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Extending Your Living Space
For all of us who live in Arizona, we entertain as much outside as inside. As cooler weather approaches, we can look forward to being outdoors and enjoying our patios and backyards once again. Here are a few tips for doing just that!
1. Clean it up. If your patio or backyard has been neglected, clean it up. Pulling weeds, putting a blower to it, or just sweeping up dead leaves, dirt, etc., can work wonders.
2. Take inventory. How does the furniture look? Does it just need cleaning, or do you need to donate it and start over? Go to our Donate and Recycle Page for a list of charities and organizations that will take your “stuff”. For those of you that are starting from scratch, read on.
3. Purchasing Patio Furniture. Look through magazines and get an idea of style before you go shopping. Make a floor plan of your outdoor space. Lay out your furniture like you would for any other room you’re furnishing. Once you’ve decided on the type of look you want, check out this site for local resources under Patio Furniture.
4. Add texture and color. There are lots of options here. Technology has made it possible to add area rugs and screens specifically for outdoor use. Rugs also cover less than perfect concrete. Art Prints, designed to take the weather, can be hung on a boring wall. Fountains, colorful pots and interesting throw pillows make great accents. And don’t forget plants! If you’re green thumb is brown, don’t panic. There are lots of fabulous silks on the market that look great inside a planter.
5. Designer Extras. Depending on the size of your project and your budget, draperies and ceiling fans can create an inviting look. Using canvas or outdoor fabric can shield you from the sun, as well as adding even more ambience. Using outdoor ceiling fans can add yet another design element, while cooling you off in the process.
6. Pour the martini or ice tea. Call your friends, sit back and enjoy your new outside room. And for those of you that decided to skip items 1 thru 5, call your designer and sip your beverage while you wait for him or her to arrive!
Debra Howard is a former Interior Designer and retailer; she now owns and maintains www.tucsonhomeandgardenspot.com