Outdoor Living Spaces

With the official date of the beginning of summer just days away, most of us are thinking about moving outdoors to enjoy the beauty of our outdoor spaces.  It is easy enough to create an appealing outdoor space for your personal enjoyment with a few additions to your property.

If an expensive overhaul of your property is out of the question-- as it is with most of us-- take it one step at a time.  Begin with finding a suitable location with easy access to either the front, side or back door of your home.  If you have a large shade tree, that might be a good place to start as every outdoor room needs some shade or shelter.  If a tree doesn't exist, consider planting one for future enjoyment.  Pergolas,trellises and shade cloth sails are all possibilities.  A shade sail is the least expensive of the options and they come in a variety of colors.

Once you have some shade you need to create some boundaries,since you don't have traditional walls. A row of large terra cotta or colorful glazed pots can form an imaginary wall.  Planted with small trees or grasses, with annual plants for color, the "wall" will add interest to your room.  Of course you can simply plant into the ground, but I find it difficult with our hard soil.  Keep in mind you want to frame a room, so place your pots or plantings with area to give your room ample space for your family and friends to move about comfortably.

You will want a focal point to your outdoor room.  Fireplaces, fixed or portable are a good choice, because hot summer days can turn into chilly nights, especially at our altitude.  Make sure you are fire safe,with spark arresters, and never leave a fire unattended.

Water features are another great focal point; again you can have large fixed fountains and waterfalls or portable ones.  Safety is always an issue with water, so if you have a basin or pond you will need to make sure it is safe for small children to be around, just like a swimming pool.  Tall fountains are easier to enjoy without the worry of children getting into them or supplying our local wildlife with a ready source of water near your living space.

Lighting is an important component to your outdoor space.  There are a plethora of lighting choices in strings of white or colored lights to suit any decor.  Candles in hurricane lanterns are always nice, but require more attention for safety reasons.

Once you have framed your outdoor space, it is easier to decorate it much the way you do inside your home.  Colorful plants in pots and textiles on chairs and benches will add to your outdoor enjoyment of your summer room.