Instead of staying cooped up indoors this summer, try utilizing your backyard or patio to add living space to your home. When the weather is warm and beautiful, who wouldn’t want to be outside? That being said, there is quite a variety of outdoor furniture and accessories to choose from this season, creating multiple options when thinking of utilizing your large, or small, outdoor space this summer.

The first thing to consider is, “Is my outdoor space livable, as is?” In other words, would you feel comfortable sitting out there all day, or would you feel exposed like a turtle with no shell? What I’m talking about is shade. Is there a covering to keep you cool as the summer months roll along? Depending on what kind of space you have (and your budget) you could consider either building a porch area that adds to the structure of the house, or buy one of several different types of awnings, from massive retractables (which would be a bit more pricey) to canopy umbrellas (which you could even find at Wal-Mart). Once you are covered from the heat, you can begin getting creative!

You can get started on the patio space with the furniture you already have. For example, move your existing tool shed, garden, or patio furniture to accentuate the size of your outdoor space. There are ways to turn your small space into what seems like a much larger space simply by re-positioning your outdoor décor that’s already there. Moving sofas and chairs near the edge of the porch opens up the middle which can be decorated with a small fire pit or even an outdoor rug. All rooms and spaces are ideally oriented around a certain focal point. Decide what your outdoor focal point is. Whether it’s the grill, a pool, an outdoor kitchen, the fire pit, or even a flat-screen TV, let that point be the center of everything else you do.

One of the most interesting ways to create an outdoor space is to make it really blend with the rest of your home, giving a sort of continuity with the interior design. What sorts of designs and colors do you use in your living room and kitchen? Whatever your style, I can guarantee that there is outdoor furniture to match. If modern furnishings are your thing, some metal and wicker outdoor pieces (even the totally wild Bubble Club furniture from Kartell) can really add some depth to and unity with your indoors. If you have a wood deck, which can be absolutely beautiful, check out a teak dining table and chairs to set by the grill. And if you only have a balcony to work with, try a small weatherproof sofa, or even a cast iron breakfast table set with glass surface (for some reason the glass really minimizes the cramped feel).

If you have a much larger space to work with, consider buying or building a garden/sun room to enjoy the outdoors in an open, relaxing niche with plenty of windows and a breezeway for taking in a great view or flower garden.

Lighting is another important feature. Natural light from fires and candles is great, but can be dangerous depending on whether you have a few acres of your own land, or you live in an old apartment complex. String lights are always festive and exciting. Mounting a line of multicolored chili pepper or shotgun shell shaped lights make it feel like camping, Christmas, and Fourth of July all at once! Plus, if you are wanting to save electricity, there are a few different options for outdoor space lights that are entirely solar powered! They charge by day, and dazzle by night.

I hope I have left you with a few options for this summer that will keep you and your family cool and outside the stuffy house. Just be yourself and have fun creating your space!

Author Bio: Ethan S. writes on behalf of Design55, a UK-based designer furniture shop. Design 55 Outdoors offers a great selection of patio and outdoor furniture for the summer.

Location

The first thing you should determine when making a raised garden is where it will go. If you live in an apartment building in the city, and have only limited space on a roof, the options are pretty limited. On the other hand, if you live in the country and have lots of space, your options are a bit more abundant. One thing to consider is what type of crops you will be planting in your garden, and how much sunlight they will need. Flowers that thrive in the sun, along with vegetables and herbs, will need a large amount of sunlight each day, ideally eight hours. You will also want to make sure the area you choose is on level ground, otherwise your raised bed may not work out so well. Remember, water is essential for a successful garden. Be sure to have appropriate access to a water supply at all times.

Design

After the location of your raised garden is established, you will need to decide on the dimensions and shape of it. Obviously, the amount of space you are working with will play a major role when determining this. A good width for a raised bed is four feet; that way you can easily reach everything from both sides. A width of three feet is better if you are planning on placing your garden up to a fence or wall; that way you can reach everything from the one free side. An average length for a raised garden bed is six feet, which gives you more than enough room for a variety of plants. If you have less room, simply make your bed smaller. Rectangular garden beds are the most common and easiest to construct for beginners, but you can make your raised garden whichever shape you prefer.

Next, you will have to determine how deep you want your raised garden to be. The average vegetable and flower plants will grow fine in a soil depth of six to seven inches, but the deeper you make your soil, the better. That way, if you choose to plant larger crops, like corn, you will have a depth of soil that will sufficiently support larger root systems.

Materials

Once you have the design specifications determined, you can go purchase your materials. These can be found at any lumberyard or home improvement warehouse. You should choose lumber that will not rot for the frame of your raised garden bed. Cedar works well for this type of project. Purchase four pieces of lumber, two for the sides and two for the ends, in the lengths you have chosen. Be sure these pieces of lumber are at least six inches wide, because that will be your depth. Remember, wider is better if it’s available. You will also need some simple butt joints to join the frame together at the corners, and screws to hold these in place. Don’t forget a drill or screwdriver if you haven’t one at home.

You will definitely need to purchase some high-quality soil, along with nutrient-adding compost if desired. Mulch is great for the surface of your soil, because it helps the soil retain moisture, and also prevents weed growth. Lastly, you need to purchase your plants. They are the whole reason for making your raised garden bed.

Preparation

You will have to prepare the site of your new raised garden bed, especially if it is being placed over some existing grass. It is a good idea to measure out the size of your raised bed, and mark it so you know exactly where it’s going. You should then dig down a couple inches and remove most of the grass, sod, or weeds that may be present. This will prevent any of these things from interfering with the growth of your plants. Try to keep your site as level as possible. After doing this, you should have a plot of land in front of you that is the size of your raised bed, dug down at least a few inches into the soil. If your raised garden is being placed on cement or other material, such as on a roof or patio, make sure your area is level and clean of any debris.

Construction

Now you can begin to construct your raised garden bed. Lay out your boards, butt joints, and screws on a flat surface near your site. Bring them together and connect them at the corners, screwing one joint at a time until your frame is complete. Make sure your frame is level and sturdy, and place it on your site.

Once your raised garden bed is level and in place, you can add the soil. Fill it completely, leaving only about half an inch at the top. This will give you room for mulch if you wish to use it. Plant your crops and water them well. Your raised garden bed is now complete. Always make sure to tend to your raised garden regularly, watering and weeding when necessary. Making a raised garden bed is a fun project that will provide you with years of gardening satisfaction.

Guest post from Bailey Harris. Bailey enjoys writes about online insurance quotes for www.insurancequotes.org.

The first consideration when choosing furniture for a living room is to determine how much space is available. Home owners should decide what items of furniture they want in the room and what other items are desired such as electrical products and fireplaces. After making this decision and possibly making some compromises it is important to choose items of furniture such as settees and sofas that are proportional to the space available. Furniture that is too large for the space available will give the room a congested feeling, whereas furniture that is too small for the space available will give the room an austere feeling.

The next consideration when choosing living room furniture is often the comfort of the items of furniture that are desired. When looking for sofas it is important to take into account any ailments among family members or even simply old age. By doing so home owners can choose furniture that properly supports any ailments that family members may have and provide a high level of comfort for all. As the living room is probably the room of the house where the most time will be spent and it will most likely be the focal point for rest and relaxation it is important to give comfort high priority.

Home owners choosing items of furniture including coffee tables, settees and sofas and even television stands will no doubt want to take into account the decoration of the room also. It is important to choose matching wood throughout the furniture to ensure consistency and an attractive appearance. Moreover, it is equally important to choose fabric and materials that will complement each other rather than clash in items such as curtains and three piece suites. Even the choice of colour of walls can have a large impact on the choice of furniture that would look attractive in the living room. All of these considerations must be taken into account when choosing items as diverse as carpets and curtains, settees and sofas, and tables and television stands.

Before making any final decisions when choosing living room furnishings it is wise for home owners to consider a wide range of factors including the living space available, the comfort of the furniture required and the decoration of the room in question. Only when all of these factors have been thoroughly considered is the home owner in a position to choose living room furniture.

It’s also advisable to do your research, to ensure that any furniture you buy is sought from a reputable company. An internet search for something like ‘sofas Nottingham’ will reveal a list of companies in the area, along with a number of reviews to ensure that a trustworthy company can be found.

This article was written by Amy Fowler on behalf of the Suite Company. Amy writes on a variety of topics including tips on purchasing furniture for the home.

Key things to look out for when buying commercial outdoor furniture :

Convenience
There’s nothing worse than having to lug heavy furniture from place to place and bring the cushions in every time there is a light showers, or put the umbrella down when it is windy. Something that looks attractive is not always convenient. Think practically and cover yourself for possible situations.

Quality
Outdoor furniture is available is many different quality and price brackets. It is imperative to check the quality of outdoor furniture especially when used in a commercial situation. Cheap outdoor furniture uses inferior materials that are not suitable for contract use, this means you will have to replace it periodically causing more hassle and expense. Worse still, if the outdoor furniture you buy is not suitable for commercial use it may break whilst in use. This is not something that you want to be liable for. If you pay peanuts you get monkeys.

Recommended outdoor furniture for contract and commercial use:

Rattan – Synthetic man-made material created using a poly ethelene extrusion. Rattan outdoor furniture is weather resistant, attractive and available in a plethora of styles

Wood – In particular Teak or Iroko. Teak is the best hardwood for outdoor furniture in terms of durability and quality, a close second to which is Iroko. Wooden outdoor furniture is durable and traditional in style.

If you need additional information on outdoor furniture that is suitable for commercial or contract use it is advisable to speak directly to an outdoor furniture manufacturer.
For more information visit Bridgman.

• Grab a paintbrush and a new bucket of paint and just watch the entire “feel” and “mood of a room change with a new coat of paint in a different color. If you’d like to be up-to-the-minute, try the “in” colors for 2011, light green, blue, citrus yellow, or pink-lilac.
• Head to your local nursery and purchase several plants or a live tree to place in a room. Add a decorative pot and you’ve got an instant focal point and conversation piece.
• Instead of buying lamps in the same old, same old shape of fat bottom and slender neck, why not get some lamps in unusual shapes? At the least, change out your lampshades.
• Buy yards of fabric in a pattern and color(s) you love and glue them on one of the room’s walls.
• Would you like to get new carpet but can’t afford the thousands it will cost to replace it? Place a colorful textured area rug over it!
• Move your furniture from against the walls and angle the couch (for example) in a corner.
• Buy some framed prints of different sizes and arrange them together on a large wall.
• Change out the door knobs and other hardware on your doors and kitchen cabinets. You’ll be amazed at how different your room(s) will appear!
• Buy new bath accessories and new throw pillows for your couch and chairs.
• Place a large framed mirror on the wall opposite your window. The room will seem much larger and brighter.
• Buy new bedding. Like paint, a new comforter, pillows and sheets can really change up your room.
• Place fresh flowers in vases of different sizes and shapes throughout your home.
• Head to your local thrift store to find glass plates of different colors. Hang these in groups on your walls.
• Head to your favorite department store or home improvement center and buy some new curtains for your windows.
• Buy a large print, frame it and, instead of having the usual mirror in your guest bath, place the print in the mirror’s place.

About the Author: Aaron Garcia is a home owner who has been involved in countless remodeling projects such as installing new kitchen cabinets, building patios & walkways and installing new appliances.

· Before you even start, you should decide what purpose the room will serve.  Do you want it to be an extra bedroom or guest room, a home office, etc.?  You should make these decisions at the beginning to aid the design process.  If you build it as a bedroom, but later decide that you want to turn the room into a work room that will require more cabinets or a different type of flooring, then you are just setting yourself up for another project and more expenses.

· A second story addition will require more preparation work than grafting a room addition for the first floor.

o Before you decide to go ahead with the story addition, you will have to find out whether or not your house can even support another story.  This will require an inspection by a structural engineer to determine if the house’s foundation can withstand the addition of another floor.  The amount of stories a structure can support will be determined by the original layout of the house.

o If the structural engineer decides that your foundation can support a second floor, then you may begin the story addition.  First, the foundation will have to be expanded.  You will have to dig a one foot by one foot by two feet footer.  After that, you have to add a compacted interior of sand (six inches) and a layer of concrete (three-and-a-half to four inches).  This will create the base from which to expand.

· You might want to consider contracting with a design/build company to take care of your room addition or second story addition.  Without a design/build company, you will have to work with several different companies or specialists to get the job done.  You will need an architect, a contractor, the actual workers, and a structural engineer for inspections.  If you contract a design/build company, they will provide all these things, simplifying the process significantly while simultaneously cutting costs.

The first consideration when choosing furniture for a living room is to determine how much space is available. Home owners should decide what items of furniture they want in the room and what other items are desired such as electrical products and fireplaces. After making this decision and possibly making some compromises it is important to choose items of furniture such as settees and sofas that are proportional to the space available. Furniture that is too large for the space available will give the room a congested feeling, whereas furniture that is too small for the space available will give the room an austere feeling.

The next consideration when choosing living room furniture is often the comfort of the items of furniture that are desired. When looking for sofas it is important to take into account any ailments among family members or even simply old age. By doing so home owners can choose furniture that properly supports any ailments that family members may have and provide a high level of comfort for all. As the living room is probably the room of the house where the most time will be spent and it will most likely be the focal point for rest and relaxation it is important to give comfort high priority.

Home owners choosing items of furniture including coffee tables, settees and sofas and even television stands will no doubt want to take into account the decoration of the room also. It is important to choose matching wood throughout the furniture to ensure consistency and an attractive appearance. Moreover, it is equally important to choose fabric and materials that will complement each other rather than clash in items such as curtains and three piece suites. Even the choice of colour of walls can have a large impact on the choice of furniture that would look attractive in the living room. All of these considerations must be taken into account when choosing items as diverse as carpets and curtains, settees and sofas, and tables and television stands.

Before making any final decisions when choosing living room furnishings it is wise for home owners to consider a wide range of factors including the living space available, the comfort of the furniture required and the decoration of the room in question. Only when all of these factors have been thoroughly considered is the home owner in a position to choose living room furniture.

It’s also advisable to do your research, to ensure that any furniture you buy is sought from a reputable company. An internet search for something like sofas Nottingham will reveal a list of companies in the area, along with a number of reviews to ensure that a trustworthy company can be found.

This article was written by Amy Fowler on behalf of the Suite Company. Amy writes on a variety of topics including tips on purchasing furniture for the home.