Reprint from the Progress Times - April 4, 2008
©Progress Times 2008 - All Rights Reserved

Four ways to add drama to the yard

 

Homeowners looking to increase their living space frequently turn their attention outdoors. It's often more affordable to re-purpose outdoor spaces into entertaining areas than adding on rooms or raising the roof of a house. Decks and patios are no longer just a summertime retreat. The possibilities for creating comfortable and attractive outdoor environments extends the use of the yard year-round.

When looking to outfit your outdoor rooms, there are a number of elements and products that can provide the style you desire. Some of the most popular add architectural interest, such as pergolas, gazebos and arbors. When shopping for landscaping elements, keep in mind that today there are many alternatives to wood that are environmentally friendly, easier to maintain, and more affordable for the average homeowner.

For centuries arbors have been a popular way to add elegance to a yard. Now, they're even easier to install and maintain thanks to vinyl innovations.

Vinyl arbors offer several advantages over arbors made from other materials. Vinyl is very low-maintenance, can stand up to most weather conditions, and because it doesn't rot or need to be replaced as frequently as some treated wood products, it can also be an environmentally responsible choice. Vinyl can also be a cost effective option. When decking out your landscape, Finyl Vinyl offers these suggestions for transforming outdoor living spaces.

Furnish your "rooms." Today's outdoor furniture isn't the patio sets of years past. Stylistically worlds ahead, many pieces of furniture - from sofas to chaise lounges - are constructed with weather-resistant fabrics ensuring they're beautiful and durable. Create multiple entertaining and seating areas throughout the yard for a variety of places for guests to gravitate.

Highlight areas of impact. Draw focus to a walkway, distinguish an entryway, or set the boundaries of a seating area by using an architectural structure, such as a vinyl arbor. You can even beef up boring lines of a home simply by adding an arbor to the design.

Create year-round capabilities. Installing a firepit or warming lanterns, or by closing in a gazebo or greenhouse with removable walls/windows, you easily expand the seasonal use of the yard. This certainly stretches the value of the investment made toward outdoor spaces.

Add appliances and other amenities. For those who are blessed with mild temperatures most of the year, fully equipping an outdoor room with some of the comforts you'd expect inside can really set your yard apart. Decked out with cozy furniture, speakers, a summer kitchen, and ambient lighting, your outdoor space will be comfortable and certainly a conversation point.