Make Your Patio A Year Round Social Center With These Great Tips

| Friday, May 6, 2011
By Bill Shea


One of the most popular social areas of a home is the patio, but many find that they only use it during the warm months. For many people, they only get a few months a year to enjoy the warmth of the sun on their home patio. But you can actually enjoy your gathering and the company of your guests when you make use of the patio during the slightly colder months.

If you want to give entertaining on the patio during the colder months a try, you first need to make sure that you are eliminating the wind from blowing through. To do this, you might want to put up some shades or blinds to work as wind blockers. You can use natural materials such as wood or bamboo or you can use fabric, the choice is yours. As long as they look nice and serve a purpose, then you are using the right material.

The next thing you want to concentrate on is the lighting. You want to make sure that the area is using energy to the best of its ability. Using incandescent lights is a great way to warm up the air and providing all of the light you could possibly need. You can mix it up a little by adding smaller light fixtures and portable heating lamps to create the exact look that you have always wanted to have for your patio.

Also, the setting arrangement will matter. People who find themselves sitting on a metal bench will not last as long outside in the winter than someone on a wood seat with soft padding. Those well padded chairs need to also be waterproof. This will ensure that you do not get wet and end up extra chilly. In addition, remember, the standard lounge chair is not generally the best for seating during the winter.

Besides good conversation and a nice place to sit, having some good food is always a way to make sure that everyone is happy and keeping warm. To cook your food, you will want to invest in an outdoor fire pit for your patio. This is the best way to cook and smoke your food. You can go for something simple or go for the expensive fire pit. Either way, as long as you are able to cook food and produce much needed heat for everyone at the same time, then you are on the right track.

Not everyone is interested in grilling his or her food though. Even if you do not plan to grill your food on the patio during the winter, the fire pit is still a great way to add light and bring heat. As far as the style and build of the pit, there are many options out there for you. Just make sure that you are staying within your local ordnances and you will be fine.

Then again, maybe the outdoor fireplace or fire pit is something that is a little too much for your budget. If that is the case, you will want to use patio heaters, such as floor heaters, to make sure that you are getting the warmth you need. Make sure that you are using the right electrical outlets for them though.

Getting the most out of your patio in colder months is one of the great joys of innovative home ownership, and a lot of these options, like outdoor fireplaces or outdoor fire pits, will add to the resale value of your home. Give them a look see - many of them are a lot more affordable than you'd think.




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