Reasons To Spend Time Outdoors In Winter
Is there anything better than enjoying your patio during the cold weather seasons? Yes, you read that right! It’s possible, and it feels great to sit outside even when there’s snow on the ground! Keep the party going with these four season-friendly patio additions.
Ways You Can Still Enjoy Your Backyard During the Cooler Months
Most people choose to bring all of the backyard furniture and decoration inside during the winter months, and usually – it’s because everyone else is doing it. Well, you don’t have to be like everyone else. Check out these tips&tricks and learn how to use your patio in the winter.
Install an Outdoor Fire Pit
You know how you always wanted to have a cottage with a fireplace and enjoy the warmth while looking through your window and checking out the beautiful winter view? You can have that at home, outdoors! Imagine sitting around the firepit with your partner, enjoying a cup of mulled wine, surrounded by snow and the sound of the crackling fire. Sounds nice, right? From a romantic ambience for you and your partner to creative camping style snacks for the kids (and the adults), a fire pit is a nice addition to your cold-weather patio for those chilly nights. You can buy an elevated pit which not only looks good but is easy to store when not in use, or opt for a built-in pit with brick walls if you have the space for it. You can always add some bright colours to the furniture around the fire pit and make it extra cosy.
Build a Gazebo, Covered Porch, or Patio Enclosure
Don’t let the weather ruin your outdoor experience! Not only is it aesthetically pleasing, but it’s also playing it safe when you add a gazebo or pergola to the mix in combination with a nice dining area. Whether you’d like to enjoy your meal in the shade, want to spend time outside without the risk of rain or snow ruining your food and mood, a gazebo or pergola is a great addition to your yard.
Screened-in porches do so much for so little. They give you the option of hanging out on your patio during the winter without facing the elements – just by adding a space heater, you can transform your winter experience! Shocking, right? Plus, in the summer, they also provide a safe and scenic space during a rainstorm or when you need to cool off from the extreme heat.
READ MORE: HOW TO HAVE A COTTAGE FEEL IN YOUR OWN BACKYARD
Add Lots of Lighting
The days are much shorter and the dark gets more in the way of planning for an after-work gathering. Luckily, decorative exterior lighting does the trick. Adding lanterns, battery-operated candles tea lights, or even Christmas tree lights can automatically brighten up your patio in the most magical way. You can even install a porch light and a dimmer if you want to control the mood lighting a little more throughout the evening.
Bring in a Hot Tub or Spa
There is nothing better than the contrast of a hot tub against colder weather. There is a note of luxury that comes with a hot tub in the middle of the snow. They pair up so well they can easily become your favourite way of relaxing and enjoying your backyard with your closest friends. Be sure to keep it covered up when not in use and keep a broom nearby. You want to be clean and ready for the next round!
Plant All-Season Plants
This is essential for enjoying your backyard all season long. Think about it – you work so hard all spring and summer to maintain your plants only for the winter to ruin them all? Please don’t give up on your harvest just because the weather is turning. Think about getting plants that will last all year round and that can fight the Canadian winter.
Plants such as Alberta spruce and pine last year-round, make for excellent fillers and shrubbery in landscaping for your patio. They also add a woodsy type of aesthetic to your house, which is nice if you live somewhere more susceptible to colder weather conditions.
PLANTS AND FLOWERS THAT CAN WITHSTAND CANADIAN WINTERS
Install Outdoor Heaters
While blankets are a nice touch to your outdoor setup, they might not be enough for chillier days and the negative temperature. If there’s anything we learned this winter in Ontario, is that heated patios and outdoor dining work together like a charm. Investing in a gas-powered portable outdoor heater will keep you warm, and with their flame feature, they look good, too! There are also smaller portable heating models available for a more discreet look. Just be careful when placing a heater within your outdoor living room space, keeping fire safety in mind.
Blankets And Plush Patio Furniture
Outdoor couches, usually consist of big cushions on a wicker, rattan or cast-iron base, are cosy and comfortable to sit on, feeling no different than the couches in your own living room! Pair them with big Sherpa blankets or any other sort of insulated blankets that are easy to wash and will keep you warm in the brisk outdoors. Add a heater and you’re hood to go!
Build a Shed For Easy Storage
With the help of a professional, building a shed is an easy and economic project to make your yard more winter-friendly. For easy storage, you can tuck away any furniture in the event of a heavy snowstorm or any yard tools such as your rake and your shovel.
READ MORE: LOW MAINTENANCE LANDSCAPING
How can we help?
A consultation with your local landscaper and patio specialist can help you figure out how to use your backyard in the best possible way. They will know all the possibilities of what you can do to your patio. With some creativity and imagination, you could be enjoying your patio year-round. Contact us today l and let us help bring your ideas to life.
