Spring is in the Air…make your home the place to be!
By: Cathy Davin
It’s late March and we chicks are ecstatic about the arrival of warm weather! Soon it will be time to enjoy dining, relaxing and entertaining outdoors. So, let’s make our patios, porches and sunrooms the place to be this season! Here are some ideas that may help you get started.
Furnish outdoor areas with as much care as you do the rest of your home. Create a cozy outside reading area with great chair and side table for your drink and book. Catch an afternoon nap on a stylish, comfortable daybed which later provides comfortable seating for guests in the evening. — Might this be the year to indulge in new outdoor furniture? — Today’s outdoor fabrics look super and withstand the harshest weather conditions. If this isn’t a good year to replace, try painting your outdoor furniture in cheerful bright colors to give it a second life. Set your outdoor dining table with colorful linens and a fresh centerpiece of summer veggies or potted herbs. Consider installing a ceiling fan. Why not add an outdoor rug? Beautiful patterns and colors are available that can be easily cleaned. Live it up! Live it out!
Fill your home with energy and optimism that comes with the season – think fresh color. It’s easy and fun, and it can be as complete or as quick and inexpensive as you like. While you generally want color to flow with the house as a whole, you might try outdoor colors that are bolder than you would use inside. Try bright apple or lime green. How about turquoise blue or bright oranges and pinks? Bright colors really pop against a green lawn and blue sky! Or, how about white if you’d like something that stands out in the moonlight?
The warm glow of candlelight and firelight on a dark summer evening is irresistible. Outdoor fireplaces are really popular – might this be another indulgence for this summer? Or, try a portable fire pit – you’ll find a beautiful selection at reasonable prices. How about stringing festive party lights for your next gathering, or a candle burning chandelier over your outdoor dining table? At a minimum, try groups of candles in hurricane globes or mason jars placed around your deck. Light it up!
Treat all of your senses. Set up a fountain and enjoy the sight and sound of gurgling water. Play music – whether you’re in the mood for Mozart or Margaritaville, it adds to the enjoyment. Indulge your sense of smell – as well as creating a visual treat – with pots of herbs or colorful flowers growing on your patio. Now is a good time to get rid of those dusty artificial plants!
Start now to enjoy every moment of the coming seasons in your home. When it’s time for that first cookout over Memorial Day weekend, you’ll be glad you did!
Cathy Davin has been helping clients bring their interior design and decorating dreams to reality for over 20 years. She is owner of Davin Interiors LLC and an award-winning designer.
Website: www.davininteriors.com
Blog: www.davininteriors.blogspot.com