OUTDOOR LIVING IN THE FALL

by Rosalia Sestito

Thinking of ways to get the most of your backyard or balcony this fall? With a few considerations, you can change your outdoor living area to allow for all year around enjoyment.

Adding Warmth
The most important consideration is staying warm. There are many ways to incorporate warming options to your outdoor space such as a fire feature including a fireplace, fire bowl, lantern or candles and warm wool blankets.

The addition of an exterior fireplace can be enjoyed for its ambience when the weather is milder and for its warmth to add comfort on the colder days. Adding a fireplace can transform your outdoor space into an inviting cozy place to curl up with a good book, a spot of tea, or enjoy sipping a glass of wine with a few friends.

An outdoor fireplace makes a great gathering spot. It creates a feeling of intimacy while letting you stay outside to take advantage of crisp fall/winter evenings.

If your outdoor living space is small balcony – an electric patio heater or mini gas or LP radiant heater is a great option. Heaters are both powerful and compact, providing plenty of heat without needing much room and enables you to take advantage of the outside longer, while still staying comfortable.

Lighting
Though often overlooked, lighting is crucial when preparing the patio for colder temperatures. The fall/winter months offer less daylight than the spring/summer seasons and this can inhibit outdoor living enjoyment and create safety issues for family and guests. Adding lighting is easy not to mention it adds a festive element to your outdoor gathering. Good landscape and patio lighting can accent the details of your outdoor space such as a feature wall.

So, don’t dread the cooler weather, embrace it with beautiful décor and design and refuse to hibernate!