy gardens and a playhouse or intimate seating for two to share a glass of wine, a little secret spot is a nice treat for your outdoor space. Remember, you don’t just have one room in your house, have more than one outside.
• A fire element – Everyone wants a fire pit. Maybe you can have a built in, but if you can’t, there are alternatives. Fire bowls are easy to manage and come in different sizes and styles. Remember, it’s fire so you need to adhere to safety measures, but it sure can add nice ambiance to your space.

Maybe you are lucky enough to live somewhere where you can be outside most of the year. Even if you’re not, you probably have a few months where the weather begs you to be outside and enjoy it. Whether your space is a small side yard or a lavish big back yard, get it ready to spend some time in – choose the right furniture, add some accents, build a fire and get your wine and marshmallows ready. Enjoy!