Bring the Indoors Out with Home and Garden Décor
By Kathy A. Johnsonkathy.johnson@interiordesignschoolreview.com
Interior Design School Review Columnist
With summer's warmer, longer days, many home owners are enjoying "outdoor rooms" furnished with home design garden décor. These outdoor rooms provide an extension of living space for smaller homes, as well as places where family members can find privacy or entertain.
According to the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association, nearly 60 percent of last year's 1.8 million new homes include a patio, porch, or deck. Consumers spend literally billions of dollars on outdoor furniture, landscaping, and garden features. This trend opens up a new area of interior decorating for the professional and amateur alike.
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If you want to try designing outdoor rooms, here are some things to strive for:
Harmony. Home and patio décor should suit each other. A simple cottage should have more casual outdoor areas than a formal home.
Comfort. A roof or walls provide privacy as well as shelter from sun, wind, and rain. Lattices, hedges, pergolas, awnings, or fabric drapes protect outdoor rooms from the elements.
All-weather wicker furniture with cozy, mildew-resistant cushions, or bistro sets for al fresco dining, are far more comfortable than the nylon lawn chairs of backyards past.
Beauty. Rugs, candles, pottery, garden statuary, and even art work have found their way onto the patio or deck. For techies, a stereo system or TV is a must-have. Lighting, whether from solar fixtures or strings of fanciful lights, brighten outdoor rooms, allowing them to be used after dark. A final touch that many find essential is a water feature such as a fountain, spa, pool, or pond.
Fortunately, the popularity of garden décor has made it possible to find options for every budget. From portable grills to built-in kitchens, from potted plants to formal gardens, home and garden décor lets decorators bring the indoors out.
Sources: Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association
Pool & Spa Living
Pool & Spa Living
About the Author:
Kathy A. Johnson has written articles on health, fitness, and many other topics in her career as a freelance writer and editor. She lives in Florida, and is the features editor of Forum, a bimonthly publication of the national mothers group, Mothers & More.
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