Now You Can Do It on the Patio!

Patio Decorating

Of course each of us can think of dozens of activities that warm weather encourages us to undertake outdoors rather than indoors, but in this case we in the interior design business are talking about innovative ideas for outdoor decorating. Make your patio, deck, pool area or garden feel more like a part of your home with rugs, lamps, wall art, window treatments and more. It’s all part of the cost-saving effort that encourages people to spend more time entertaining at home—less time driving to that “fun” Tiki-bar at the restaurant located 10 miles from home.

Waterproof Lamps

Waterproof lamps give you the same sort of “mood lighting” that table lamps provide indoors. Instead of a broad-beamed overhead lighting that floods the entire area; lamps give concentrated lighting in a particular spot, create interesting shadows, and add the feeling of warmth. Lamps are created using outdoor friendly surfaces: faux slate manufactured from resin based products is one popular material. Lamps with glass-jar sealed bulb chambers give the best protection against weather-related elements.

Natural Fiber Outdoor Rugs

Natural fiber outdoor rugs have been around for some time but the use of more resilient outdoors fibers has increased their popularity. Now instead of natural fibers that wear out quickly and add more “shabby” than “chic” to the space, acrylic and polyester fibers create brightly colored looks outdoors, adding vitality, warmth and a coordinated décor that indoor area rugs have always provided.

Wall Art

Although metal sculpture and resin artifacts have been popular as wall art in the past, a relatively new concept is weatherproof wall paintings. Companies like Art Classics provide hundreds of images from traditional to contemporary which can add distinctive flavor and mood to an outdoor space. The three images included in this newsletter are examples that could grace your space. Imagine your deck with one blank side of your house as the only wall compared to that wall adorned with a couple of these pictures.

Window Treatments

Finally, window treatments, whether actually screening windows, or as is more popular, gauzy fabrics gently blowing in the wind, add an unusual dimension of softness and texture to outdoor spaces. Fabric panels hanging with rings from interesting metal or wood rods, able to be easily pulled open or closed to block blinding sun, create mood and comfort usually not found outside the home.

Imagine now, using all these additional elements, and holding a casual dinner party out of doors. With bright colored tablecloths and napkins to complement the green background provided by grass, shrubs and trees, your event will immediately capture the attention of your guests. You will be the “host or hostess with the most” and before you know it you will be invited to your friends’ homes to see how they have joined the “Do It on the Patio” craze.