Outdoor Living - Investing Beyond 4 Walls
When you hear the term "Outdoor Living" what is the first thing that pops into your mind; picnic tables, plastic mismatched chairs and the smell of burgers cooking on the hibachi. For many living outdoors confines them and their thoughts to a small patio area with a couple of old plants and their college patio furniture. In today's world outdoor living means pushing out the walls and extending the living space to include the outdoors way beyond the patio.
As the real estate market fluctuates, homeowners look to remodel their homes and include projects to create outdoor livings spaces for optimum comfort and pleasure. With billions spent on remodeling in the US alone after upgrading the kitchen and bathrooms, upgrading the outside of a home comes in third on the project list. By taking advantage of your backyard and extending the living and entertaining areas, not only increases living space, but also helps raise the property value.
It is amazing how many things used indoors now can also be used outdoors as well!
Components for Creating an Outdoor Living environment:
The Outdoor kitchen - this type of cooking appliance can be a simple BBQ to a complete built in gas bar-b-que including the sink for clean up and refrigerator for the cold beer and beverages.
Patio Furniture - the focal point of many outdoor patio areas is the furniture. Outdoor dining tables and chairs cover the range of simple inexpensive plastic chairs and tables to metal and teak outdoor dining furniture. The selection and price range is wide as I have been looking for some sling style chairs for my patio.
heating - as you move northward the use of your outside area can be reduced from cooler temperatures. However, outdoor fireplaces, firepits and patio heaters can solve the cool issue and extend our outdoor season later into the fall or crank it spring earlier in the year. light adds a wonderful ambiance and it does not need to only come from a fire the use of landscape lighting can do the trick.
Covering the Patio - the blazing summer sun can turn a fun outdoor party into a place everyone wants to get away from. A partially covered area where the cooking and dining areas are located creates a wonderful shaded retreat from the boiling sun and unexpected weather which can pop up. Decks are also a popular way to dress up a patio along with adding interesting stones, rocks, planters and flowers to create drama.
Remember these items are basics to get a list started, personal style, budget and family needs must also come into play. The only true design limits or restriction is the wallet and imagination. The above items get you started, adding a pool, waterfall and landscaped areas only add to the overall outdoor living space making it more inviting. projects do not need to happen all at once but build over time. The true benefit is that whatever and however you choose fits you and your living style.
Extend your landscape using outdoor landscaping lights Join Thomas Fryd as he shares his 25 plus years of experience in the world of plants and landscape at www.Plant-Care.com where you get practical professional advice on landscaping and houseplant care.
Be Yoga New York