Springtime Upgrade: Elevate Luxury of Outdoor Living Spaces
Functional Zones
Consider how you want to use your outdoor space. Whether you have a high-rise apartment with a small balcony or a home with a sprawling backyard, to make the most of your investment, consider what you want to do in the space or spaces year round.
Cooking & Prepping
If you’re a fan of grilling or making homemade pizza, installing an outdoor grill or pizza oven is a fantastic idea. Invest in quality that will last not only for the appliance, but also, in the conveniences like cabinetry and organizational solutions that keep your utensils, favorite prep tools, and serving platters close at hand. Ensure that your outdoor solutions include ways to protect anything stored outside such as covers for appliances or furniture and weather-sealed drawers and doors for cabinetry.
When considering your outdoor kitchen options, take into account factors like available space, personal interests, and budget. You can opt for compact solutions or go all out with fully customized outdoor kitchens equipped with all the functionality of an indoor kitchen.
Dining al Fresco
Even if your budget or available space isn’t expansive enough for a full outdoor kitchen, dining outdoors is always a delight. Whether it’s a humble setup with a simple table and chairs, perhaps shaded from the sun, or a lavish oversized dining table capable of accommodating the extended family with a serving buffet, if you enjoy dining al fresco, plan accordingly!
Lounging and Entertaining
There are countless diverse options available for crafting a space where you can unwind alone or with a few family members, or even hosting a big summer bash. Think about what brings you joy, whether it’s lounging by the pool, catching the big game outdoors with a nearby bar, or hosting an elegant soirées.
You may find that a hammock is the ideal fit for your relaxation needs, or you might opt to seek assistance from a designer to ensure that your space planning and material selections align perfectly. Whatever your preferences, it’s important to make a plan now and start turning your outdoor oasis dreams into reality.
If you enjoy activities with family and friends, especially kids, set up a space with outdoor games and activities. Ensure you have comfy seating nearby for the spectators and tired participants.
When selecting outdoor furniture, opt for versatile pieces with neutral palettes that can easily be accessorized with seasonal pillows and decorations. Ensure that the materials are easy to clean and durable enough to withstand your environment. For instance, metal furniture may not be ideal for seaside locations due to corrosion, and dark-colored furniture exposed to direct sunlight can become uncomfortably hot.
Depending on the severity of your climate and the duration of your outdoor season, think about how you’ll protect your furniture from the elements to prolong its lifespan and minimize the need for extensive spring cleaning.
Create Comfort & Set the Mood
Once you determine how you want to use your space and the zones you will set up to make the most of the area, it is time to plan for how the outdoor rooms will feel. Relaxing? Elegant? Casual?
Landscaping and Gardens
As winter transitions into spring, it leaves behind remnants of its harshness—lifeless plant remains, rain and snow slush, and the early signs of pollen accumulation. Thus, it’s time for some spring cleaning. Begin by dusting off and spot-cleaning your patio furniture, followed by power-washing or hosing down hard surfaces and trimming back any overgrown limbs and last year’s flower stems. Clear away debris such as leaves and twigs, either by sweeping with a broom or using a power blower for a faster cleanup, depending on what’s suitable for your area. For outdoor fabrics, a gentle soap and a soft-bristled brush or microfiber cloth can effectively remove light stains. Aim to tackle water-related tasks on warm, breezy days to facilitate quicker drying, thus preventing the growth of mold or the collection of pollen on damp surfaces.
Additionally, tend to your lawn by mowing it and addressing any needed repairs to fencing or landscape borders. Touching up painted surfaces may also be necessary to ensure your space is fully enjoyable without any lingering reminders of unfinished tasks.
As you prepare your outdoor space for the vibrant days ahead, trim back perennials that will soon be budding and flowering, and shape trees and larger bushes as needed. Introduce seasonal flowers to infuse color and vitality into your landscape. Consider incorporating herbs and vegetables amidst decorative flora to cultivate fresh produce, ready to enhance your outdoor grilling experiences during the warmer months.
Ambiance
Tidying the furniture and beautifying the landscaping will immediately improve the ambiance of your outdoor spaces, but consider, once again, how you will use the space. Lighting is a key way to add functionality and ambiance to any space:
- String lights add a romantic glow to small areas or can provide additional lighting for games areas to keep the fun going after sunset.
- Lanterns, flameless candles, torches, and sconces can bring intimate lighting to tables adding style and a special touch.
- Pathway lights ensure safe passage to and from areas of your yard.
All of the above options come in convenient, low-investment solar and energy-efficient LED options. Incorporating technology such as smart lighting systems that offer timers, color-changing, and many features that can be controlled from your smart phone.
Consider adding outdoor music. Today’s technology with speakers remain hidden or fade into the landscaping as stones connect wirelessly to your smart phone, so you can always have mood music or an instant dance party.
Another consideration that can greatly affect ambiance is privacy. If you have close neighbors, create privacy using solutions such as bamboo screens, trellises with climbing vines, or outdoor curtains. The placement of furniture and larger plants and even use of lighting can be used strategically to reduce views from those not invited to the party. Use some of the strategies while you are waiting for longer term natural barriers such as hedgerows or trees to mature.
The final consideration for ambiance, and often the most fun, is accessorizing. Add decorative elements such as outdoor rugs, throw pillows, planters, occasional tables, sculpture or vases, and additional lighting options to create the atmosphere you desire whether it be cozy, invigorating, or upscale.
Prepare for the Elements
Shade and Cooling Solutions
Even early springtime can deliver sunny days that prove too warm or too bright to enjoy without some protection. Ideas to beat the heat and glare:
- Install pergolas, arbors, cantilevered umbrellas, or retractable awnings to provide shade during sunny days. Removable options such as umbrella and retractable awnings add versatility to enjoy the sun on cooler days. These options can also keep your spaces usable during rainy days.
- Adding ceiling fans or misting systems to patio covers, gazebos, and other outdoor spaces with overhead structures.
- Choose light colors and materials that do not absorb radiant energy for outdoor surfaces to remain comfortable to the touch.
- When designing, determining the placement of key areas like lounging and dining spaces, it’s essential to consider the time of day you’ll most frequently use them. Aim to position these areas in spots that provide ample shade, particularly during the times when you anticipate spending the most time outdoors.
Heat Sources
In many areas of the country, early mornings and evenings are uncomfortably cool. But greening grass, budding flowers, and fresh air can be very inviting for breakfast or a cup of coffee. And evening meals or just chatting by a fire are favorites for most people. Here are ideas to extend usability of your space during the day and evening:
- Freestanding heat lamps and wall- or ceiling-mounted radiant heating can be used to take the chill out of the air near your seating area or dining table.
- Fire pits including compact in-table firepits are helpful to add a focal point as well as heat. Today’s clean-fueled fire pits that turn on with a remote are easy and convenient to use.
- Fireplaces with gas logs or other easy-to-use technology offer a special place to get cozy any time of the year.
Prepare for Uninvited Guests
Better known as pests. Mosquitos, flies, ants, and other creepy-crawlies are a part of the great outdoors, but there are precautions you can take to reduce the chances of them ruining your enjoyment:
- Utilize plants in your landscaping and pots near your seating areas that shoo pests away. In addition to citronella, other plants that can keep insects at bay include citronella grass, lemongrass, sage, mints, lavender, basil, chives nasturtiums, chrysanthemums, marigolds, geraniums, and neem trees.
- Essential oils can be dabbed on one’s person or mixed with water in a spray bottle and sprayed around furniture legs to help keep pests away. The most effective oils include ready-made bug repellent sprays and essential oil blends, citronella, lemon, mint, eucalyptus, lavender, thyme, cedarwood, and basil.
- Avoid leaving food out once the party is over including food that may have fallen onto the patio or ground. Remove as much as possible to avoid inviting invasions of ants.
- Use yellow bulbs in light fixtures near seating areas as these do not attract flying insects.
- Remove standing water that may accumulate in trays beneath pots or other items. For bird baths, consider changing the water daily which is also better for the birds. Or use mosquito dunks to prevent larvae from hatching.
- Special spray systems can be installed as well as mosquito and fly collection devices that help to reduce populations of pests. But, these options can be costly.
- Take time a few days before any special event to inspect for ant trails or wasp nests. Check, also, at dusk to determine if mosquitoes are a potential issue for an evening get-together. If you discover an issue, you have time to resolve it before your guests arrive.
Safety and Maintenance
While not nearly as fun as designing, creating, and using an outdoor space, keeping safety in mind is vital.
For outdoor kitchens, proper ventilation and fire safety measures are a must especially when installed under a covered area. Regular cleaning of grill grates and oven surfaces and inspection of gas lines and electrical connections are essential for fire prevention.
When including decorative items, keep in mind that often hard concrete surfaces and bare feet are involved so do not use glass or other easily breakable materials. Today’s acrylics look like glass so you can have the beauty without the danger.
Consider slippery surfaces and objects that may move too easily. For areas that regularly accumulate moisture, consider using a synthetic slip-resistant rug to make the area safer. If algae forms, clean immediately as this makes a surface even more slippery.
Ensure all structures such as trellises, arbors, and umbrellas are well-secured during windy conditions. If you live in a wind-prone area, it may be worth your time to secure furniture and store smaller items such as lounge chairs and pillows when not in use.
Opt for low-maintenance plants, easy-to-clean furniture, and durable materials that can withstand the elements with minimal upkeep. By keeping your outdoor space low maintenance, you’ll have more time to relax and enjoy it.
Enjoy Outdoor Living
While there are many things to consider and many spring cleaning tasks to take care of, it will all be worth it. Careful planning can ensure you can use the space throughout the year.
Let us know if you would like us to help you explore our Outdoor Living collection for your dream outdoor spaces. Enjoy a taste of the luxury solutions in the video of our Outdoor Living displays in our eggersmann Houston showroom and in the images below.
