Author Archives: Jessica Silvera

5 Great Ways to Repurpose Your Favorite Outdoor Furniture

outdoor furniture

Summer has come to a close and you may be wondering what to do with all your outdoor furniture that has run its course.

After a few years, especially in places that experience all four seasons, outdoor furniture can look a little haggard. If it looks like your outdoor furniture can’t take another cold winter, it’s time to repurpose it.

That’s right, you don’t have to throw your furniture away. In fact, there are a number of super simple ways you can repurpose or upcycle your rundown outdoor pieces just in time to bring them in for winter.

Here are a few ways to give some of your favorite outdoor pieces a second chance.

1. Paint Away the Problem

It’s amazing what a fresh coat of paint can do for just about anything.

Even the best outdoor dining sets get worn down over time, but that rough, cracked surface can be remedied with a simple paint job.

If you have a pretty wooden piece, it’s easy enough to sand it down and stain it to bring that wood back to life. But it might also be nice to completely transform the piece with a bright, new color. Try a soft turquoise blue or royal hunter green and use the revamped furniture to transform an interior room.

To really repurpose the item, use chalkboard paint. You can create a cute message board for the kitchen or fun piece of furniture for your child’s room with a simple coat of paint.

2. Side Tables Galore

Outdoor side tables are endlessly versatile. They can seamlessly move between indoor and outdoor spaces, they can stand alone or be gathered together, and they are always handy to have nearby.

Switch out your tired nightstand with a refurbished side table or create a collection of tables in your living room for an eclectic look that lets you cleverly mix styles without losing any utility.

With a lamp and stack of books, any outdoor table can easily become a part of your indoor decor.

3. Clean The Rug

Rugs are the silent heroes of decorating. These subtle accessories can completely change a room, and they’re fairly easy to replace and store.

Refresh your interior space with an outdoor rug. Because outdoor rugs are designed to withstand the elements, they should be fairly easy to clean with a power wash in the backyard. And their short fibers make outdoor rugs perfect for a home with hairy pets.

4. Pot Outdoor Plants

Save the remnants of your garden by bringing the foliage inside. Potted plants can really bring a space to life and will improve the entire feel of the house in the dead of winter. That greenery is good for more than just looks!

Brighten your kitchen and living room with pots of grass, herbs, and flowers. If the pots you were using this summer have some sun damage, pull out the paint and give your pots a fresh look that matches your interior space.

5. Hang it Up

You can completely transform a piece of outdoor furniture by simply hanging it up inside. Broken chairs can become coathangers, lattice can become a photo gallery, and a ladder can display pictures and books.

These hung pieces can add a unique and interesting look to your interior space. Whether you are going for a rustic look or something more eclectic, these repurposed pieces are the perfect way to achieve the aesthetic you want.

Conclusion

Save your favorite outdoor furniture from going to the dump. By repurposing outdoor pieces as indoor decor, you can breathe new life into your interior space while keeping the furniture that means the most to you.

 

Sources

http://www.diynetwork.com/how-to/make-and-decorate/decorating/22-clever-ways-to-repurpose-furniture-pictures

http://www.hgtv.com/design/decorating/design-101/12-clever-uses-for-old-furniture-pictures

Fall Lawn Care Makes Your Yard Beautiful Next Spring!

fall lawn care

Just because the temperature has dropped doesn’t mean you’re off the hook for fall lawn care just yet. In fact, fall is your yard’s favorite time of year!

The warm days and cool nights create the perfect environment for your yard to soak up the nutrients it needs before settling in for winter. But it requires some help to get the most out of this season.

Try these super simple tips to get your yard ready for winter so that it blooms bright in spring.

1. Cut the Grass

Yes, you still need to trim the lawn a few more times. Although many people believe that growing their lawn out before winter is good for it, the opposite is actually true. Long grass can house vermine under the snow, who can wreak havoc on your yard over winter.

Instead, your yard should be cut regularly to keep it healthy. Mow the lawn as long as the grass is still growing and keep it between two and two-and-a-half inches until snow falls.

2. Aerate

You should aerate your yard before winter comes. Aeration puts small holes throughout your lawn so that water and nutrients can sink into the roots.

It shouldn’t take long to aerate your lawn, no more time than it takes to mow it, but you do need a special tool. You can rent or buy an aeration tool at your local home or outdoor supply store. If your yard is heavily used, freshly laid, or often gets dried out, you may want to invest in an aerator and do it more often. Otherwise, once in the fall and spring should be fine.

3. Clear Leaves

Although raking leaves is a pain, leaving them on your lawn all season can seriously hurt your grass.

In the fall, leaves block the all-important sunlight from reaching the grass blades, which they need to suck up nutrients and stay healthy. And during winter, leaves can grow mold and mildew and poison your grass or ruin your flowerbeds.

After cleaning up leaves, don’t just throw them into the landfill. Leaves make great mulch, and a compost pile can be turned into mulch and used to nourish your flowerbeds. Keep your leaves and use them to feed your garden.

4. Fertilize

Fall is the perfect time to fertilize your yard. You should apply fertilizer in late fall, just before it gets really cold and frosty outside, to give your lawn a good boost before winter.

If you’re unsure about what your yard needs from a fertilizer, you can get a soil sample tested to find out exactly what you need, but generally a good fertilizer will have nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Potassium is important for fall fertilizing because it helps protect your grass against the cold.

5. Tame Your Flowers

Pull annual flowers and vegetables that have run their course, but leave the roots so they can help nourish the soil in your garden. For perennial plants, you’ll just want to cut them back to the ground, and then cover them with compost or mulch to keep the roots nourished over winter.

You can add pulled or trimmed plants to your compost, but get rid of anything that has decayed or been infected. You don’t want to put those diseases back into your garden with tainted mulch.

6. Weed

This is your last chance to pull those pesky weeds out of your lawn, flower beds, and garden. Make sure as you comb through your yard to pull the entirety of the weed out, roots and all.

It’s important to pull all the weeds you possibly can out of your garden. As you set it up with compost to help nourish the soil before spring, you can also inadvertently nourish troublesome weeds that will spring back stronger than ever after winter.

You can use a weed killer, but don’t use it after seeding your lawn if you choose to do so. That will kill all the healthy seeds you just laid down and keep your grass from those extra benefits.

7. Plant Spring-Blooming Bulbs

Bulbs that bloom in spring require a chilling period to open. They are dormant when you get them, but will break open after being chilled. Since winter provides a natural chilling process, fall is the perfect time to plant these bulbs so that they’re ready to bloom in spring.

Dig and store spring-blooming bulbs, such as daffodils and tulips, a few inches below the surface of the soil and cover those areas with nutrient-rich mulch to help feed the bulbs over winter.

Conclusion

A beautiful spring yard starts now. Take care to put your yard effectively to bed before winter and prep it for warmer temperatures in a few months. The more work you do now to nourish and tame your yard, the more you’ll be able to enjoy it in the spring.

 

Sources

http://www.doityourself.com/stry/getting-your-lawn-ready#b

http://www.garden.org/subchannels/care/techniques?q=show&id=2241&page=2

http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/when-to-plant-bulbs-in-your-garden.html

 

How Do You Know It’s Time to Store Your Outdoor Furniture? 5 Things You Should Know

Store Your Outdoor Furniture

Feeling a slight nip in the air? Are you actually having to put on a jacket now when you go outside in the morning?

Brace yourselves, winter is coming…and there’s nothing you can do to stop it. The time for outdoor parties is quickly coming to an end and you need to make sure that your outdoor furniture is able to survive until the next party season.

When you see the leaves start to fall and tank tops being replaced with long-sleeved shirts and hoodies, you know it’s time to get ready to store your outdoor furniture for winter. For many unfortunate procrastinators, winter is a death sentence to patio or backdoor furniture.

If you’ve spent the money to make your outdoor relaxation time as comfortable as possible, do yourself a favor and make your investment last by keeping these five tips in mind as you get your outdoor furniture ready for winter.

1. Pay attention to what your furniture is made of!

Is your outdoor furniture metal? If so, what kind of metal is it? Is it the kind of metal that rusts when it gets wet? Is it made of plastic or wood? Are there any glass attachments? Are your cushions made of waterproof acrylic or some other kind of material?

All these questions play a huge factor in how you store your outdoor chairs and tables. A rule that can be universally applied to all types of outdoor furniture is to store it in a clean, dry place. Here’s a small checklist that you can use to make sure your storage area is up to the challenge of winter:

Are there any water leaks?

Are there termites or other bugs?

Does the storage area have any mold already?

Are there flammable hazards?

Will it get so cold that it will cause plastic to crack?

Could anything fall and break glass?

2. “Water Resistant” doesn’t necessarily mean “Waterproof”

Over time, furniture that is designed to be waterproof can lose some of its water repelling qualities. Many types of wood furniture collections are either chemically treated to be water-resistant or have naturally occurring water-resistant properties. However, no matter what kind of wood your outdoor furniture is made of, water always has the potential to be absorbed, causing furniture to crack or erode from the inside.

Before you get ready to store your wood furniture for the winter, make sure you apply a water-repellent finish to it. Most professionals in the woodworking industry recommend a finish that is lacquer based because it adds to the richness of the wood, dries quickly, and is incredibly strong.

3. Ignoring rust spots is a HUGE mistake!

If rust spots are already starting to appear on your furniture, it’s important that you get rid of them before you store the furniture away for the winter. If you don’t, the rust will spread and cause structural damage that will make the furniture unsafe to use. Plus, let’s be honest, it looks terrible!

Grab your drill, make sure that it has a metal bristle brush attachment, and buff out those rust spots before they start to spread. Just before you store your metal furniture, prevent new rust from forming by applying a high-quality paste wax to all areas that could potentially rust. In addition to applying a paste wax, make sure your metal furniture is also covered during storage.

4. Don’t just ignore a crack

Has anyone ever told you to get that small crack in your windshield repaired before winter so that it doesn’t spread?

Apply the same logic to your plastic outdoor furniture. If you don’t take care of any small cracks right away before winter, they will just get larger and larger, eventually leading to the furniture being damaged beyond repair. So, how do you fix cracking in plastic outdoor furniture?

Some larger cracks just aren’t fixable and that’s life. But in the case of small cracking, applying an epoxy resin can work very well. Just spread the resin over the cracked areas, making sure that it is applied smoothly. After the resin is applied and hardens, you can sand it down to get rid of any unseemly bumps.

5. Glass needs extra special attention

Glass table tops can be a whole other beast to store on their own. The obvious reason is because they are more fragile than the rest of your outdoor dining pieces, but the most important thing that you need to remember when you are storing outdoor glass is to keep it covered in a warm place!

If you let glass sit in cold places for an extended period of time, it is much more susceptible to getting weak and shattering when it is finally taken out of storage. Keeping it covered not only keeps the glass from getting nicked and scraped by the everyday happenings of life, but it also gives it a much needed layer of insulation. If you have any extra blankets lying around that aren’t being used, wrap your glass table tops in them and secure them on with rope or bungee cords. Once it’s wrapped, make sure it is stored in an area where things won’t fall on it and there isn’t a threat of it rolling away or falling over.

Conclusion

You have two options when it’s time to store your outdoor furniture for the winter.

You can either let winter be your furniture’s demise and watch your investment go down the drain, or you can take the necessary steps now to make sure that it lasts for years to come. You didn’t invest your money into outdoor furniture to watch it rust, crack, mold, or wither away after using it for one season.

These five tips will help you not only keep your outdoor furniture longer, but enjoy it longer too.

9 Outdoor Decorating Ideas to Light Up Your Life This Fall

outdoor decorating ideas

As the temperatures drop, you may find yourself wandering outside in a cozy sweater trying to soak in autumn’s essence. And no one will blame you.

Fall is a wonderful time of year and it beckons many of us outside for the last few weeks of temperate weather before the snow begins to fall.

If you find yourself slinking outside to breathe in the falling leaves, you might want to add an extra level of magic to your outdoor space. These outdoor decorating ideas will help you add some simple lights to transform your backyard into an eerie asylum or rustic retreat, and you’ll get the most out of the space this fall.

1. Trade Bright Lights for Tea Lights

To add some ambiance to your patio, get rid of that harsh wall light and instead sprinkle the space with small tea lights. By spreading out the light source, instead of shining one bright spotlight, your space will glow warmly.

Because it can get windy in the fall, opt for battery-powered tea lights. They will last longer and you won’t have to worry about getting up to relight them every time the wind picks up.

2. Tinted String Lights Offer Variety

String lights, like those hung at Christmas, provide great ambient light, and they are designed to handle the weather so you don’t have to worry about wind and rain as the seasons change.

Trade out bright white or colored lights for tinted string lights. Brown or orange-tinted bulbs will give your patio a nice glow. String lights are easy to hang and they can go almost anywhere. Line them along a table, over the doorway, or on your overhang for some extra aminance in your outside space.

3. Try Flickering Candlesticks

To create some lighted accessories for your backyard, reach for LED candlesticks. You can easily make all kinds of cool arrangements with these and place them around your patio for a moody setting.

You can paint the candlesticks to have whimsical patterns in fall colors or be dark and spooky for a haunted backyard theme. Make sure the lights flicker for the added element of atmosphere that comes from a burning candle.

4. Intertwine Lighted Garland

To add extra ambiance to fall decorations you already have, wrap them with bendable lighted garland. The small lights add a twinkling effect to anything they’re around, which can complete your magical outdoor space.

Wrap the lighted garland around wreathes, other hanging lights, or your patio arbor for simple, yet elegant lighting that will completely change your backyard design.

5. Illuminate Your Space with Globe Lights

Globe lights add an eclectic feel to any backyard space. You can string them across the yard, along the house, or in between branches for a unique, quaint atmosphere.

To take your globe lights to the next level, get them orange tinted or surround them with paper lanterns. This will break up the light so that it is more muted, adding to your backyard’s ambiance.

6. Candles Galore

Although LED candles are great, nothing can emanate the warm glow of fire like real candles. Use a variety of sizes and colors to decorate your yard and gather them in clusters around the patio.

When you really want to illuminate your surroundings — perhaps for outdoor dining — light the candles and watch the shadows created by their light dance around the backyard. You can also put the candles in patterned tins or paper lanterns as party decorations or just for your own outdoor enjoyment.

7. Perfect Pumpkin Lanterns

Fully embrace the season by using its signature foods to help illuminate your backyard. Carved out pumpkins, or even gourds, with candles inside make for perfect decorations and offer a little bit of that signature orange light that characterizes autumn.

You don’t need to carve out scary faces to get the right effect. Simple patterns punched out with a screwdriver can create an attractive display that isn’t too focused on Halloween.

8. Add Creative Paper Lanterns

Create some additional ambiance by adding paper lanterns to your outdoor lights. White lanterns reflect the surrounding light, giving your patio a gentle glow. Or reach for colored lanterns that will add some tint to your outdoor space.

You can buy lanterns for fairly cheap, or build your own to get custom patterns and colors that match your outdoor decorations. To really capture the autumn atmosphere, choose colors that match the falling leaves like warm oranges, muted browns, and deep reds.

9. Utilize Bare Branches

To complete your autumn sanctuary, capitalize on classic fall features in nature. Falling leaves, autumn harvest, and bare branches are perfect companions to your fall lighting.

Bring the iconic look of leave-less branches into your autumn design by draping them with amber lights or pulsating candles in mason jars. The part spooky, part familiar essence of the bare trees will really make your backyard feel like fall.

Conclusion

Whichever of these outdoor decorating ideas you choose to for your backyard design, have fun with your fall decorations. Creating a special space in your backyard will make those cozy sweaters and warm cups of coffee that much more enjoyable.

Sources

http://www.lightsforalloccasions.com/c-263-thanksgiving-fall-lights.aspx

http://www.landscapelightingworld.com/landscape-lighting-project-ideas-fall-maintenance-a/346.htm

Host your own outdoor movie night

You are a big fan of going to the movies, but you want to get out and enjoy the pleasant weather that won't be around much longer. Instead of sitting in a dark, possibly crowded movie theater, take just a little time and set yourself up to host a movie night in your own backyard. You get to watch the film you've been itching to see, enjoy the outdoors and, best of all, it's in your own backyard. Here are a few things you should keep in mind as you prepare your home cinema:

Seating arrangements
You're going to have to plan this based on the number of guests you are expecting. If you're hosting your own version of date night, your seating needs will be much different than if you are inviting a few friends over. Either way, chaise lounges are comfortable options for your guests. Lounge chairs are excellent options for your outdoor movie seating because they give you the freedom to sit upright or sprawl out if you're so inclined. Make sure you set up your seating close enough to see everything happening in the film.

Projector and screen
The easiest way to bring a movie outside without bothering with the electrical setup that goes along with an entire television set is to utilize a projector. Even if you don't have one, they aren't terribly difficult to find. If you want to purchase one, head to your local electronics store or check online for cheaper options. Don't want to buy it? There are usually projector rental services available, sometimes even for free at your local library. For a screen, use a white bed sheet (with no wrinkles!) or a canvas painter's drop cloth. Hang it wherever it makes sense in your backyard, as long as there's a support or frame behind it. Against the house or against the fence are great choices.

Extra layers
Now that you've successfully made it outside to watch a movie, you're going to have to contend with the elements for the night. Bring extra jackets, hoodies and sweatshirts for starters. It's always a good idea to have a few blankets around in case it gets cold or windy.

Snacks!
Don't miss out on all of the tasty treats you usually get when you go to the theater. Pop some popcorn, grab your favorite candy and pour a tasty soda to go along with your flick.

Make Your Outdoor Furniture Last All Four Seasons

Purchasing high quality outdoor furniture is a year-round commitment. You wouldn’t expect a pool to just take care of itself throughout the year would you? So don’t expect your outdoor furniture to do it either. Unfortunately, many people don’t know where to start.

Luckily, we’ve come up with a short maintenance guide that you can use to keep your outdoor furniture looking and feeling great all year-round.

SPRING

The spring months are probably when you will use your patio furniture set the most. It’s not too hot, not too cold, and there’s plenty of sunshine to go around. However, one thing that spring does bring a lot of is rain, and rain can cause a lot of damage to wood and threaten metal-framed chairs and tables with rust.

To help your patio or backyard furniture make it through the storm, there are a few things you can do for your wood or metal frames.

Wood Frames – The biggest thing that you want to look out for is mildew. Mildew not only looks bad, but it can smell and if you’re not careful, it can ruin a wood frame over time. To protect your furniture, start by clearing off the mildew spores with a soft brush, so as not to damage the wood. Once the mildew is cleared off, wash the whole frame with a damp soft cloth then let it dry. Once the frame is dry, pick out a good synthetic resin water repellent that matches the color of the wood and apply it to the frame.

Metal Frames – Rust is the ultimate killer of all metal-framed outdoor furniture. Obviously, the best way to prevent rusting is to keep the furniture dry, which is why investing in good furniture covers is always a good idea. But what if rust has already gotten to your frame? The simplest method is by getting your hands dirty and scrubbing it out. Power drills often come with metallic bristle attachments designed for this kind of work. It’s important to remember when using the drill bristle to make sure you only use it over the rusted areas so that you don’t cause unnecessary damage to any other areas of the frame.

SUMMER

Summer is the season of outdoor barbecues and pool parties and as a result, your outdoor furniture will most likely be getting lots of use. Here are two really quick tips on how to make your summer parties more enjoyable and safe:

The thing about outdoor furniture protection that you have to remember during summer is that heat not only makes your outdoor chairs hot, but it makes you hot. When you’re hot, you sweat. When you sit in your chair, you sweat on your chair. When you sweat in your chair, it accumulates and…well…you can guess what accumulated sweat smells like.

So do yourself a favor, just like how you would clean off a bench at the gym after using it, clean off your outdoor chairs after using them in summer. No one wants a smelly barbecue.

Let’s be honest, not every outdoor chair has a high quality Sunbrella seat cover like RST Brands. So to help protect your seat covers from fading in the intense summer sun, you can either store them in shaded areas or invest in furniture covers to protect them while they aren’t being used. You bought the furniture because you liked the way it looked, so keep it that way.

FALL

Fall is the awkward stage of the year for outdoor furniture.

“Do I use it still?” “Is it too cold outside?” “Does it look like it’s going to snow?”

Instead of just letting your furniture sit awkwardly outside during the autumn months, treat fall like the ultimate maintenance period. Oil those hinges. Buff out the last little bits of rust that have accumulated throughout the year. Apply that final coat of resin to keep it water tight and safe for the upcoming winter.

One thing that outdoor furniture can be used for in the fall is gathering around a fire pit with friends to enjoy the last few weeks of cooler weather before the extreme cold of winter hits. In that case, fire safety is an important thing to keep in mind. Remember these outdoor fireplace safety tips:

Sometimes, the resin on wooden frames can be VERY flammable, so don’t park your chair too close to open flames.

Metal gets hot! I know it’s obvious, but some people need to be reminded every now and then. Don’t be that person that ends up with a burn scar the width of your outdoor chair metal frame because you sat way too close to a fire for too long.

Some chair covers are plastic based and when heated, they can melt to skin pretty quickly.

Falling leaves are dry, flammable, and capable of spreading flames everywhere.

If you practice common sense both with yourself and your outdoor furniture, fall can be a very enjoyable time of year. Just remember to be safe.

WINTER

The only thing that comes to most people’s minds during winter, when it comes to outdoor furniture, is storing it. Storage for your backyard or patio furniture during the winter months is just as important as regular maintenance is during the spring and summer. When getting your furniture ready for storage, remember:

Make sure your storage area stays dry throughout the year. That way you can avoid rust, mold, and mildew. Get it clean first, especially your cushions. Proper cleaning before storing can reduce the chance of mold growth.

If you’re using outdoor furniture covers, make sure they are fastened COMPLETELY. The last thing you want is to have water leaking all winter and potentially ruining your frames.

Hopefully this helps! Remember, purchasing backyard furniture is a commitment just like any other household purchase, but it’s a commitment that can make your relaxing time at home all the more enjoyable.

9 Ways to Transition Your Patio or Porch from Summer to Fall

Fall is in the air.

From pumpkin spice lattes to crunchy fallen leaves, autumn is slowly hedging out summer and taking up residence in our hearts and our yards. Keep up with Mother Nature by outfitting your porch or patio with the rich colors, scents and textures of the season.

If you need a little inspiration to transition your patio or porch from summer to fall, take a look at these nine ideas that are sure to give you the friendliest, most autumn-themed home on the block.

1. Replace summer flowers with fall blooms and ornamental grasses.

When there’s a chill in the air it’s time for bright petunia blossoms to give way to hardy fall blooms like mums. Add extra texture to your fall porch by trading out summery clay or painted pots for more rustic containers made of wood or metal.

Ornamental grasses add another layer of interest and come with the bonus of being low-maintenance. Add them to mossy flower boxes or let them stand alone as sentries flanking the front door.

2. Trade out splashy summer colors for warm fall hues.

Summer is the perfect time for bright yellows and nautical blues, but nothing says fall like warm oranges and soft reds. Pack away beachy cushions and pillows and create an inviting outdoor space with a fall vibe by adding hues that echo the brilliance of fall foliage.

3. Add seasonal produce to your display.

You don’t have to go any further than the local farmer’s market or produce section to spruce up your fall porch. Everything from pumpkins and gourds to apples and brightly colored ornamental peppers can become part of a fabulous fall display. Make it a little bit country with bales of hay and the addition of dried corn stalks.

4. Create a warm glow with candles.

Give your bistro lights a break and warm up your porch with the cozy glow of candlelight. Add interest by mixing and matching unique candle holders. Place some candles in hurricanes and rest others on shabby chic pedestals. Amp up the fall vibe by throwing in a few candles scented for the season. Look for pumpkin spice, apple pie, and warm vanilla.

5. Replace a summery welcome mat with one suited to the season.

Embrace fall with a welcome mat that celebrates the turning of the leaves. Trade in summery scenes of the ocean and beach balls for images of fallen leaves, pumpkins or shiny, fall apples. If traditional designs aren’t your thing, consider a richly textured mat that echoes the season. Go natural; think cork, burlap or seagrass.

6. Add inviting furniture.

Now that the dog days of summer are over the temperature is perfect for lounging on your outdoor furniture. Make sure you have a cozy spot to sit while you greet the day with a hot cup of coffee or watch the sunset over a toasty mug of apple cider. Hunt flea markets for something rustic like a chair made from willow branches or a bench made of knotty pine.

7. Make it cozy by keeping blankets handy.

There’s nothing better than enjoying a crisp fall evening on the porch. But chilly nights require extra warmth. Make sure the chills are kept at bay by keeping a snuggly blanket nearby. If your porch is exposed to the elements, choose your fabric wisely. Make sure your favorite throw can stand up to temperamental fall weather before giving it a new home on the patio.

8. Welcome guests with a fall-themed wreath.

Herald the changing of the seasons with a fun, autumnal wreath. Trade out summer flowers and juicy colors for pumpkin-tinted berries and ribbons in rich chocolate. Consider weaving natural materials like raffia or burlap through a wreath ringed with Granny Smith apples or bright red cherries. Add chestnuts or acorns for extra texture. As long as you take your inspiration from fall’s bounty, you can’t go wrong.

9. Make it easy to transition from Halloween to Thanksgiving.

Create a fall porch that works as a backdrop for the upcoming holidays. Fall flowers and colors work for both Halloween and Thanksgiving. If you have a solid autumn landscape, it’s easy to customize for the holidays without having to start from scratch.

Add jack-o-lanterns or spooky silhouettes for Halloween. Welcome Thanksgiving with an overflowing cornucopia or a simple pillow embroidered with a word or message that evokes the gratitude of the season.

Say goodbye to the heat and sunshine of summer and embrace the crunchy, colorful days of fall with a porch or patio worthy of the season.

Which of these autumn tips are you going to try on your porch? Let us know in the comments!

 

References

http://housemadehome.com/2012/09/14/nine-decor-ideas-to-transition-from-summer-to-fall/

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/266416134177814127/

http://satoridesignforliving.com/2014/09/changing-seasons-fall-front-porch/

http://gardenmatter.com/front-door-decor-transitioning-summer-fall/

http://austin.citymomsblog

3 fall backyard decoration ideas

Now's the time to start doing a little fall decorating around the house and in the backyard. The season offers a new color palette, theme and inspiration for outdoor decorations. Show off your appreciation for autumn this year with these fall backyard decor ideas:

1. Fire fixtures
Firepits are wonderful during fall because they create warmth for the chilly evenings spent outside. It's entertaining to sit around the fire at night and share ghost stories while roasting marshmallows over the open flame. Help spruce up this space a little bit by incorporating fall adornments. For example, set a bowl of cinnamon sticks and pinecones on a nearby table to burn. These will release an autumnal smell while you're outside and provide a quaint decoration for the side table.

Outdoor fireplaces are another fixture that should be used to create attractive fall arrangements. Use the mantle to lay out a variety of small gourds and pumpkins with a garland woven among them. Other objects that would go well with the season include Indian corn, pinecones, acorns and vintage candle holders.

2. Dining space
Having meals outside is always enjoyable, but give your guests a sense of the season by adding a fall-inspired centerpiece to your outdoor dining set. Find a short, rustic vase and fill it with fall flowers. Sprinkle a few acorns or cinnamon sticks around the base of the container for a little extra flare.

Fall-themed candle holders are another good centerpiece option. For this idea, either use some old candle holders of get about three glass containers. Place a pillar candle inside the container, and then fill it halfway with corn kernels. Again, add some embellishments around the bottom of the containers by strewing walnuts or leaves across the table.

3. Furniture cushions
Cover your patio dining chairs and other outdoor furniture in autumn colors by switching out the covers or replacing the cushions. The new wraps will go well with the table centerpiece and other fall decor you have in the backyard. Sitting in vibrant autumn colors like Cadmium Orange, Marsala and Oak Buff will make you want to snuggle into your outdoor rocker with a warm mug of cocoa or coffee and a good book.

Along with decorating the backyard areas mentioned above, make sure you top off the look by hanging a fall wreath on your back door. With all these decorations in place, you'll be ready to host any outdoor event this season.

Outdoor fireplace safety tips

Outdoor fireplaces are great additions to backyard settings, but although these fixtures create cozy environments, you still need to be careful when using them. Practicing fire safety is essential in any home that sports a fire pit or fireplace. Here are a few tips to follow for keeping you and your family safe:

1. Keep it small
Bonfires are fun to create, but they also increase the possibility of embers getting away from you. Keeping the fire pit materials low is important for this reason, but the same goes for the fireplace. If you have too many logs on the grate, one could accidentally roll off when the bottom ones start to break down. It's also more difficult to get these fires out at the end of the night because there is more material you have to disburse.

2. Clean the surrounding area
Your fireplace is outside, which means leaves and other debris are going to blow into the patio area where it sits. Before you light the fire, make sure you've swept all of these items away from the hearth. Leaving dry, flammable materials near the fireplace, like old leaves, creates an unnecessary fire risk. So, before you have a get together, take a broom to the area and thoroughly sweep it out.

3. Be prepared
You might be practicing safe fire tips like creating small fires and keeping the surroundings clean, but fire is unpredictable, so always be prepared. This means you'll want to keep a bucket of water or sand nearby in case an ember gets away from you. It also wouldn't hurt to have a fire extinguisher next to the patio space in case of emergencies.

4. Extinguish before leaving
When you're done outside, it's vital you make sure your fire is completely out before heading in for the night. Now, this doesn't mean dumping a little water onto the ashes and calling it good. Reduce the risk of uncontained fires by first spreading out the ashes, and then carefully pour some water over all of it. However, your job doesn't stop here. You'll want to monitor the fire for a few minutes to make sure there aren't any hot spots left. If there are, add a little more water. Make sure you're pouring the water slowly over the fire. Splashing it inside the grate will not only make a mess, but could potentially spray you with hot, muddy ash.

Cushions and Pillows are Key to Timeless ’60s Design Trends!

Clean lines, splashy colors, and bold patterns are the hallmarks of mid-century modern design. This crisp, open look is inspired by the bright, abstract expressionism of the 1960s. It’s no wonder that this stylized minimalism continues to reign 50 years later.

Whether your decorating style is contemporary or classic, there’s no easier way to update your home than with a few cues from the mad, mod ‘60s. If you’re ready to amp up your home’s style, here are some keys to capturing that fun, clean ‘60s look.

Colors

Splashy oranges, juicy greens and searing blues are trademark ‘60s colors. The mid-century palette draws from nature, looking to the earth, sea and sky for brilliant hues. You don’t need to go big to make an impact with these intense shades.

Add a fresh accent with bright cushions and pillows, an array of vases or jars in different shades of the same color or choose to make a bold statement with a teal or chartreuse retro chair. You don’t have to limit this trick to the interior of your house, either. Adding a dash of color can be just the thing to bring your tired patio to life.

Patterns

Geometric patterns were everywhere in the ‘60s – adding a fresh, modern look to even the most boring space. You can capture some of that ‘60s aesthetic with a daring, geometric rug or ease into this fashionable look with smaller patterns on cushions and pillows, or even drapes.

Stick to patterns that contrast a deep or bright color against a neutral. Select a burnished orange rug with a white pattern or creamy pillows with a spring green accent. The patterns are bold enough to speak for themselves, so you don’t want to overwhelm the eye with a rash of bright colors on top of a striking pattern.

Textures

From velvet chairs to shag rugs, mixing textures is key to capturing the hip style we all fell in love with on “Mad Men.” It’s also one of the cheapest and easiest ways to give your digs a facelift. All you need to do is introduce one or two interesting textures into a room to change the overall feeling.

Mix a wooly, knitted throw with velvet or sackcloth pillows. Consider a burlap runner over a plain cotton tablecloth. Intermingle wooden furniture and accessories with iron, aluminum, or even retro fiberglass. The trick to mixing and matching textures is to follow your instincts. Contrast smooth and rough, soft and firm, and shiny and flat.

Shapes

There’s no mistaking a mid-century sofa or cabinet. The lines are clean and shapes are either squared-off and boxy or rounded and abstract. Form meets function in a whimsical yet classic way. Just one piece that embodies the pure design principles of ‘60s décor can make a big impression.

Anchor a living room with a wonderful ‘60s sofa or start smaller with a funky accent table or retro chair. The beauty of mid-century design is that it blends seamlessly with so many other furniture collections. It’s easy to give a room a cool, hip vibe without having to toss all the furniture you already own.

Mid-century design is definitely making a comeback. Take hold of this fun, stylish way to give your home a lift. The jolt of an audacious azure side chair or the decadence of a lofty shag rug will have you (and your visitors) clamoring for a dry martini and some classic jazz.

Sources

http://www.homedit.com/decorating-60s-style-ideas-inspiration/
http://www.houzz.com/60’s
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/04/mad-men-decor-pinterest-accounts_n_3007032.html
http://blog.retroplanet.com/1960s-decorating-style/
http://www.decoist.com/2014-01-21/retro-living-rooms-ideas/