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Indoor Living, Outdoors
Wonderful for entertaining friends and family in a comfortably lavish setting, outdoor living spaces have evolved quite a bit since the days of the charcoal-burning Weber and picnic table with checkered tablecloth on the back porch. People are developing entire “rooms” complete with stepping stone floors, shrubs and other foliage for “walls,” pergolas and patios for ceilings, and BBQ grills and furnishings.
Gourmet grills have options such as infrared burners, rotisseries, side burners, warming drawers, smokers, refrigerators built into the carts. Most use liquid propane, however those with smokers still use charcoal — you just can't duplicate that mouth-watering flavor any other way.
Patio furniture has come a long way from redwood picnic tables and vinyl webbed, folding beach chairs. Outdoor furniture is available in many attractive coordinated finishes and durable materials. Choose a chaise with comfortable and durable weather-resistant cushions for seating that rivals your favorite recliner. Matching glass-topped dining or coffee tables and bars convert your space to a sociable setting.
Summer evenings can get chilly, so patio heaters or portable fire pits can create ambiance and chase away the chill. Adding a little heat will also extend the practical use of your outdoor living space into spring and fall, making these worthwhile additions, most of which don’t require any special installation.
Finally, add some calming atmosphere to your outdoor room by installing a fountain. Fountains are easy to set up, provide a pleasant sound, and are attractive to look at.
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Light Up Your Night
Landscape lighting is a great way to not only provide added security around your home, but also add curb appeal and overall value to your home. It’s also safely and easily installed, and low-voltage lighting doesn’t require a specialist or electrician.
Landscape lighting themes vary wildly, thanks to numerous manufacturers providing dozens of products. Modern re-interpretations of traditional lantern lights are extremely popular, rustic-theme lights lend a natural touch and classic lighting paves the way with elegance and refinement.
Post lights greet your guests with style, create just the right first impression and generate a sense of security and protection around your home.
Path lights and rail lights lead the way around your yard to your front door or along a walkway. Other options for landscape lighting include accent and flood lights.
Accent pieces beautify and complement your existing décor. Flesh out your existing natural theme with a birdbath, fountain or bench.
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Curb Appeal
If you’ve already set up your outdoor living space or prefer to focus your outdoor energy elsewhere, it never hurts to take some time to spice up your home’s "curb appeal". That’s a realtor’s phrase for how your home looks from the sidewalk, and you know what they say about first impressions. One of our partners BeJane.com has written several articles about the best areas of "curb appeal" to focus your efforts on in order to maximize your investment and increase the value of your home.
There are many things you can do to accomplish this: from sanding and staining your front door; replacing door hardware such as handle sets, knobs, and deadbolts; repainting your front porch using a pressure washer to clean up and then a paint sprayer for quick and even application; or spruce up your yard with lawn and garden tools.
Regardless of your budget, you're sure to find something to freshen up your home for spring, so have fun and happy home improving!
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