When the weather starts to warm up, do you crave outdoor living? If your backyard currently leaves much to be desired, follow these tips for creating an outdoor room just in time for spring.

• Choose the right furniture. You want to be equally as comfortable outside as you are inside your home. To accomplish this, you must choose your patio furniture carefully. Look for a combination of comfort and durability with weather-treated wicker and wood, quick-draining cushions, mildew-resistant pillows, and upholstery that won’t fade in the sun.
• Provide some shade. To make your outdoor room more comfortable, make sure you have a covered area to retreat towhen it’s hot or raining. You might build a Southern-style porch, install a retractable awning, erect a pergola or canopy, or set up a cantilevered umbrella. The chance to relax in the shade helps you make the most of your outdoor room.

• Incorporate a heating option. When you want to extend thebackyard fun into early spring and late fall, you need a way to keep warm. Your options include setting up a gas patio heater or putting in an outdoor fireplace or fire pit. Whichever you choose, this source of heat and light is sure to be the centerpiece of your outdoor room.
• Remember lighting. A roaring outdoor fireplace might not provide enough light for backyard parties after dark. From tabletop lanterns to wall sconces to lights hanging from the trees, you can create whatever aesthetic you want with versatile outdoor lighting options.
• Consider your flooring. The options range from concrete patios to wood decks to stone pavers. For covered porches, you can even lay down an all-weather rug for greater comfort underfoot. Remember, the material you choose changes the aesthetics and maintenance requirements of the space.
• Address privacy concerns. Spending time outdoors doesn’t mean you must put up with your neighbor’s prying eyes. Create privacy with walls, fences, hedgerows, trees, vine-covered trellises, curtains, screens and more.
• Decorate your outdoor room. Once you’ve added all the practical elements, it’s time to think about decorations. A fountain, pond or other water feature could add the tranquility required to use your outdoor room as a meditation space. Potted plants are also a must for softening hard edges, defining borders and adding life to your outdoor living space.

As you strive to create the perfect outdoor room this spring, be sure to visit Smith Village Home Furnishings for the patio furniture you’re looking for. We have outdoor dining tables, chairs, chaises, sectionals, heaters, fire pit tables, umbrellas and much more! Check us out in person or online, or call us today at 717-200-2018 for more information about what we offer.