Our affinity with nature is reflected in the maintenance of our outdoor spaces. Home buyers claim that patios and front Porsche’s were indispensable in a house, especially those with a shade canopy installed, and yet we hardly seem to make use of our patios, decks and porches. Although it can be a struggle to keep a small patch of garden or balcony in top notch shape, these tips would turn your little nook of land in to a haven of respite:
Incorporate as much greenery and structure into the garden as possible first – you can always add vibrant flowers later. If you are a tenant and not willing to spend a fortune on plantations that you can’t enjoy for long, consider pots that you can plant up and take with you when you move. Pots of myriad colors and sizes can be creatively arranged to transform a dull space in to a verdant rainforest. Choose low maintenance border plants if you can’t squander time weeding and pruning all the time. Window boxes with scented flowers would also help to brighten the appearance of your property.
Height creates the illusion of extra space so invest in climbing plants, such as trellis and climbing shrubs. However, too many elements could overwhelm a small space so keep the color palette streamlined to maintain balance.
Cut back overgrown bushes, hanging branches of trees, and wild shrubs as they can suffocate the surrounding foliage and make your outside space appear small. If the garden is allowed to grow, it would be costly to rectify. Keep an eye on Ivy as it spreads rapidly, clogs drain, and climbs walls, affecting all the plants in their vicinity.
Factor in the comfortable element in the equation when you step outside. Make sure that your outdoor space is as cushiony as the indoors. Outdoor cushions and seating of today aren’t the plastic fabricated, sweat-inducing pillows of the past. Plus, they can handle a downpour and spring back once they dry. To glean some privacy from the prying eyes of the passersby, you can create a natural screen by shrubs, bushes, and even bamboo reeds, or purchase one from your home improvement store. A shade canopy would also provide a secluded shaded place for you to delve in while relishing in the outdoor ambiance.
Choosing the right outdoor furniture can turn a redundant space in to the seamless extension of your house. A small round coffee table and a couple of chairs suffice for a small place, while you can incorporate a sweet picnic table and outdoor sofas to host parties in large gardens. However, since direct sunlight can wreak havoc on your outdoor furniture, make sure that you get a shade canopy installed to provide a suitable shade for your paraphernalia.
When the sun bids adieu, don’t grope your way around. Invest in ample outdoor lightening to augment the aesthetic appeal of your property, as well as up your home’s marketability. You can use ample lighting to enhance trees, the architectural details of the house and other focal points, or use sconces and pendant lights to make hosting entertaining parties and barbecues outside easier. Illuminate rails, steps and walkways with solar penal lights and hang a couple of fairy lights here and there to wash your home in a warm glow.
A lot of people believe that a shade canopy only serves its purpose when the summer rises to its zenith, but even when the temperatures cool off, these contraptions can still make for a comfortable and amenable outdoor space. Such shade structures have plenty of benefits, such as helping you stay protected from unsavory weather elements, hard rain and snow, and keeping the worst of the wind out throughout the year. Not to mention, while it is important to soak up the golden light of the sun, too much exposure to UV rays can be detrimental to our health. Installing a shade canopy in your outdoor spaces offers some protection from these unwanted rays, since most such structures allow moisture and breezes through while keeping the sun out and blocking 85% of UV rays falling on us! With a shade canopy in place, your outdoor spaces become a haven of comfort.
