With summer just around the corner, now is an opportune time to think about updating your outdoor spaces for summer. Create an island-inspired backyard sanctuary by choosing furniture pieces crafted from Sunbrella fabrics – durable yet weather resistant pieces are key!
Markus’ Island Time Furniture company offers an assortment of chair designs and tables to meet customers of various dimensions. Their strong polywood chairs can withstand even the toughest use while being easy to keep clean.
Set Up Under a Pergola
A pergola can bring any backyard together, providing an inviting space where guests can unwind and socialize. Whether you decide to build it yourself, purchase one from a store, or hire someone else to build it for you, a pergola makes an outstanding addition to any outdoor living area – providing focal point, architectural interest and sun protection in one package!
As you design the layout of your pergola, keep traffic flow in mind. If you want people to move effortlessly from grilling station to seating area, designate a walkway specifically for this purpose so they won’t stumble over plants or furniture on their journey through your yard.
If your pergola will serve as a lounging area, choose lounge chairs that feature durable construction. Rated for all-year use and designed to resist wear and tear from daily usage, they come in various sizes, styles and materials that match your taste and can even include weather-resistant materials like teak which is known for its strength.
Alternately, consider investing in a sectional sofa or loveseat featuring fade-resistant cushions and luxurious pillows – perfect for relaxing after a long day of work! Position a side table nearby to store beverages or snacks while creating romantic vibes at night by hanging lanterns from latticework or stringing up lights to set an intimate scene.
Another key consideration is purchasing a quality patio cover. While tarps may provide temporary shelter, they often trap moisture that leads to mold and mildew growth under furniture and blow away in high winds unless secured with ties or rope ties. A quality cover has vents designed to allow moisture to escape while simultaneously having tie-down straps to keep it secure during high winds.
Add a dining table to your pergola and fill out the area with outdoor furniture that complements it, such as patio sets with seating for the entire family or bistro tables that seat small groups of friends and family. Keep outdoor coffee and accent tables nearby to hold drinks, snacks and knick-knacks.
Add a Fire Pit
An outdoor fire pit can add warmth and light to any patio, providing warm nights for dining, lounging around, and hosting parties in summertime. However, improper design of your fire pit may detract rather than enhance your outdoor living area – here are a few tips on creating the ideal patio fire pit!
Utilize a Fire Pit Pad: Fire pit pads are heat-resistant stone and metal mats designed to sit beneath fire pits in order to shield patios from heat, sparks and ash produced by burning. Furthermore, fire pit pads contain any embers that escape onto your patio that might ignite into another fire outbreak.
Select a material for the fire pit pad that is durable, flameproof and long-term use – such as lava rock or crushed granite – which has natural stone finishes and easy maintenance requirements. Bare metal will rust quickly; therefore if using metal furniture add a rust-proof coating for an improved finish.
Make sure your fire pit is placed away from any combustible materials like grass or shrubs, and create a fire-resistant barrier around its perimeter to shield patio from heat and sparks generated by it. A screen can help stop embers escaping into the patio from leaving the pit, while fireplace pokers allow you to move logs and debris around in your fire.
Designate an area specifically for eating and lounging to keep the atmosphere focused on socializing and dining rather than cooking and cleaning up after meals. This approach also makes it easy for small group dining experiences; everyone gets their chance to express themselves during conversations.
Mimzy & Company’s patio fire pit offers an easy solution for creating an inviting dining and lounging area without separate rooms for dining and lounging. Reusing bricks from another project, leftover bricks were used to construct this round DIY brick firepit which serves as the focal point of an outdoor gathering space. Get creative when designing your firepit by using an old wheelbarrow; just be sure to ensure it’s free of cracks, dents or major rust to ensure its safety!
Decorate with Bold Prints
Bold decor styles can create an eye-catching statement and demonstrate your fearless daring spirit, without necessarily including large prints or vibrant colors. Bold patterns can also be used to make an eye-catching design statement and will surely draw the eye – prints such as curtains, upholstery fabric and cushions can use bold print fabrics that come in all kinds of styles for curtains, upholstery and cushions – one perfect fabric can completely transform a living space, bedroom or dining area!
Decorating with patterned furniture requires selecting a color palette that unifies all pieces. For instance, if your armchair features a trellis pattern while your sofa features butterfly motif fabric, choosing pillows and drapes in complementary hues will tie them all together beautifully. A neutral background also makes changing styles easier; simply opt for lighter colors for pillows and drapes to update their appearance without replacing everything completely.
Rather than fully commit to pattern in your furniture, try adding accent pieces such as throw pillows or curtains as an addition. Or paper an accent wall in bold prints for instant impact in any space. To avoid creating an incoherent feel in the room, pick out one or two colors from each print that can be used elsewhere in the room.
Are you looking to add an eye-catching accent to your summer island patio furniture this year? Consider some of the trendy fabric styles. Wicker, linen and rope fabrics create a vacation feel at home; pair these pieces with eccentric side tables, some plants and possibly even using woven rope around a fireplace to complete this look. Lastly, why not add a unique pop with some bold print chair cushions like chevron?
Add More Hydrangeas
Hydrangeas are classic summer garden shrubs that boast long-blooming clusters of colorful blooms in shades of white, pink or blue. Bloom color may vary based on soil chemistry; however, experienced gardeners can adjust it by using special additives – for instance adding aluminum sulfate to acidic soil will make bigleaf hydrangea flowers appear more blue while dolomite lime in alkaline soil will make blooms pinker. A few hydrangea plants planted near your outdoor dining area will create an airy summer atmosphere perfect for enjoying seasonal cuisine or cocktails!
Hydrangeas come in many species and cultivars, providing a range of flower shapes, sizes and colors. Traditional “bigleaf” (Hydrangea macrophylla) varieties feature large mophead or lacecap flowers in shades ranging from white to pinks and blues; newer remontant (“re-blooming”) hydrangeas feature showy clusters of blooms on old growth that bloom every time new growth emerges.
Smooth Leaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens), known for its round white blooms and four-foot height, makes an excellent choice for smaller spaces as it only grows to four feet tall. One of the newest varieties available, First Editions Berry White, produces beautiful strawberry cone-shaped blooms. For added drama in landscape design, panicle Hydrangea paniculata offers stunning massive pyramidal flowers in hues ranging from white through strawberry to bright green and lime hues – another top pick among landscape designers!
Plant your hydrangeas in late spring when conditions are favorable and temperatures are mild. Dig a hole slightly shallower than their current container, two to three times wider. Remove your plant from its pot, center it in the hole, backfill with soil, water thoroughly and treat the planting site with Pennington UltraGreen Plant Starter with Vitamin B1 to minimize transplant shock.
