Get ready for Spring
It’s hard to think “spring” when there’s snow on the ground, but believe us: now is the time to think about the changes you want to make to your outdoor living space this year. The trees are still bare and the perennials have yet to poke up through the soil. You can really see the “bones” of your garden and evaluate what’s needed to make a spectacular space.
Consider first what you want to do outdoors: Relax with friends and family? Retreat to quiet spot to read? Enjoy al fresco dining? Grow food and flowers? The answer to this question will lead the way.
If your outdoor space is primarily an extension of your home – a place to visit, relax and dine – privacy and protection from sun and wind must be considered. Small, secluded spaces invite intimate conversations. Large, open areas work for larger gatherings. It’s easy to create privacy and protection from the elements with fences, arbors, trellises, or screens, or even a strategically placed umbrella. Put these items in place before you consider plants and furnishings.
Next consider how to define your outdoor room. If your space is a balcony or a well-defined patio, the job may already be done. A larger garden may need to have the outdoor living room more defined by stone, brick, or concrete pavers, or a raised wood deck. Dining furniture requires a solid surface. One inexpensive way to define an outdoor seating area is to use an outdoor carpet. Placing garden furniture on an attractive outdoor carpet on a patio or deck makes the whole arrangement look more pulled together.
When selecting garden furniture, look for quality, comfort and ease of maintenance. You don’t want to spend time painting, scraping and staining garden chairs. Choose allweather wicker or powder-coated aluminum furniture that will provide years of service with minimum fuss and care.
Finally, just as with decorating inside the house, the decorative elements take an outdoor room from okay to spectacular. Statues or other garden ornaments add character to the space. Cozy throws and pillows add interest and colour. Gas fire pits extend the use of your outdoor room into the evening, as do patio string lights and other outdoor lighting.
For more ideas and inspiration, visit any of the Dig This stores in Greater Victoria. We’d love to help you.