ShareThisDuring the summer, I practically live on my screened porch, a sanctuary where I can relax with family or entertain friends. But before I move outside for the season, I give my outdoor retreat a much-needed makeover so it's ready for business. Chances are, your porch or patio has taken a beating this winter, too, and needs to be freshened up. Here's how.
MAKE MAGIC WITH PAINT: If your outdoor furnishings look a bit worn or lackluster, brighten them up with new paint. I took a boring wood hutch, and with a coat of black paint, transformed it into an attractive display case and bar that serves as the focal point of my porch.
You can't miss when you paint outdoor furnishings classic colors like black, white or cream. But if you're feeling adventurous, crack open a can of today's hot colors and have fun. Paint your wooden garden bench apple green, then toss on some navy and white pillows. Or jazz up your wrought-iron dining set with a coat of periwinkle-blue, purple or tangerine-orange paint.
If you like how your furnishings look dressed in these spunky colors, keep going. Paint your arbor a vibrant color that accents the plants that will be growing there soon. Or pull a color from your outdoor linens and use it to paint your pergola.
RAMP UP YOUR LINENS: Sun and rain can wreak havoc on outdoor linens, leaving them stained and bleached-out. If your cushions and pillows are looking shabby, treat yourself to some new ones this year.
Get out your sunglasses because today's hot look in outdoor fabrics is bold and bright. You'll see lots of electric hues like apple green, orange and sunny lemon, and a wealth of peppy patterns that feature huge flowers and funky geometric shapes.
A friend of mine created a sensational look on her outdoor patio using the three colors I'm most crazy about this season: black, cream and apple green. For her seat cushions and pillows, she mixed three black-and-cream fabrics -- an old-fashioned ticking, a fat stripe and a wonderful abstract floral. Then she added a jolt with apple green, brought in through pillows and accents.
BEEF UP YOUR BACK YARD: If you love to hang out in your outdoor room, consider investing in some infrastructure improvements. A few years back, Dan and I walled in our tiny back yard, transforming it into a private courtyard like those we admired in Charleston. If you love to barbecue, add an outdoor kitchen with a built-in gas grill, fridge and serving bar. If you entertain a lot, think about adding a brick or flagstone patio surrounded by flowerbeds. If your outdoor space is a quiet retreat, how about a soothing water feature?
TRICK IT UP WITH ACCENTS: Outdoor accents are so affordable you can add new ones every year to keep your space fresh and fun. Start with easy-to-maintain plantings like succulents. These little guys are very popular this season, and it's easy to see why: They come in interesting shapes and colors and are nearly impossible to kill.
No outdoor space is complete without chic lighting. Hang a rustic chandelier above the table or use a lantern as a centerpiece. Dot the porch rails with smaller lanterns or wicker-wrapped votives.
Make mealtime a special event with zippy outdoor dishware and table linens. Try a cute cotton tablecloth in a playful check or stripe. Top it with nature-inspired dishes that feature birds, bugs or ferns. Finish off with an interesting centerpiece, like a garden bust ringed by a summer wreath, a trio of succulents or a lantern that contains an interesting still life: Cover the bottom with a bit of moss, then insert a bug print and a bug figurine.
(Mary Carol Garrity is the proprietor of three successful home-furnishings stores and is the author of several best-selling books on home decorating. Write her at nellhills(at)mail.lvnworth.com. For more stories, visit scrippsnews.com.)
(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, http://www.scrippsnews.com)
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