Anyone else out there celebrating the fact that there’s still daylight at 5:30 in the evening? We gained a full hour of sun in February – woo hoo! We are officially in the home stretch of winter here in the St. Louis metro.
But don’t get caught unprepared for the spring and summer months. Now is the time to make plans for any upgrades to your outdoor living spaces.
Yes, I know there’s still snow in the forecast. It certainly doesn’t feel like the right time to design a new patio or shop for loungers. But last year, I saw a lot of people wait too long to contact a contractor, landscaper or even just shop for patio furniture. By the time spring rolled around, they were unable to get the goods and services they wanted.
As they say, the early bird gets the worm, so start making plans now if you are dreaming of a backyard oasis this summer.
Outdoor Kitchens
Convenience and entertainment are the name of the game when it comes to outdoor kitchens! Although they have been around for quite some time, outdoor cooking spaces continue to grow in popularity and extravagance.
A trend that started with fairly simple built-in BBQ grills has morphed into full blown kitchens featuring wood fired brick pizza ovens, sinks, refrigerators, beer kegs, dishwashers, you name it.
Kitchen appliances have been notoriously hard to find since the beginning of the pandemic and I’m sure that will be the case for appliances designed for outdoor use. You will really want to jump on this early if you have plans to create, or upgrade, an outdoor kitchen this summer.
Outdoor Living Rooms
Why should the cook in the family have all the fun? Living rooms are also one of the most popular elements of today’s outdoor living spaces.
Families are spreading out (literally) and creating beautiful and functional living spaces on patios, decks and porches.
Binge watch your favorite show on an outdoor TV or projector, curl up on an outdoor seat with a good book or unwind at the end of the day with a cold beverage. Isn’t everything more fun when you’re outside?
Bringing the conveniences of the indoors outside is just another way people have found to enjoy their homes.
Furniture
With all this time being spent outside, it only makes sense to have sturdy and comfortable outdoor furniture.
Long gone are the days of bulky plastic chairs and loungers. Today’s patio furniture is sleek, stylish, and comfy!
Similar to styles that are trending inside the home, we are seeing lots of wicker, rattan and natural materials. Bright pops of color in cushions and area rugs are a great way to brighten up an outdoor space.
I recommend replacing or recovering patio cushions every few years to keep them looking their best. Rain and sun can really do a number on fibers.
The same goes for rugs. If yours is looking faded or dingy, you’ll be surprised what a difference a refresh can make!
I love to see the style of the home spill out into the outdoor living spaces. If your home has a modern feel, look for sleek geometric furniture.
If your home is more traditional, consider rocking chairs on the front porch. This creates a seamless transition throughout the home.
Landscaping
Beautiful landscaping is the icing on the cake. Whether you prefer a low maintenance yard or you’re ready to show off your green thumb, landscaping will enhance the look of your outdoor space.
However, just like everything else, landscaping companies are booked out far in advance and nurseries are having trouble getting plants.
It seems that early in the pandemic, as people started staying home and got interested in stepping up their landscaping, many growers sold young plants to meet demand. Now they are still a season or two behind catching up.
Pair that with seed shipping delays, landscaping companies facing staffing shortages and well….you know how this story goes!
So again, my best advice is going to be to contact a landscaper now and get on the list. Visit nurseries early in the season to get what you want and maybe this will be a good year to experiment with a new variety of plant!
If you need help designing outdoor living spaces, the JSB Designs team is ready to help! We are going to market in Houston this spring to look for inspiration and hopefully come home with a new line of patio furniture!
Let us know what you are looking for and we’ll help you find it. Need ideas? We can help with that too! Contact me at JSB Designs at jill@myjsbdesigns.com!
I’m ready to trade in my coat and boots for tank tops and flip flops. Hurry up spring!