Light Up the Night Quick Facts about Outdoor Lighting

•Make a Grand Entrance of Your Front Door
 by: Debbie Rodgers You may find it difficult to believe that the days will start getting longer in the Northern Hemisphere in just four short weeks. You can find yourself this time of year coming home on dreary days, or welcoming evening visitors in the dark. It's neither safe nor inviting. But good lighting at your front entrance gives a warm and secure welcome to any who enter. Mention outdoor lighting at this time of year and many people think of strings of lights. But why not go for...

•Fall for Outdoor Entertaining This Autumn
 by: Debbie Rodgers Aaaah, autumn! It's the perfect time to entertain outdoors -- most of the bugs are gone, the sun isn't scorching even though it's warm enough to enjoy an afternoon or evening al fresco, and there's a bounty of good things to serve for an outdoor meal. Because the days are shorter in the autumn, outdoor entertaining in the fall calls for special attention to lighting and temperature. Lighting The earlier sunset will afford you an ideal opportunity to bathe your...

•Ship Ahoy The Nautical Touch in Your Outdoor Living Space
 by: Debbie Rodgers Would you rather be sailing or are you strictly a shore bird? Whether you're land-locked or seaside, you can create a nautical look in your outdoor living space by following a few easy principles. You'll find that even landlubbers can answer the siren song of the sea. Although any outside space can be adapted to this motif, wooden decks are particularly suitable. And if you can manage to install a water feature so that the deck overhangs it, you'll increase the on-board...

•Warm Up the Night Patio Heaters and Fire Pits
 by: Debbie Rodgers In some areas right now, the weather is ideal for sitting outside in the evening -- the bugs have gone and the sky is clear -- but the nights are chilly. Don't let the cool evenings send you inside -- extend your outdoor living season by heating your deck or patio. Different heaters are available for different needs and circumstances. A heater will be powered by propane, natural gas, alcohol-gel, electricity, wood, or wood substitutes such as charcoal or artificial...

•How to Decorate your Outdoor Space without Breaking the Bank
 by: Debbie Rodgers Noted English clergyman Sydney Smith (1771-1845) is quoted as saying, Economy in the estimation of common minds means the absence of all taste and comfort. But finding thrifty ways to decorate your outdoor living space doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice either of those things. Here are some ideas to help you: Forget trying to find that perfectly matched 9-piece patio set at the first garage sale you stop at. If a matched set is what your heart truly desires then by...

•Metal Outdoor Furniture Explained
 by: Debbie Rodgers Mention metal patio furniture and you probably think of the light, fly-away aluminium loungers of your youth or that half-ton cast iron table and chair set on your neighbour's lawn. But metal outdoor furniture has come a long way. Here's a quick primer on the available types and their care. Construction Methods Metal is fashioned into furniture in one of three main ways: extrusion, casting, and welding. Extrusion forces melted metal through long pipes and forms...

•Cozy Nooks Creating a Secret Outdoor Place
 by: Debbie Rodgers Everyone seems to love a secret -- and when the secret is a nook in your outdoor space, all the better. A nook is defined as a private or secluded quiet inner place. Any outside space, from a balcony to an acre estate can benefit from including a nook. Here are points to consider: Purpose It doesn't make any sense to set up a secluded garden reading bench if you never have the time to pick up a book. But maybe you'd like to spend 15 minutes in the morning over coffee...

•Luau Decorating with a Hawaiian Theme
 by: Debbie Rodgers Hawaii is a first choice travel destination with millions of people - and for good reason. Bring a little of that island feeling into your home, either indoors or in your outdoor living space. You can apply this theme to an elegant dinner party, a fun and funky luau, or anything in between. 1. First, look at the space itself, including floors, walls, roof or ceiling. Texture Think natural materials. Try bamboo matting on the floor. It's fairly inexpensive, very...

•Life s a Beach A Shore Theme in Your Outdoor Space
 by: Debbie Rodgers Twentieth century American architect Phillip Johnson once said, I hate vacations. If you can build buildings, why sit on the beach? Mr. Johnson evidently didn't how to relax, but as another summer is slipping away, you can. Did you visit the beach this year? Do you wish you had? Either way, you can create a seaside feel in your outdoor space and enjoy memories of the shore at home! Here are some quick tips. Color Your choice of color will be the biggest...

•Wooden You Like to Know A Primer to Wood Outdoor Furnishings
Wooden You Like to Know? A Primer to Wood Outdoor Furnishings  by: Debbie Rodgers To many people, wood is the quintessential building material for furniture, both indoor and out. There's a wooden furniture form to suit every budget and décor -- from rustic twig loveseats to classis cedar Adirondack chairs to sophisticated teak tables and benches. In fact, the varieties of wood are dizzying. Which should you choose? How should you care for it? And is wood an environmentally-friendly choice...