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Perk Up Your Patio Or Outdoor Decor This Spring

Tags: patio and garden, home decor, outdoor living

Spring is here! Blooming gardens, warmer weather, and longer evenings naturally lead all warm-blooded humans outside after being cooped up all winter. Unless of course you reside in California er, Hawaii. (We froze our tails off this winter in CA)

My point is… it 's time to clean up the yard, hose off the patio furniture, and try some of these ideas which focus on the senses, to add some zing to your patio this spring:

Eye Appeal

В· To appeal to the eye, start with color. Earth tones are always a great choice for large areas such as walls, flooring or furniture. Greens, desert tans, peach and muted yellows can give your space a relaxed, inviting feel.

В· Bring in more visual appeal with bling. No, not diamonds, shiny metals such as chrome, tin, iron or bronze. Try adding an iron plant stand, bronze hanging lamps or tin wall art to complement your overall color palette. Not too much - you want it to remain light and free from clutter.

В· Add splashes of brilliant color in blues, purples, pinks and aqua tones. Try throw pillows or seat cushions, a bright woven table runner, or some brightly colored Mexican folk art for a wall.

В· Don't forget the green plants. They add color and oxygen to your environment, and several potted plants in a grouping can add depth to an empty space.

Sounds of Silence

В· Hang a beautiful glass wind chime in the sun for a little sparkle and relaxation, or a bamboo chime for some calming spiritual energy.

В· Music comes in many varieties and you can use it to create a mood for your outdoor living space. Whether it 's soft music to soothe you, salsa to move you, or rock and roll for a party atmosphere, it 's all up to you.

В· A fountain is another way to bring peaceful "music" to your patio or garden area. Available in a myriad of colors, sizes, and shapes, choose a fountain that reflects the style of your outdoor space.

The Nose Knows

В· Scent has the power to soothe, to stimulate, even to trigger the memory of something or someone long forgotten. Bring this power of scent to your outdoor living space by planting aromatic flowers or herbs in pots or nearby in beds. You'll get the extra benefit of more color too.

В· Burn scented candles. Not only will they bring pleasure to the nose, they will also add a lovely glow when the sun goes down, and in some cases may even help keep the bugs at bay.

Can’t Touch This

В· Texture adds depth and with the choices in fabric and weave, you could add some tactile appeal to your floor or deck with an area rug. Again choose neutrals with a splash of color. This is also a great way to hide drab grey concrete or flaws.

В· To help shield your space from harsh afternoon sun, try woven blinds in a variety of materials such as sea grass or bamboo.

You don't have to spend a fortune to perk up your outdoor living space, and you don't need to follow any style guidelines. It 's not about perfection, it 's about real life. Make it reflect your style, keep it comfortable and relaxing, and most of all, enjoy it!

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<h1>Perk Up Your Patio Or Outdoor Decor This Spring</h1><br />by Sheila Hull-Summers<br />Spring is here! Blooming gardens, warmer weather, and longer evenings naturally lead all warm-blooded humans outside after being cooped up all winter. Unless of course you reside in California er, Hawaii. (We froze our tails off this winter in CA)<br /><br />My point is… it 's time to clean up the yard, hose off the patio furniture, and try some of these ideas which focus on the senses, to add some zing to your patio this spring:<br /><br />Eye Appeal<br /><br />· To appeal to the eye, start with color. Earth tones are always a great choice for large areas such as walls, flooring or furniture. Greens, desert tans, peach and muted yellows can give your space a relaxed, inviting feel. <br /><br />· Bring in more visual appeal with bling. No, not diamonds, shiny metals such as chrome, tin, iron or bronze. Try adding an iron plant stand, bronze hanging lamps or tin wall art to complement your overall color palette. Not too much - you want it to remain light and free from clutter.<br /><br />· Add splashes of brilliant color in blues, purples, pinks and aqua tones. Try throw pillows or seat cushions, a bright woven table runner, or some brightly colored Mexican folk art for a wall.<br /><br />· Don't forget the green plants. They add color and oxygen to your environment, and several potted plants in a grouping can add depth to an empty space.<br /><br />Sounds of Silence<br /><br />· Hang a beautiful glass wind chime in the sun for a little sparkle and relaxation, or a bamboo chime for some calming spiritual energy.<br /><br />· Music comes in many varieties and you can use it to create a mood for your outdoor living space. Whether it 's soft music to soothe you, salsa to move you, or rock and roll for a party atmosphere, it 's all up to you.<br /><br />· A fountain is another way to bring peaceful "music" to your patio or garden area. Available in a myriad of colors, sizes, and shapes, choose a fountain that reflects the style of your outdoor space.<br /><br />The Nose Knows<br /><br />· Scent has the power to soothe, to stimulate, even to trigger the memory of something or someone long forgotten. Bring this power of scent to your outdoor living space by planting aromatic flowers or herbs in pots or nearby in beds. You'll get the extra benefit of more color too.<br /><br />· Burn scented candles. Not only will they bring pleasure to the nose, they will also add a lovely glow when the sun goes down, and in some cases may even help keep the bugs at bay.<br /><br />Can’t Touch This<br /><br />· Texture adds depth and with the choices in fabric and weave, you could add some tactile appeal to your floor or deck with an area rug. Again choose neutrals with a splash of color. This is also a great way to hide drab grey concrete or flaws.<br /><br />· To help shield your space from harsh afternoon sun, try woven blinds in a variety of materials such as sea grass or bamboo.<br /><br />You don't have to spend a fortune to perk up your outdoor living space, and you don't need to follow any style guidelines. It 's not about perfection, it 's about real life. Make it reflect your style, keep it comfortable and relaxing, and most of all, enjoy it!<br /><h2>About the Author</h2><p>Sheila Hull-Summers is the owner of <a href="http://www.sunriseimports.net">Sunrise Import</a>s, a web retailer specializing in unique home &amp; garden decor and handcrafted gifts from Latin America and the United States.</p> <br /><h3><a href="http://www.content4reprint.com/women-in-business/perk-up-your-patio-or-outdoor-decor-this-spring.htm" title="Perk Up Your Patio Or Outdoor Decor This Spring">Article Source:</a> <a href="http://www.content4reprint.com" title="Free high quality articles">Content for Reprint</a></h3>