Title: Live Life, Outdoors
Published: Home Ideas Magazine 2016
By Cory Ann: Article, Design and Image Curation
For: Montgomery’s

Make your home feel more expansive this Spring, Summer, and Fall by opening your doors and increasing your living space.  Enticing outdoor rooms offer an opportunity to relax, entertain and dine while enjoying the changes in the weather and light. Create spaces with specific functions like cooking, dining, socializing, reading or enjoying a cocktail. Define your areas with fire, water, and planter elements placed to act as dividers. Gain vertical layering with plants and planters of varying height and placement on stands, wood blocks or other hardscapes. Spice things up by adding texture and color with outdoors accessories. Options in outdoor lighting, art and decor continue to grow and give you the opportunity to put your signature on your space.

In the last decade advances in fabric and materials have allowed the evolution of outdoor furniture from frumpy to fashionable. Now you can bring your indoor style out with designs made from wood, metal, plastic, wicker, and fabrics in a range of functions.  In such a vast array of colors and designs, it’s hard to believe these new materials are strong enough to withstand the elements. But that is what they do as they resist fading, repel water, and are easy to clean.  The designs are fun and functional ranging from classic coastal to modern minimalism. When selecting furnishings for your outdoor rooms start by evaluating the nearest indoor spaces and connecting the two by replicating a similar style, color or feel.

Functional outdoor spaces create the opportunity for more time enjoying nature. Define how you’d like to use your space. Do you wish to enjoy cooking and cocktails? Bar height table and stools offer the convenience of conversing with the chef. In your dining area, a table with chairs or benches can seat all of your guests. Put your feet up and read a book while soaking in the rays on a chaise lounge. Or promote conversation with sofas, chairs, and loveseats around a central piece like a fire pit or coffee table.

Already created your space? Freshen up your look with accents in the newest color palette or add some mood lighting with lanterns, hurricane candles or bistro lights. Engineered decking materials can get hot in the sun, so protect your feet with an outdoor rug and your head with an umbrella. Add even more color with outdoor pillows and art. The possibilities are endless.

Get outside and enjoy!