Curb Appeal: Decorating Outside

When decorating outdoors, you'll have to do a little more imagining - like seeing each area of your back yard as a room with walls - whether real or imaginary. You just have to keep in mind that you still want to begin with a focal point. Perhaps it is a particular view. Perhaps it's an intimate area that will be great for dining. When you position your furnishings and accessories around or facing the focal point, it will come together nicely. Your furniture and accessories may include: seating furnishings, potted plants, garden ornaments, candles, pillows, staturary, a canopy or pergola, planted trees and bushes and flowering plants.

You can create real walls with a garden fence, a brick or stone divider, a hedge and so forth. Perhaps the line of a cemented section vs. dirt will form an imaginary wall or some architectural feature on your home, like a wall that juts out for a section, a pathway, a row of plants.

Make It Cozy

Nowadays you can find lots of fabrics that are made to withstand the outdoor elements, so adding pillows and cushions, throws, umbrellas and such has become much easier than in the past. Just a few of these elements can make a world of difference. It's like letting your interior decorating spill out into the exterior as an extension of the home.

Using Area Rugs

As new materials and fibers have been created for outdoor use, this has made it possible to add area rugs to help define a seating arrangement and pull a large area together. This helps when the concrete is really hot. You can not get polypropylene rugs in checks, plaids and patterns that simulate patio block and stone. A rug under the outdoor dining table looks and feels fabulous.

If you have a protected area, consider a sisal other plant fiber rug. A woven vinyl rug will give the look of natural woven grasses - a great look.

Outdoor Fireplaces

You can even get a freestanding fireplace and use it, not only for warding off the chill, but also for cooking. Outdoor fireplaces or ovens are some of the fastest growing products in outdoor decorating and entertaining. They give you a distinct mood and come in a variety of materials and styles. Go for the Mexican clay to the prefabricated metal fire bowls. They will also provide additional light as well as warmth. Toast some marshmellows and let your outdoor fireplace become a gathering spot for everyone. Place your seating around it and enjoy the festivities!

Storage or Armoires

What do you do with all your candles, lanterns, place mats, napkins, plastic plates and cups, extra chairs, floor pillows and so forth when the party is over? While there are plastic bins you can get from the hardware store with lids, they aren't that attractive. If you have a protected area, consider getting a weathered armoire, you know the kind, with the painted wood. Or it could be teak or bamboo. You can store all of your accessories for handy reuse and make the armoire a part of your decor too.

If you have the space, don't neglect decorating your backyard. You'll be quite amazed how much you will use it if you make it an inviting place to be.

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