Staycation – new buzzword

November 4th, 2010

Staycation

What does Staycation mean? It is a word formed by blending the words “stay” and “vacation and refers to a holiday that you & yours enjoy at your own home or near by.

With the economy being as such, a pricey destination holiday is beyond the reach of many Americans. Many families are trading in their travel plans for some well deserved R&R with a stay-at-home-vacation. These staycations take on many forms from romantic escapes at nearby resorts, camping adventures or the all time favorite your very own outdoor backyard retreat.

Just like vacations, staycations require furnishings, and your at home holiday will call for some special gear. Top of the must have list is a great grill or outdoor kitchen. Beyond that you’ll need a few more selections to make your staycation a success.

Turn your patio or deck into an open air entertaining room with great outdoor furniture. Layer from the ground up starting with a fabulous outdoor rug to anchor your deep seating, such as sofas, loveseats and chairs. Lamps, floor heaters and fire pits will warm up the atmosphere. Pillows and throws keep you cozy as you watch a late night movie on your outdoor flat screen under the stars.
Finally you’ll definitely want to make sure you have a great margarita or coffee center to complete the perfect staycation. Enjoy!

Choosing Outdoor Furniture

October 24th, 2010

The choice of outdoor furniture will very much depend on your local climate and your lifestyle, and also on how much time you wish to spend maintaining your furniture after you bring it home.

CLIMATE – Consider where your outdoor furniture is going to spend its life and how much it is going to be exposed to the elements. Will it be on a sheltered porch or patio, protected from sun, wind and rain? Or will it be out in the open, in the blistering heat or moisture? If you love to spend time outdoors and prefer al fresco dining, furniture designed to withstand really harsh weather conditions will be well worth the extra cost.

LIFESTYLE – If your outdoor furniture is more of a fashion statement, exterior eye candy for your home, rather than an additional extension to your living space, choose for appearance and visual impact. Color, style and harmonization with the design of your home will all be major considerations.

However, outdoor types will be more concerned with comfort and durability, Granite, stone and synthetic wicker furniture looks great and when teamed with weather friendly cushions are comfortable and inviting.
Depending on the amount of space you have, you will need to take size into account. A large poolside patio can obviously accommodate larger pieces than an apartment balcony.

MAINTENACE – City dwellers or those who live in drier climates will know that outdoor furniture needs to be cleaned regularly. Nobody likes to bring their picnic or barbecue to a dusty table and dirty chairs. Synthetic wicker can be hosed down regularly, or wiped with a damp cloth if you live in an apartment. Wooden furniture responds poorly to constant hosing, unless you choose to varnish it with marine-quality stain and coating. Any furniture made of wood will age quickly, even in a protected area. Furniture in an exposed situation will need annual maintenance. So if this is a problem for you, don’t buy wooden furniture. Aluminum is a great choice. Metal furniture and iron don’t like moisture either. So once again you will find yourself repainting it regularly, unless you appreciate an antiqued distressed look.

COST – Once you have decided to invest in outdoor style or comfort, the easiest thing to do is search online drop ship Furniture and Garden stores and buy the most attractive pieces of completely finished and ready-to-use-furniture you can afford. By shopping online you do not have to compromise on appearance or comfort. Your furniture will be drop shipped directly to you, no need to make timely trips to stores and your wallet will have benefited from this effortless experience.

Selecting appropriate outdoor living furniture is very much a matter of personal choice. Armed with this knowledge, you will make the right decision for your circumstances when you invest in outdoor furniture choices.

Pam