(BPT) - Spring and summer aren't just for outdoor sports, picnics and hikes. The warmer seasons are also a great time to entertain friends and family in your outdoor living spaces.
Whether you already have an outdoor entertaining space you want to upgrade or are starting from scratch, check out these five key features to add to your outdoor living spaces.
1. Shade and privacy
During warmer weather and sunny days, creating shade is a must for outdoor entertaining. Consider adding billowing shade sails, using patio umbrellas, building a pergola, raising a popup canopy or adding curtains. You could even use a combination of these options!
Besides creating a retreat from the sun, shade structures also provide privacy. Even outdoors, you can host more intimate gatherings without worrying about nosy neighbors.
2. Add a touch of rustic charm
Work with your outdoor setting and embrace a rustic look with stained wood or wood-like features. For example, stained-wood trim and moulding is a perfect solution for enhancing outdoor living spaces, porch ceilings and soffits.
Choose architectural trim and moulding like those in the Grove Collection by Westlake Royal. These architectural features combine the timeless charm and rich look of stained wood with the performance benefits of low maintenance, durable cellular PVC. Choose from six elegant colors: American Walnut, Oak Ridge, Natural Cedar, Smoke Grey, Weathered Oak and Charred Timber.
Another simple way to upgrade your outdoor spaces is with stained wood-like PVC column wraps. Embossed woodgrain wraps like those in the Grove Collection easily slip over existing columns, instantly adding a natural touch to your porch or patio. However, if you're looking for a clean, modern look, Westlake Royal also offers easy-to-install white PVC column wraps.
3. Edible garden bed
Add a homegrown source of food options with an edible garden bed. Whether you need some mint to garnish a drink, basil for homemade pesto, tomatoes for a fresh spring salad, or strawberries for a refreshing snack, you'll have easy access to everything you need right in your own backyard. Best of all, they add more greenery and visual interest to your outdoor living space!
Edible gardens are infinitely customizable depending on your geographical location, outdoor space and personal culinary preference. To create your own edible garden bed, pick a suitable place near your outdoor entertaining space. You can choose to grow your edible garden on an in-ground plot, but if you don't have enough space, raised garden beds and containers work just as well.
Next, carefully choose the vegetables, fruits and herbs you'd like to grow. Remember to choose varieties that are easy to grow in your climate for best results.
4. Embrace the beauty of stone
Stone is a classic building material because of its robust nature and versatility. There are many ways to add stone to your outdoor space but consider trading in your current siding for a stone option.
For example, Versetta Stone siding provides the beauty and texture of authentic stone masonry in a panelized format. Unlike traditional stone, the panels only require screws to install - no mortar or metal lath required - meaning that you can install stone quicker and simpler. Also, the stone panels are engineered to withstand diverse weather conditions without the need for additional footings.
The Versetta Stone siding line offers a range of bold and neutral tones to complement various design styles. Choose a sophisticated dark gray like Granite Peak for a contemporary aesthetic, a white stone like Lunar Drift for a clean and modern elegance or a warm earthy tone like Glen Canyon to evoke a sense of comfort and natural beauty. Other colors in the line include taupe, stone grey, and charcoal.
5. Enjoy warm evenings by adding lighting
Exterior lighting ensures that your gatherings can carry on long after the sun has set. Lighting also adds ambiance to your outdoor entertaining events and can create a cozy environment that is inviting and comfortable for host and guests alike.
Consider wrapping string or fairy lights around tree trunks, low branches and columns or draping them above the seating area, creating a canopy effect. You can also add lighting to a fence or trellis.
Pro tip: Don't settle for just one type of lighting. Consider hanging a pendant light, placing lanterns on tables or adding garden stake lights to illuminate your path.
Get ready for warm-weather gatherings
Are you ready to enjoy time with loved ones in the comfort of your own property? Using these five tips, you can create an outdoor entertaining area your guests will be begging to use all spring and summer long.