In many ways a patio, balcony, deck or even a garden is an extension of today’s home, whether it’s in the backyard of your home or on the 20th floor of a high rise. Having the right patio furniture can really make an outdoor space feel more like home, too.

While some parts of the country have a traditional summer in which to enjoy the great outdoors, other parts can enjoy the beauty of their patio or balcony year round. Regardless of the length of season, the decor of any outdoor space needs to be cohesive, comfortable and welcoming. If it’s not, it will go unused as family and guests continue to move the party back inside whenever they can.

It’s ironic that many homeowners spend a lot of time choosing just the right chair or end table for their living room, but give their patio furniture little thought. But with the right design decisions – from the furnishings to the lighting, you can create an outdoor living space that is as inviting, if not more so, than the interior spaces in your home.

Design pros will tell you that your patio and balcony is an extension of your home. As such, the patio furniture should match the style of the home. If you have a century old Victorian, you’ll want to use classic Adirondack or wicker furnishings to complement it and tie the outside and inside together. Conversely, a modern home demands more modern patio furniture. You can just never go wrong with matching styles.

Another consideration is the available space. Where you can get away with a slightly crowded look indoors, you don’t want your patio or balcony to feel crowded. You should leave lots of open space for entertaining. If you like to cook out, the first consideration is where the cooking area goes. This will allow you to build around it, adding tables, benches and other furnishings to support the main entertainment – cooking, eating and entertaining.

If relaxation is the primary purpose, you want to make sure that you have spaces that are dedicated to rest. In other words, you don’t want a chaise lounge or a hammock next to a main traffic pattern. No one will ever get any rest. Instead, you should select an out of the way place that will allow someone to relax and recharge in peace.

To make the most of your space, do what the design pros do – draw it out first. Make a scale drawing of your patio or balcony. Then add in the patio furniture, cook area, etc. and rearrange it until you are happy with the entertainment/conversation spaces, eating area and main corridors that allow people to move through the space from your home to your yard.

A word about the patio furniture itself. If you’ve ever frequented a home improvement store or discount store in your community, then you know how slim the pickings can be. Rather than settling for the few styles offered, you may want to go online and shop instead. You’ll find that the selection is fantastic and online furniture stores offer tremendous value.

When it comes to patio furniture you should invest in the best quality you can afford. Properly cared for, your furniture can last years and you really do get what you pay for. Some of the patio furniture found in discount stores won’t last a season or two of heavy barbecues.

Like your living room, you may want to build your design around a focal point such as a view, a pool or fire pit. Create small groupings whenever possible so your guests can have more intimate conversations, but don’t pick too many patio furniture pieces that can’t be moved easily. People like to move around and when it comes time to eat, it’s nice to have everybody together in one place to enjoy a bite to eat and some lively conversation.

As you add patio furniture, factor in storage. You may want to consider bench seating around the perimeter of your patio or balcony that has storage underneath. This will allow you to keep yard games, candles, plates and plasticware handy.

Finally, don’t forget about lighting when you’re designing your patio and incorporating patio furniture. String lights are not only decorative, but functional as well, casting a lovely subdued light across the entire space. You can add lighting to illuminate your cooking area or the outdoor bar. Just don’t overdo the light, as you want to also be able to enjoy a clear, starlit night.

Author Bio: Jesse Akre owns Edenvale Shoppes and hosts numerous furniture and furnishings for any home whether it be living room tables or cabinet hardware styles and designs.

Category: Home Management
Keywords: living room furniture,kitchen furniture,dining furniture,patio furniture,benches,cabinet hardware,ba