Outdoor updates you can use now!

Spring is a great time to get your outdoor spaces ready for summer living.  If you have a patio, balcony, yard, or porch, you can add elements from indoors to create an extension of your home.  

The first step to a usable space is lighting.  Outdoor dining is fun and can be romantic and relaxing. String lights are simple and inexpensive and can be wound around the porch posts, strung from a structure, draped in your trees and bushes, or hung from a trellis or umbrella. I hang a candelabra from the roof line that has glass globes since I love flickering candle light.  If you are creating a permanent space, install lights on timers or sensors, and be sure the housings and covers for your bulb are all waterproof. Hurricane globes are fantastic outdoors. You can use real candles without fear of your landscape catching on fire, and they protect candles from the wind.  I always look for interesting candlesticks that I can add to a large hurricane on the patio floor, the table, and even on the steps.  Many years ago I found some glass and ceramic oil candles. They're pretty, resilient in the wind, and add a touch of indoors to my patio.

Comfortable seating is critical. If you have the budget, permanent seating should be furniture that will weather well outdoors. Wrapped wicker, teak and wrought iron are all good choices. For temporary seating, you can bring out folding chairs and tables. Bring out your entry bench - keep it dry - and create a table from a large planter by adding a glass top.  Add pillows, some accessories, and you'll create instant ambiance.  I do use porcelain garden seats. They double as a tabletop and add color and shine with their glazed finish.

Fabrics make a space cozy. For outdoors, polypropylene rugs are perfect. They are weatherproof, easily washed down with a hose, and they last for years. They dress up a space and make the seating areas comfortable. I do use cotton and jute rugs on covered patios, decks and balconies for a more formal feel.    Pillows - floor pillows to decorative accents on seating -  is one of the simplest ways to brighten an outdoor space. Using outdoor fabrics will extend their life and make them easy to clean. Try getting a mix of patterns and solids for a custom look.  If you purchase or make pillows with zipper covers, you can clean them before you put them away for winter. Add a throw for cool nights or a snooze on a windy day. Acrylic throws like those at www.tot-home.com can withstand some wet weather and are easily washed.



Set the table. Use a tablecloth that you can clean.  Don't use your regular dishes or glasses. Purchase an inexpensive set or mix and match pieces for outdoor use only.  Use easily washed cotton napkins, planters filled with real plants, candlesticks or hurricane lanterns and make the table look inviting. I often store all of my outdoor table items in wicker hampers.  They add texture to the patio and I don't need to find room indoors. If you have a large space, invest in some teak or other waterproof  deck boxes or storage benches for your dishes, pillows, and more.

Favorite updates for winter.

These are some of my favorite design elements to warm up rooms during the winter months. They are also great year-round when the proper materials, textures and colors are used.

1) Panel Draperies.  The addition of panels drapes to large windows creates a wonderful ambiance. Whether you use them to frame, for softness, or for full function, fabric panels dress a window like no other treatment.They can add opulence to a casual room and warm a minimalist space. Fabric options are nearly endless and the header style - pleats, grommets, tabs, etc. - can easily accent your style.

2) Plants:  Even if you don't have a green thumb you can bring greenery into your spaces. My favorite plants are flowering orchids whose care is as simple as a placing in bright light and monthly watering. They are inexpensive but elegant and gorgeous. Philodendrons are a very easy care plant; check with your local big box store or nursery for a variety that suits your home. Dried arrangements work well, and some faux plants ARE beautiful. 

3) Hurricanes. One of the most versatile accessories is a glass hurricane lamp. They have so many uses; they're not just for candles and not only for traditional spaces...although that is their most oft-used style. Despite the cold weather, a shell-filled hurricane on the table is refreshing.  I often add gold and silver balls to mine and use them in the bathroom, porch and kitchen for a wonderful ambiance. Coastal and cottage style homes can use this idea year-round.

4) Books: While I love open space on tables, books add a lived in feel, an architectural element, and sophistication to consoles, end tables and coffee tables.  Placing them underneath the tops is both practical and attractive; they can be read but don't clutter the surface. For a clean look, cover unattractive but often read books with decorative wrapping paper, interesting wallpaper, or simple brown or white papers; use what suits your style!  

5) Rugs: Area rugs instantly warm up a room define the space.  They add visual interest, scale, pattern and texture to any room. There are a variety of materials, but get the BEST you can afford since you want durability as well as aesthetics.  For neutral style add a solid color rug with texture.

Inspiration for warm fall decor.

Using several of the ideas from the blog, this room
went from summery and light to winter warm.

As we move into cooler weather, it's nice to visually warm your interior spaces.  Here are some ideas to add to your decor for fall.

1) Hang wreaths made of fall 'findings' on your doors, from shelves, and use as centerpieces on tables and kitchen islands.




2) Swap your bright table linens for rich hues of cranberry, brick, taupe or hunter green.

3) Add wall decals to a focal wall in the entry, bedroom, or bath.


4) Drape greens, leaves, and branches from your dining room light fixture for a festive fall look. 

5) Place a knitted throw on your sofa, lounge chair or bed. These from A Touch of Tradition are beautiful and cost-effective. 


6) Hang a mirror over a table or dresser to reflect light from a window or table lamp.


















7) Use area rugs in your family or living room to join seating and visually warm the space.


8) Flameless candles are safe and the new versions are waxy with realistic wicks. Add them to table-scapes, mantles, inside hurricanes filled with fall colored items, and in wall and floor-mounted candelabras.

9) Fill hurricanes or large scale apothecary urns with seasonal items including greens, gourds, acorns, leaves, and other free 'findings'. For and elegant look add moss covered balls, glass ornaments in fall colors, clear and even mercury glass.  

10) Add fabric to your windows. Even if you already have blinds, using side panels or a top treatment can add warmth and texture, and even help stop cold drafts from windows.  Simple no-sew panels from inexpensive upholstery fabric can make your rooms look elegant and dramatic.  With functional Roman Shades for spring and summer, these windows are rich and warm even with white fabric by adding a fixed panel to the sides for fall and winter. The reverse holds true as well.  If you have panels and something is missing, add a great woven blind or wood blinds in the color of your trim to add texture and dimension.