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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Outdoor Living It’s Time To Start Thinking About Making Your Yard And Garden As Livable As Your Home

Martha Stewart New York Times Sy

Every spring, before the weather even begins to warm up, I am already thinking about how I will furnish my house’s porch and garden. All summer long these places are my outdoor living rooms, where I entertain, dine, read and simply relax. I want them to be well-decorated, comfortable and inviting.

We all know that rearranging the furniture or adding a new piece can make a room look new and fresh. I recommend applying the same principle outdoors. There are many different ways to furnish a porch, garden, patio, yard or deck. Why should it look the same year after year?

Choosing the pieces: look for the classics

Garden furniture was made popular by the Victorians, who were the first consumers of mass-produced furniture. Much of the furniture was cast iron and elaborate. Before long, wicker became widely available. It, too, was often shaped into fancy patterns.

As decorator styles changed, so did garden furniture. Wrought iron, steel, wire and wood were all used, right through the Arts and Crafts, and Art Deco periods.

Lovely old settees, chairs, benches and other pieces can be found at antiques stores. Beautiful reproductions are also available. They may cost more than the plastic and aluminum furniture that is so common today, but with their classic beauty and good construction, they’re worth it.

Decorating ideas

Indoors or out, use imagination and creativity when decorating. Here are a few ideas:

Most garden furniture is white or green, but who says it can’t be red or blue? Wicker and iron both benefit from a coating of paint. Use any color that goes well with the furniture’s surroundings.

Make your own cushion covers from outdoor fabrics, such as Sunbrella, which is heavyweight, water repellent and resistant to fading. To find a retailer in your area who carries it, look in the Yellow Pages under “Awnings and Canopies” or “Boat Tops and Covers.”

You can also make throw pillows and seat cushions to make metal furniture more cozy.

Garden furniture often comes in matched sets. For a more interesting, personalized look, add some separate pieces. Try to find unusual end tables, a chaise, a glider or a pretty umbrella.

Take advantage of all the space you have. Make a quiet nook for reading by tucking a chair and table into a corner of the yard. Place a picnic table in the middle of the lawn. Hang a hammock or swing from sturdy trees. Put a chaise in a shady spot.

Some furniture can be used all year round, indoors or out. Rattan and wicker, for example, are at home in the living room as well as on the porch. A wrought-iron coffee table with a tile top is durable enough to spend the summer outdoors and attractive enough to come inside for the winter in colder locales.

Protecting outdoor furniture

Wicker can last for years and years with proper care. Without it, it can unravel, dry out and even disintegrate.

A coating of outdoor paint helps keep wicker from losing its moisture. You should also rub unpainted wicker with a damp sponge occasionally to keep it from drying out. Mildew can be a problem, but it can usually be removed with a good washing. Murphy’s Oil Soap works well. Use a soft-bristle brush or a sponge for scrubbing.

Wicker shouldn’t be exposed to sunlight for long periods of time.

Iron and steel may be durable, but they’re not rust-resistant. Paint is the best protection.

A piece with multiple coats of chipping paint and severe rust damage can be stripped and restored, but the process is very time-consuming, involving chemical paint strippers that can be dangerous. You may want to have it done professionally.

If metal furniture has a mild rust problem and needs a new coat of paint, however, it can easily be taken care of at home. Use steel wool and paint thinner to remove the rust. If it’s very stubborn, try a product such as Rust Reformer or Naval Jelly (available at hardware stores), according to package instructions.

The next step is to coat the furniture with a primer made specifically for metal; these are usually red or gray in color and contain zinc oxide, which prevents rust. Paint or spray the primer on and let dry thoroughly. Finally, apply outdoor paint in your chosen color.

Plastic and aluminum furniture should be cleaned as needed with a solution of water and mild cleanser, such as dishwashing liquid, then rinsed. A steel-wool soap pad can be used on aluminum when it needs a more thorough cleaning. Be sure to rinse the piece well afterward.

If you’re not going to use the furniture during the winter, store it someplace clean and dry until the following spring.

MEMO: Questions should be addressed to Martha Stewart, care of The New York Times Syndication Sales Corp., 122 E. 42nd St., New York, N.Y. 10168. Questions may also be sent to Stewart by electronic mail. Her address is: mstewart@msl.timeinc.com.

The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Martha Stewart New York Times Syndicate

Questions should be addressed to Martha Stewart, care of The New York Times Syndication Sales Corp., 122 E. 42nd St., New York, N.Y. 10168. Questions may also be sent to Stewart by electronic mail. Her address is: mstewart@msl.timeinc.com.

The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Martha Stewart New York Times Syndicate