
❣Accessorizing Will Make Your Outdoor Furniture Warm and Inviting!
So you have the perfect garden put together. Your pond is in place; the barbecue is ready to go, and you feel like you are the master of your great outdoors. There’s one thing missing – you have all the outdoor furniture set in place, but your guests feel like they are sitting on the proverbial plank, instead of being welcomed by your warm , gentile seats.
Outdoor furniture is supposed to be wanted – your guests and family want to see it and feel like it is comfortable to sit in. If your outdoor furniture looks more like a bunch of planks glued together, instead of quality and comfortable seats, its time to spice it up. Adding accessories and welcoming flairs will make it stand out, and become more than just a chair or a lounger.
● If your furniture is hard to sit in, try adding a cushion to your chairs. Many Web sites and home improvement stores sell outdoor cushions that will make your outdoor furniture feel more welcome and wanted. When choosing a cushion, always select a canvas cushion that will stand up to the elements better than cloth. And always make sure your cushions are of the right texture and comfort level for what you’re looking for.
● If you’re going to be using your outdoor furniture near a fire pit, then check the tags to make sure the filling is fire resistant. New laws have mandated that new cushions be made with fire resistant material and fill. Always double check, and always use caution when sitting by the fire.
● Always have some sort of storage place when you’re done with your outdoor furniture cushions. Keeping them stored in a cool, dry place will reduce the amount of cleaning that will need to be done. If you keep them out in the elements, they will be subject to moisture, heat, and cold. All of which contribute to spreading of dirt, and the growth of mold. Keeping them in a cushion box will make sure they are well taken care of, and ensure a long life for your investment.
● When the temperature rises outside, the surface temperature of your outdoor furniture rises as well. This can make your furniture uncomfortable to sit in. And if you have any screw or nail heads on the surface, those can rise to searing temperatures. That can result in a very hot and unwelcome surprise for your guests. Consider putting up a snap-together canopy over your furnishings. A canopy will keep your outdoor furniture cool during the heat of summer, and give you and your guests a place to sit in the shade. A canopy can be a quick and effective way to get away from the heat – and a portable canopy can provide it where ever you want.
● Sometimes, the perfect accessory for your outdoor furniture isn’t something that goes on it – its something that goes around it. Having outdoor furniture is one thing – but creating an atmosphere around it is what makes it more welcoming, making your guests attracted to it. If you live in an area where birds are known to frequent, try installing a bird feeder near your furniture. If you have a garden, consider adding a pond or a gazing ball for ambiance, making your outdoors a gentile place to spend long spring and summer nights.
When creating a setting, outdoor furniture is only one step in making a comforting environment work. By setting up accessories on, near, and around your outdoor furniture, you will create a place that can be enjoyed by your friends and family throughout the spring, summer, and fall. ❣
Posts Tagged ‘Great Outdoors’
When Looking for the Perfect Outdoor Furniture, Life Can Reflect Art – 17. November, 2009
❣For many of us, finding the right outdoor furniture can be as much of a pain as a joy. What do we look for? Or do we even know what we want? When we find the right products, enjoying the great outdoors can be a true joy throughout the year. But when we can’t find what we want, and just settle for the most convenient items at the moment, then our furnishings end up being neglected, unused, and eventually, an eyesore. Stage Managers for theater companies have a saying for getting everything they have for their productions: buy, borrow, or build. When you go to see a production, everything you see on the stage was either bought for the theater, borrowed from another theater company, or built by their own carpenters. While your home may not be a formal stage, the same principals apply for finding the perfect outdoor furniture for your lifestyle. ● BUY: Quite possibly the easiest way to find the best outdoor furniture for your lifestyle, shopping around can help you decide on a theme and variation for your home. Many current furniture designs can work around what you want to create, and compliment other fixtures that you may have or are thinking about getting. If you have a little time before deciding on what you want, shopping around to find the right items is the best way for you to go. But never settle for the first thing you see – always look at more than one place, to find exactly what you want, or to piece together some of your favorite items. ● BORROW: While I can not condone you asking your friends, family, or neighbors to borrow their outdoor furniture, you can certainly borrow ideas from them. Take a look at what they have done with their backyards, in order to gather plans for your own. And if you see a piece that you like, ask them where they got it. Everyone has pride in their furnishings – if you ask, you’ll probably get a lot more than you ever thought you’d receive, and some great ideas for what to do with your home. The result comes in the perfect outdoor environment for you and your family. ● BUILD: If you have tried looking everywhere for that perfect chair, or have exhausted all your friends with finding the right end table, you can always build your dream outdoor furniture. A simple search online will help you find designs for all kinds of different items, in infinite themes. And with a little handy work, you can truly make it your own, by adding your own flare and accessories. But be careful out there – if your craftsmanship isn’t perfect, you could be paying more in the long run: repairs, refinishing, and lost time could make this option less feasible. Make sure you do your homework before you drive your first nail. In many ways, art reflects life – we create based on the things that are around us, and that we love so dearly. But in the case of outdoor furniture, art and life intertwine. Our backyards are not only where we entertain; our backyards are where we find inspiration, and be surrounded by a scene only nature could create. Taking the same approach of life reflecting art will help you compliment your outdoor space with the best outdoor furniture, creating a welcoming environment to relax, and enjoy the fruits of your labor. ❣

