The patio of your dreams- simple guidelines to follow

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The patio of your dreams- simple guidelines to follow - By: Kenny L Leichester, Posted on: 2008-02-12

We have the rest of the house sparkling clean but we forgot about one of the most important place at home. A place where we’d probably will be judged as a homemaker or even the way we decorate and care for the rest of the house. More often than not, a guest will probably have their mind up about this even before they enter our house. A pretty bad looking and unattended patio will turn anyone of instantly. Just because it is in the outdoor, don’t leave nature to tend to it. It can become a wonderful place to be in and even look at if you simply follow the guidelines that are provided here for you.

Concept
A small patio is probably what everyone is having at home nowadays unless of course you have a mansion at Beverly Hills. So if your home has a small size patio which would probably fit around 10 people, you might want to decorate it in such a way that it appears spacious. One way you can do this is by using the minimalist approach which can work magic for the concept. So don’t worry if you do have a small patio, you can still create the illusion of a bigger one.

Furniture
So you’ve chosen your concept and now it’s time to choose the furniture to be placed in your small patio area. Here are a few rules for you to follow to make this idea come to life :

1. Buy medium-size furniture. Large ones would crowd the small space, and too-small units will make the room look sparse and bare. The perfect choice of furniture would be medium size rattan or wicker furniture, as it would fit in with the ‘outdoor’ theme of a patio. There is an amazing array of furniture that one could choose from such as a rocking chair, a Japanese table, rattan chest, coffee table and a sofa or a settee. An ideal selection would be a rocking chair, two small chairs and a table. However, you do not have to follow this suggestion; use your creativity and indulge in a mix and match game. See which combination suits you best and then purchase them. These furniture are not just available at furniture stores, but could also be bought online.

2.A another useful tip is to select furniture that can also double up as storage unit. This allows you to safe space area too. For instance a coffee table with drawer is ideal to keep reading materials or even the children’s toys. It will make your patio look elegant and neat.

3. An outdoor cushion should be made of water resistant materials. This is will assure you that your cushions are protected against rain, spills and other nasty this you can think of that could be a threat to your sanity when you have to clean them for the 4th time this week. Water-resistant materials are so easy to clean, just hose the cushion down with water and everything is clean again.

Patio Knick-Knacks: Patio Umbrella and Hammock
For patios that has no roof, you can add a patio umbrella and a hammock. Whatever designs you may have in mind, be sure to also go for water-resistant fabric so that the task of cleaning up is as easy and effortless. Another element that you should consider is sun-tolerant fabric. This is to ensure that the fabric will not get faded easily as it is going to be exposed to the sun and you need not buy new ones every year.

Patio Knick-Knacks: Patio Heaters
Why let the chillness of autumn stop you from enjoying the outdoor air? Equip your patio with a patio heater instead, and you could relax and unwind at the comfort of your patio at anytime of the year, be it summer, spring or even winter. There are many types of patio heaters, such as standing heaters, ceiling heaters and portable heaters. However, it is recommended that one should get a ceiling heater, as it is more practical and less dangerous, especially for families with little children around. One could also choose the fuel source of the heater; propane, natural gas, infrared and electric are some of the choices which one have to decide on when buying a heater.

Why not go ahead and start your weekend patio project? The end result will be satisfying and you will be pleased that you now have a great place to hang out at home. Follow the guidelines and simple rules and you’re on your way to creating your own little garden heaven.

Article Source: http://www.girlarticles.com

Kenny Leichester is a foremost expert in the interior design industry specializing in the outdoor or patio settings using patio furniture, patio umbrellas, outdoor cushions, patio heaters, patio lighting and so on to create exquisitely beautiful layout. His work on teak furniture are widely distributed and is a regular contributor to PatioShoppers.com.