Interior Design and Redesign

Saturday, June 24, 2006

Summer Decorating Tips

Now that school's out for most students, and summer is officially here (I know, because my daughter was born on the first day of summer, June 21), it's time to get out doors more often and just relax.

So here are a few tips to make the outdoors more inviting:

1) Put a bench in the back yard and create an instant reading place. Add some posts behind the bench to create a backdrop. Put a small end table or coffee table nearby. Get out and read a good book, sip some iced tea, enjoy the kids playing.

2) Add a colorful new umbrella to your outdoor dining table. A splash of new color will enliven the area and add instant charm for outdoor entertaining.

3) Spray paint some of your old baskets different colors. Add some potted plants. Display them in groupings in and around your lawn or deck furniture.

4) If you have a large lawn in the back, put up a large tent and open up the front to face your home. Add some charming furniture to the inside of the tent and you've instantly added additional space for evening enjoyment.

5) Get some outdoor lanterns or light posts and place around your garden. Eat outdoors more often and enjoy the balmy weather.

6) Invest in a movable gazebo, the kind you can now find in most home improvement stores, at Walmart, KMart and even grocery stores. Position the gazebo near your family room or any room that opens to the backyard. It will provide shade for the home and give the appearance of an add-on room. Put a dining table and chairs in the gazebo and enjoy eating dinner outside every evening.