The patio is finished and your outdoor kitchen is ready for your first al fresco meal. But where will your guests sit? It’s time to furnish your outdoor space.

When it comes to finding the right outdoor furniture, you start indoors. What’s your style for your indoor living room, dining room, and kitchen? Do you want that style to flow from the indoors to the outdoors, or do you want a more relaxed atmosphere for summertime entertaining?

Here are six ideas for making your outdoor spaces cozy this fall:

  1. Pick outdoor furniture that’s weather-resistant. Keep in mind though, that some materials such as wood, wrought iron, and aluminum will need periodic cleaning or preventative treatments applied to keep them clean and rust-free.
  2. Decide what kind of sofa you want—do you want an L-shaped or just a three-cushion one? Think about what colors or patterns you want in your sofa cushions—bright, bold colors resembling the tropics or the Mediterranean? Or do you want softer, quieter hues?
  3. What other kinds of seating are you looking for? You can go with swings, loungers, rockers, or Adirondack chairs as well as so much more.
  4. Don’t forget about your dining areas. You may want to add some pizzazz with your outdoor dining experience by investing in a fire table. Or you may add a wrought-iron bistro table with two chairs for your patio nook. And if you have a bar or counter with your outdoor kitchen, don’t forget about seating—there are a lot of options out there.
  5. Add a splash of color and protect your patio’s base at the same time with outdoor rugs. Today’s rugs are weather resistant—often made out of materials that dry quickly.
  6. Create a romantic or dramatic atmosphere with drapes, awnings, and other fabrics to transform your outdoor space into a cozy, inviting atmosphere.
Patios & Decks

A final word:

Shopping for outdoor furniture and accessories is a lot of fun. But you do want to store your furniture and fabrics over the long winter months to keep them fresh for the following summer. Consider how much storage space you have available before purchasing big items such as tables, loungers, outdoor beds and sofas.

Do you need a landscape pro to help make your backyard into the ultimate in outdoor entertaining? At Visionscapes, we’ll design and build your outdoor oasis. Contact us at (757)673-7350 or fill out our contact form for more information.

Sources:

BHG.com, “8 Tips for Choosing Patio Furniture.”

NALP, “How to Choose Outdoor Furniture,” LoveYourLandscape.org.