Outdoors

Now that you have your Deck all spruced up and clean, it is time to accessorize the space before all the family and friends show up!

I want to give you a shopping list of sorts. You can pick and choose the things that interest you, do more research and then head out and purchase the items that will complete the picture perfect environment that you are trying to create.

Lighting

1. Path Lighting – make sure visitors can safely find their way to and from your outdoor space
2. Landscape Lighting – this is the cat’s meow when it comes to creating a mood or an environment. Up-lighting trees, plants and shrubbery as well as wall washing the house and out buildings, gives the impression that you want people there.
3. Deck Lighting
1. Tread Lights – Light fixtures that are installed in or around the stairs leading to the Deck surfaces. Provides safe access.
2. Under Railing Lights – These light fixtures, individual fixtures or rope lighting, can be installed at the bottom or top of the railing system to give a low laying glow to the Deck space
3. Newel Post Lights – These fixtures can be hoisted atop a tall post or incorporated into the newel post at the railing height. Either location serves to shed accent lighting or flood the space with light.  

Many times we get so used to our surroundings that we don’t realize what we have or that things have fallen into disrepair. This state of affairs doesn’t necessarily demand the creation of new spaces. Often we can remedy the situation by “re-creating” our outdoor spaces. 

Tired Old Decks/Patios

Pressure Washing. You would be surprised what a good pressure washing will do for old Deck/Patio surfaces. This can be a good DIY weekend project or there are good, reputable companies that specialize in Deck/Patio cleaning and renewal services. Be sure to use an eco-friendly detergent as some detergents, while very effective at cleaning your Deck/Patio surface, will be very harmful to your plants and grass. You also need to be very careful with the amount of pressure you use and how close you hold the hose nozzle to the Deck/Patio surface. Too much pressure at a close proximity to the Deck surface will destroy your Deck boards or Patio surface. A weekend Deck cleaning project could turn into a nightmare replacement project real quick if you are not careful.

Living greener may be as easy as spending more time outside. And spending more time outside may be as easy installing a new patio or deck or remodeling an existing outdoor space.

Creating New Space

If you are looking out your back door and you cannot think of any possibilities for expanding your usable space…think again. Think of it this way; if your home is 2,500 SF and you add a 250 SF patio or deck, you have just expanded your usable space by 10%! 250 square feet is 10’x25’, 12’x21’, 14’x18’; these are very workable sizes for either a new deck or patio. Who could not use 10% more entertainment space or 10% more seating area at parties? This type of expansion is not out of the question.