Monday, December 26, 2011

Three Steps to Choose a Patio Umbrella Base

A patio umbrella base or stand plays the biggest role in your patio umbrella installation. It keeps your umbrella standing and secure in its place. This task is very important to let you enjoy the umbrella without worries.

An outdoor umbrella should be installed securely to avoid mishaps that could happen to it and to other things. This is why it is very important to buy the right umbrella stand or base. Investing on a patio umbrella base is worth it if you know how to choose wisely. Here are the three easy steps to come up with the right choice.

The three steps is about examining the three characteristics of a patio umbrella base or stand.

Size
There are two important sizes to watch for, the tube for the pole and the base dimension. Check that the hole size is a perfect fit for the umbrella pole size because stability in holding the umbrella depends on it. A slight loose grip can slowly damage the pole and the umbrella may eventually loosen and break away with a sudden wind blow. The base let the umbrella to stand still and it is directly affected by its dimension. The formula is simple, choose larger base dimension for a larger umbrella canopy. Simply, the wider the base size, the better.

Weight
How an umbrella stay firm against strong wind blows rely on the weight of the object where it is attached. If and umbrella is affixed on a sturdy and heavy patio furniture such as an outdoor patio table, it can stay firm. However, a standalone stand or base should have a weight enough to hold an umbrella against wind blows. A heavy base with wheels is a practical choice for easy mobility whenever you want to transfer it.

Design
The design is not as important as the size and weight. But it also a help when you can choose the right design that goes well with the design of your umbrella and the patio decoration. Besides, there are a lot of designs to choose from.

Monday, December 19, 2011

Patio Furniture Styling Tips

Decorating a patio is not limited to the setup only. It also includes enhancing every single patio furniture. The purpose of this is to refine the details of the design for you patio theme.

There are different styles of patio design to cater different occasions. And every occasion needs you to change the theme appropriate for it to provide the right mood of the occasion. The easiest way to do this is to decorate or add embellishments each furniture item.

The decoration could be the same as in indoors. However, you have an unlimited freedom to do what you like because you are not restricted by the fixed indoor decoration. Just keep the design in harmony with other elements like a patio umbrella color and the design and style of your patio or deck.

Don't know where to start? Here are some tips.

The Seats
It is easy to redecorate any seats regardless of its form. The common type of seats we have in an outdoor setup include seating sets, bar stools, recliners, chairs, and benches. There are three ways in which you can renew the design and style.

  • Cushion Covers – Change or add outdoor cushion covers. Depending on the cushion size, the new cover will make the seat look new and  look very different with its original design.
  • Extra Cushions – Changing and adding new cushions. If your seat cushion have deformed and torn after a long period of use, changing the pads will make it look new and different. Now for styling, you can select different designs and style of cushion.
  • Pillows – Pillows offer two benefits, comfort and style. Outdoor cushions can come in different colors and design which makes your seats more attractive. Changing seat cushions is a great and easy way to style seating sets.

Center Tables and Side Tables
These little tables are companions to your seats that you can use as utility where you can put magazines and a cup of tea. Aside from that, they are an accent to the setup so they need to be stylized as well. Styling a center table and a side table is easy with the use of a cover and a centerpiece. Then, you can add some accents such as a flower base or a little potted plant. They can also be a nice place for your photo albums, picture frames, and other memorabilia items.

The Table and Dining Set
If you are creating a patio for dining or just for a quick food trip, then there are a lot of things you can do to decorate a table. Draperies can do the trick in changing the looks of the table. Dress up your table with a table cloth or cover to give it a new style. There are table cloth styles with center hole to fit tables with an outdoor umbrella.You put a basket with some fruits on top of a centerpiece so that it will not look empty when not in use. Using fake fruits are more practical for decorating. If you are creating a large dining area, a large offset patio umbrella would be the best choice for a shade and style.

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Why Buy Synthetic Wicker

A synthetic wicker has a lot to offer. These are advantages that make you consider buying this type of furniture. Here are some important and factual advantages of a synthetic wicker patio furniture.

Unique and Beautiful Designs
Wicker is flexible that made it possible to form into different design and style. The design types that can be made range from classical to modern and from simple to complex and unique furniture items. It all lays in the hands of a creative designer. Any type of furniture can be made from this material such as sofa sets, tables, and all other indoor and outdoor patio furniture items. You have many options for any patio decoration.

Indoor and Outdoor Use
Synthetic wicker furniture is made from synthetic resin strands. The material has a lot of color and texture options that mimics even natural wicker or rattan. And when formed, it can match with any decor styles from indoors to outdoors. The material is very light as well that you can move them with less effort from indoors to outdoors and back.

All Weather Resistant
The material is resistant to the outdoor elements such as water and molds which are the common cause of degradation to other furniture types. They can be left outside in the patio even without coverings. Though they can endure the sunlight but still they need some shade to make their life even longer. A patio umbrella is enough for them just to have a shade in the middle of the day while the sun is very hot. There are outdoor umbrellas that are large enough to cover a patio furniture setup.

Comfort
Finished synthetic furniture seats and chairs have soft cushions to support and provide comfort. Still, the material itself is comfortable to use, strong but flexible enough to slightly bounce back when you lay down. The texture of resin is also smooth to touch that you can lay your back and arms comfortably.

Durability
Multiple strands of wicker is stronger than a piece of wood with the same volume. A wicker furniture is flexible but can last longer without breaking, whereas a wood have the tendency to break. Add to that the fact that synthetic wicker is resistant to molds and mildew that causes deterioration and lead to wreckage.

Sunday, December 4, 2011

Basic Elements for of an Outdoor Dining Area

There is some kind of excitement in an outdoor dining especially when done at home where you have the freedom of doing anything. Designing a dining style and decoration your own way lets you add more to get the best appetite for a great meal. Add to that the easiness and freshness of the outdoor atmosphere.

To achieve a great outdoor design, here are the basics of creating a unique and highly personalized outdoor dining at home.

The Space
Depending on how many people you want to accommodate, the area should be enough for a dining table but leave a space so that you can still conveniently move around. Resizable tables are a great choice if you want to get some seats for additional guests.

If your patio have a limited space, choose patio furniture sets that have a space saving design. Portable and lightweight furniture and appliances would also help you utilize the space effectively where you can move and store them easily when not in use.

The furniture
A set of dining table with chair is the primary furniture required for outdoor dining area. However, outdoor furniture sets can be made of several different materials. You need to choose what type could be best for your setup. Usually, a wooden dining table is the best choice because it naturally enhance the appetite. Anyway, you can select other types. The color and other enhancements such drapery will do the trick for the best experience.

The lighting
Lights make an outdoor dining at night possible but then again you need to choose the best lighting for this type of setup. An assortment of lights with colors create a festive place, however, you need to add something to make the surroundings brighter. Be careful on selecting the type of light because different types casts different shades. A slightly yellow light from incandescent type is the best choice for a dining setup. It adds to the warm ambiance which is great for dining.

The Shade
Outdoor shade is one of the basic accessory for an outdoor patio setup. They are the protection from the sun or rain. They can also protect you and keep your food safe from unwanted falling objects, these object can come unexpectedly. A patio umbrella is the best choice for this setup because of several reasons. Outdoor umbrellas add a festive feel to the decoration and they are easy to assemble and move whenever you want to rearrange the setup. You can also use an outdoor shade sail for a unique setup.

The Ambiance
Dining is best held with a warm ambiance especially that outdoor is sometimes cold. To recreate a warm ambiance, a portable patio heater will do the trick. You can choose between propane heater, electric heater, or a fire bowl.