Ten tips to make your backyard getaway spectacular

IT CAN BE a place for family or alone time, partying with friends or reading a novel. But whether you use your patio or deck for getaways or get-togethers, during daylight hours or while burning the midnight oil, you’ll want it to ready for spring and summer. Here are 10 ideas to help you create an outdoor space perfect for whiling away your idle hours.




Add some life
The best way to enhance a backyard deck or patio is to inject color and fragrance by adding flowers or greenery. Stephanie Phillips, a manager with McDonald Garden Centers in Virginia Beach, suggests adding seasonal flowers to bring color into your yard.
If you really want to show off your green thumb, create a vegetable or herb garden in pots.
Whatever you choose to sow, pay close attention to the amount of sun and shade your deck area gets – and don’t forget to use your watering can.

Relax and recline
Furniture can make or break the appeal of your outdoor space, but it must withstand the elements. Teak, redwood and cedar are good wood choices , but natural or pressure-treated pine is more affordable. Aluminum, wrought iron, concrete, resin, all-weather wicker and plastic are good choices, too.
If you’re looking for something different, take a seat in one of the fun pieces from Kartell’s Bubble Club Collection. Made entirely from plastic, the weather-resistant sofa, armchair and table come in five colors.

Reuse and re-cover
If the $1,000 plastic bubble couch doesn’t fit into your budget, think about keeping the furniture you have and just re-covering the seats. The best rule of thumb is to stick with weather-resistant, washable and fade-resistant materials or soft, lush fabrics that you store inside. Acrylic, polyester, canvas and PVC fabrics are best for water resistance and are the most commonly used. There are even fabrics that have been pretreated to resist mold and mildew.

Roll out a welcome
Your deck or patio is an extension of your home . An outdoor area rug will maintain the mood.
Design and color are keys to the perfect rug, but think about strength and durability, too.
Year-round indoor/outdoor rugs made from natural fibers such as sisal or jute are a good option. But according to www.addarug.com, an even better option is a sun- and mold-resistant olefin or a special UV-treated polypropylene, which resists fading and will not rot or mildew.

Make some shade
Umbrellas, gazebos, retractable awnings or canopies are good options to avoid baking in the summer sun.Solids, stripes and a limitless array of patterns decorate umbrellas that open and close in seconds, swivel 360 degrees and have special tops that allow heat and wind to escape. Gazebos offer shelter with a little bit of romance and elegance. Retractable awnings and canopies are another shade alternative. With just the turn of a crank or flip of a switch, your deck or patio is instantly transformed into a comfortable outdoor retreat.

Light up the night
The sun will provide your outdoor area with all the natural light you need during the day, but what happens when the sun goes down? That’s when it’s time bring out the candles or switch on the lights. Candles, which are available in endless designs, add ambience and convenience to an outdoor living area. Just be certain they are heavy and stable. Citronella candles or tiki torches with citronella lamp oil also can help keep away those pesky bugs that can drive deck dwellers inside.

Start a fire
Chimineas - clay or ceramic fireplaces - are functional decorations that originated in Mexico. Fill one with pinon pine, apple, alligator juniper, hickory, mesquite or almost any fireplace wood. Copper, stone, stucco or stainless steel fire pit tables are another popular way to keep folks warm on cool evenings.

Soak it in
Few things are more relaxing that stepping outthe back door and climbing into a warm, soothing hot tub with pulsating jets. Although a costly investment, it's one that will provide hours of entertainment and relaxation and turn the backyard into a year-round resort.
Acrylic and fiberglass are the most popular materials for tubs, but wooden ones are also available. Some hot tubs come with music systems that allow you to plug in your MP3 players, home theaters or CD players.

Soothe with sound
If you'd prefer to take in the soothing effects of water without getting wet, ponds and fountains might be a better choice. The sights and sounds of moving water can help lower blood pressure, especially if you add fish, such as koi. Those with green thumbs can grow water plants, including water lilies or hyacinths. Local home improvement stores and garden shops sell waterfalls, fountains and ponds, which can turn an outdoor space into an oasis.
Remember that some upkeep is required to ensure a well-maintained water feature that provides a tranquil place to unwind.

Add the accessories
Just like an outfit, your outdoor area can be livened up with a few personal touches. From statues to wind chimes, birdhouses to seasonal flags, the space can be full of items you love to help create a backyard retreat.
Ginny Lutes, owner of Wild Bird Center of Chesapeake, suggests weather-resistant Music of the Spheres wind chimes to add glorious sounds to any backyard paradise.
"They are handcrafted in Texas and are called the Stradivarius of wind chimes," said Lutes.
She also recommends placing wren houses around the deck to invite visits from feathered friends.
"Wrens don't mind nesting close to people," she said. Start a fire
Submitted by Sandra J. Pennecke, pennecke@cox.net

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