Extending our home’s living areas into the outdoors has long been a tradition in homeownership. This practice has only expanded in the recent years, as trends in outdoor kitchens have increased and technologies in outdoor lighting and heating have improve. This outdoor section features everything that belongs under the sun, from patio furniture and dining sets to lawn décor and more. Be sure to account for the climate in your area when making outdoor product decisions and ensure that whatever you end up can stand up to the weather.
Humans may not live off sunlight, but we sure are drawn towards it. Though the roof and four walls may keep us safe from inclement weather, it’s our home’s outdoor spaces that we’re drawn to when the rain clouds recede and the sun’s rays shine down.
There are countless ways to bring the comforts of the indoors outside; to expand our daily routines – reading, relaxing, cooking and eating – into the outdoor spaces of our homes, like our patios, decks, porches and lawns. Cooking and eating are two of the more popular outdoor activities these days at homes across the country. Outdoor kitchen appliances like grills, stoves, sinks and refrigerators are more plentiful than ever before. Creating the ideal outdoor cooking scenario enables hosts to stay connected to the guests when the party has moved outdoors.
All that outdoor space – be it patio, porch or lawn – sort of goes to waste when there’s no place to sit. Patio furniture fills that need, in the form of patio bar furniture, patio dining furniture, patio seating and lounges, bistro tables and more. Note that the name “patio” doesn’t limit placement to the patio. This outdoor furniture selection is suitable for the porch, deck, poolside, garden and grass. Just be sure to account for rain and snow and follow a manufacturer’s recommendations on protecting the products from weather.
Not enough warm days in your region? Patio heaters and outdoor fireplaces will extend the outdoor season. The former can be situated around tables or even in the eaves of deck and porch roofs to direct warm, comforting air down on the otherwise chilly. Firepits and chimineas provide not only heat but ambiance as well, with the flickering flames and – in the case of wood-burning types – the smoke, crackle and pop of burning logs. Just don’t forget to keep the marshmallows close!
