Posts Tagged ‘outdoor living trends’

Homeowners Forgo Lavish Vacations, Look to Create the Perfect Outdoor Oasis

The perfect summer oasis may be closer than you think. As more people forgo their traditional summer vacations to save money, many homeowners are looking for ways to spruce up their backyards to create a relaxing outdoor paradise where they can escape from their day-to-day troubles, unwind and enjoy the warm summer sun.

Photo Courtesy of RogersGardens.com

After doing a little online research, we have uncovered the top five tips for revitalizing an outdoor space just in time for the summer season. Although most homeowners will not be able to jet off to a tropical destination this year, they will be able to indulge themselves with an updated patio, deck or balcony.

1. Uncover Your Green Thumb – A garden is the perfect compliment to any outdoor space by providing color, aroma and perhaps the perfect ingredient for your summer fare. By adding bold colors to the garden, homeowners can energize their space and create the perfect tropical look. Looking for additional benefits of having a garden? According to The Reading Eagle, gardens provide great havens from stress and can help consumers significantly cut costs at the grocery store.
2. Add Some Water – Water features such as bird baths, rain chains, fountains or even ponds are perfect for adding soothing ambiance to any outdoor space. By drowning our everyday noises such as street traffic, water features help ease homeowners into a state of  complete relaxation. For more ideas visit The South County Times.
3. Update your Patio Furniture – Patio furniture has moved beyond the traditional hard metal chairs with minimal cushions. In fact, today’s outdoor furniture is much more stylish with plush cushions, gorgeous fabrics and deluxe accessories that compliment interior home furnishings. Some of today’s latest trends, especially for trendy city-dwellers, include bar height dining sets and deep seated, ultra comfortable lounge chairs. For those with more space, outdoor day beds are becoming more popular as well.
4. Light It Up – At any local home improvement retailer homeowners will find a collection of stylish lighting products for fit for outdoor spaces. By incorporating the latest fixtures, including outdoor lamps, lanterns or even chandeliers, any space will take on the perfect atmosphere after the sun goes down. LightPost offers consumers directions for adding just the right amount of light.
5. Create Some Shade – Whether your patio, deck or lawn revolves around outdoor cooking or relaxing, it’s important to have some shade to increase the use of the space during the hotter days of the season. A large cantilever patio umbrella creates the perfect coverage over a dining set, while a hammock or swinging chair can utilize shade already available in your yard. If you wish to design your own shade, visit Fine Homebuilding for some examples, or Real Outdoor Living for a chance to win $1,000 gift card to the home improvement retailer of your choice in the “Backyard Oasis Giveaway.”

Photo Courtesy of backyardcity.com