Outdoor Decorating As Important As Indoor

So many of us come down with a case of the “shouldas” and the “wouldas” when we take a long, critical look at our patios or decks. We shoulda done this. We shoulda done that. It woulda worked a whole lot better had we done it this way.

The point quickly becomes this. In places where outdoor living is an every-day proposition some seasons, we should pay as much attention to how we put together outdoor living spaces as we do indoor living spaces.

Tossed together looks tossed together. A mixed salad without the appropriate dressing.

First, quickly get over the notion that creating the perfect patio or deck isn’t the same as creating, say, the perfect living room. It is. And most of the same decorating principles apply.

Just as you would go for a focal point in the living room, go for a focal point on the deck or patio. An obvious focal point for outdoor living is a patio cover. A wood cover, its beams covered with a climbing vine, perhaps flowering bougainvillea, draws the eye and anchors the setting for what’s to come. Position tables and chairs under the cover.

If possible, don’t shade the entire outdoor space. A niche for sunning and plants that require full light is also a gotta have.

Next come vignettes. Approach them as cozy arrangements that fit into the larger picture. For a sunny corner of the patio or deck, choose large terra cotta pots and plant them with herbs (for the kitchen) and flowers (for spot color). Then cozy a chaise lounge into the arrangement. It completes the vignette and invites unwinding and relaxing. From a more aesthetic standpoint, it just plain looks good.

As you would a living room, consider how you will use the patio or deck. If you entertain often, try to incorporate a serving surface - what amounts to an outdoor buffet. It might be installed outside a kitchen window that opens to the patio or deck. It works similar to an indoor serving area/pass-through from kitchen to dining room.

A free-standing metal baker’s rack can perform as a buffet with other shelves devoted to plants.

Next, accessorize. Wall-mounted, decorative metal candle holders (shield the candles from the wind with glass cylinders) can add a smashing footnote to evening entertaining or elevate a simple family meal to the extraordinary.

Don’t overlook electrical outlets. None of this “we shoulda” business. If you’re building, remodeling or moving to a new tract, you’re at an advantage. Ask that patio/deck outlets be included. Then, for special evening occasions, bring out a table lamp or two. They will cast your patio or deck in an entirely homey, inviting light. Bet on it.