By Jenelle Watson
Don’t let high temps and dry spells zap your style. Fun in the sun is just a few steps away when you give your outdoor living spaces a fresh face.


The key is to turn your home — and the way you look at it — inside out.

“Some people think, ‘Oh, it’s just the deck; we’ll just throw this here and that there,'” said Spencer Gum, a local interior designer and landscape planner. On the contrary, design experts say. Regardless of shape or size, those hard-surfaced outdoor living areas can be so much more.

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“A lot of the time, we are so busy decorating the inside of our house that we forget the outside,” said Tish van der Zee, ASID, of Staunton’s Devine Décor. “When you decorate these spaces, you’re gaining additional living area and entertaining space.” And as any Valley homeowner knows, space is at a premium these days. That’s why every inch of it should be treated with respect — regardless of size or location.

“If you’re going to spend any amount of time on your deck or patio, why not make it a place that is aesthetically pleasing, somewhere peaceful and enjoyable,” Gum said.

Here are five fast ways to do just that — so fast, in fact, we found them all in less than an hour by shopping garden centers and home improvement stores. Go figure!

1. Fan-tastic

Add a ceiling fan to a covered deck. Make sure it’s listed for outdoor use. Look for fans with blades shaped like palm fronds, plantation fans or even those made of canvas to look like sails on a ship. Such fans are a great way to make your space look as cool as it feels.

What we liked: Harbor Breeze’s 52-inch Tahoe ceiling fan features weatherproof ABS blades formed to resemble the leaves of a tropical plant. Also from Harbor Breeze is the Key West fan with paddle-like blades in a wicker weave finish. Both retail for $169 at Lowe’s.

2. Fabulous Fabrics

Use mosquito netting, gauze or tulle to create panels that can be used to add a hint of enclosure to a covered deck or dining patio while swaddling your new room in shade.

What we liked: Discovery Channel’s style Guru Christopher Lowell is set to debut a new line of outdoor fabrics through JoAnn ETC. stores nationwide. From the previews we’ve seen, they’re stunning. Perennial favorite Sunbrella also has a new line of fabrics available through Calico Corners. You may not be able to find these fabrics locally, but trust us, they’re worth the drive. If that’s out of the question, check with local interior designers for availability, or order outdoor fabrics online.

Pop some toss pillows on your outdoor furniture. Don’t be afraid to raid your living room for accent pillows, accessories and more — especially when you’re entertaining. If the weather threatens, grab the goods and go back indoors. Better yet, purchase accent pillows made from weather-resistant fabrics, or have your favorite fabrics treated to resist weather. The service is available through many designers, drapery workrooms and some upholstery shops.

What we liked: Outdoor toss pillows and bolsters in luscious shades of lime and melon. $9.98 each at Lowe’s.

3. Fancy Footwork

Add some comfort underfoot with a great area rug. Forget those shocking green mats of artificial turf; today’s outdoor area rugs are savvy enough to be used indoors. Thanks to advances in carpet technology, they’re as soft on the feet as they are on the eye — and they’re not too hard on the wallet either.

What we liked: A selection of indoor/outdoor rugs in bright as well as neutral tones. Stain, soil and fade resistant, they can stand up to even the harshest of rays and look great. Sizes range from roughly 5-foot by 8-foot to 8-foot by 10-foot with prices starting around $50 and going up to $130. Check out mid-season sales, however, and you might score a bargain. We found 8-foot by 10-foot outdoor area rugs normally retailing for $130 on sale for $58.

4. Fool-proof lighting

Don’t be left in the dark when it comes to outdoor lighting. With today’s wide array of weatherproof lamps and lighting fixtures it’s easy to make your space glow even on the darkest of summer nights. Some of the savviest lamps we found feature heavy metal bases and fabric shades, and can be used safely in the rain — as if! (Better yet, we found them on clearance — $59 for the table lamp and $88 for the floor lamp.)

What we liked: Stainless and copper solar-powered tower lights, $34.99, and lighthouses, $59.99 at Waynesboro Landscape and Garden Center. Palm tree outdoor table and floor lamps made of dye-cast aluminum with resin palm leaf shades. $79 and $188, respectively at Lowe’s.

5. Furniture and accessories

What room would be complete without the right furnishings and great accessories? Certainly not your favorite summertime hangout. Give your deck, porch or patio the attention it deserves by elevating it to best-room-in-the-house status.

“You want to treat it more like a room in your house as opposed to a deck,” Gum said. “Give it the same kind of consideration and treatment you would give to any other room.”

He and van der Zee recommend pulling out all the stops: hang art and accessories on the exterior of your home just as you would inside. If you can’t bear the thought of exposing prints or canvases to the sun’s UV rays, select mirrors, architectural ornaments or resin plaques. Arrange a selection of empty picture frames accented with ferns, grasses and flowers displayed in planting pockets.

What we liked: Nautical shadowbox art. $24.99-$89.99 at Waynesboro Landscape and Garden Center. Note: This would need to be brought in during inclement weather.

Invest in something other than plastic furniture if at all possible. With clearance sales starting to kick in, it’s a good time to outfit your deck with solid wood or cast metal pieces at bargain prices. Once you’ve got good bones with your furnishings, dress them up with great accessories. After all, no room is complete without them.

What we liked: Acrylic beverage glass lights — $49.99. Lemon and lime candles — $1.98 each. Too fun! Waynesboro Landscape and Garden Center.

Check it out:

Find 16 outdoor decorating ideas for under $50. iVillage.com’s Yasmin Tabi shares tips from big-name designers on how to live the lush life outdoors. http://ww3.komotv.com/Global/story.asp?S=5056120