Patio Accessories Make A Patio Look Aesthetically Pleasing - So Choose With Care

Designing a patio area can be a fulfilling and exciting task for it is the place where the entire family can congregate to rest, relax and entertain themselves. Carefully selecting matching patio accessories for your outdoor garden is very important for only then will it be cohesive and aesthetically pleasing. Examine all the patio furniture and accessories that you will pick out and get the family involved in this, so that everyone will feel that they have been a part of the planning and designing and therefore enjoy the place more.

While some homeowners may entrust the entire task of relaying and decorating their patio in the hands of a professional landscape designer, others would prefer to use their own creative skills to decorate their patio. The former method will give a beautiful, yet formal appearance to the patio, while the latter will bring a more cozy and comfortable appearance. Each homeowner must make their choice depending on their budget and even those who choose to go with a landscape artist can work closely with them so that their personality will be stamped on the patio decor.

Here are some tips on decorating and choosing some simple accessories for the patio:

• Furniture ideas
• Landscaping ideas
• accessories

Before stepping out to choose your furniture, make sure how much space you have. Measure each area of the patio and make notes as to what furniture you want in each space and the size and number of pieces. Apart from home improvement stores, those on a tight budget can wait for discounts to buy their furniture.

Make sure you place the furniture at least 16 inches from the edge of the patio area. Make your choice of patio furniture material based on the climate in your area and the amount of protection your patio has. Those who have permanent concrete patio roofs or patio awnings can go in for wood or wrought iron furniture. Others who only have patio umbrellas for protection can choose aluminum, resin wicker or plastic furniture. Some people wish to enjoy the patio even during cool nights. They can opt for any kind of patio heater available.

If you prefer the traditional fire pit, you can go in for the four-seat patio table, which comes with a built in fireplace right in the center. On the other hand, if you do not want the hassle of starting and keeping a fire going, you can get a fire pit replica like the electric fireplace or go in for natural gas or propane patio heaters. All these will be functional and make the patio a cozy, warm place for cooler evenings and mornings. Get a beautiful water fountain that is available in hardware stores. This is easy to install and brings a certain charm and beauty to the patio.

What is more, listening to gurgling water is always a soothing and relaxing feeling. Those who have the space can create a small pond around the water fountain. This pond can be filled with ornamental fish or water plants like lilies. If you wish to create some privacy in your patio, get a readymade wooden fence that will look stylish and yet protect you from nosy neighbors. Get patio umbrellas or awnings in the right shade to match your patio furniture. Patio cushions and rugs are available in thousands of colors and patterns so coordinating them with the rest of the patio furniture will be very easy.

When landscaping the patio, you can choose the common square or rectangle shapes. Those who want a more chic appearance can add a slight curve that will give it a contemporary flair. Add shrubs and flowerbeds along the curve to make it stand out. The boundary can also have a border of big round pebbles or bricks to enhance the shape of the patio area. Choose your patio flooring carefully depending on the look you wish to give. E.g., terracotta is a Tuscan theme.

Apart from water fountains and fences, other patio accessories are available in plenty. Small garden gnomes standing around the shrubs look quaint. A chimenea is a freestanding terracotta fireplace used in Mexico that has become a popular garden accessory in the US. Those who want to add a dreamy, fairytale touch can go in for patio lights. These can be LED lights strung on the patio umbrella or solar-powered lamps that are energy efficient and available in many designs. Carefully matched patio accessories will make a patio look warm, inviting and stylish.

Caring Tips for Patio Furniture

Summer and spring time is when most people get their patio furniture and grills out of the dust so that they can put them to good use. patio furniture is now available in many forms and types, but most people have plastic and wood based furnishings. No matter the material, patio furnishings can be easily ruined if they are not properly taken care of. Knowing exactly how to care for your patio furniture is very important, since most models can easily, especially after exposed to more extreme weather. Keep reading and go through the basic steps on how to extend the life of your patio furniture!

Due to the nature of the material, wood furniture requires caring a bit more frequently than other types. The good thing is that the caring process only takes a couple of minutes and it is often times very rewarding in the end. Firstly, start by ensuring that the sealant is weather proof, you surely don't want the wood to soak up any water. Weather conditions are probably the dangerous enemies of patio furnishings! Cleaning your furniture is also extremely important and it should be done right before every season.

Start by looking for rough or damaged spots, sand them out and apply sealant again. This is a simple process and you can easily make use of fine sand paper to sand these spots and make them a lot smoother. Sanding is extremely important because it prepares the area for the sealant while it also protects the sitters by keeping the splinters off. You can easily tear your clothes if you sit on rough spots, especially when splinters are on. How you store your patio furniture is also very important since the winter season can really damage it.

Be sure to store your furniture inside a warm place if you don't want the wood to crack and break down. Properly storing your furnishings can also save you money since the sealant will last a lot longer. Resealing the furniture should be done every three years, while spot resealing should be done whenever required. Also, be sure to take the furniture inside every time it rains. Sometimes, applying sealant to wooden patio furniture that was made using logs might become difficult and require you to put covers over it instead. Simply follow these tips and your patio furniture will surely last for a good number of years!