Outdoor Lighting Ideas, Outdoor Living Spaces, Outdoor Safety Tips

Decorative Patio Lamps Are the Safe Choice for Outdoor Spaces

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Spending evenings outside on the deck, patio, or screened porch is wonderfully tempting when the weather is pleasant, but proper lighting can be a real problem if you plan to read or do any detail-oriented activities such as needlework or wood working.  Seeing clearly what you are doing is important, but bringing an indoor light source outdoors is not a safe idea.  Indoor lamps are intended for indoor use, which is why choosing patio lamps for your outdoor spaces is the best choice.

Outdoor patio lamps are made from weather resistant materials, such as heavy-duty resin,  powder coated aluminum, or natural-looking PVC wicker, and most come with a weighted base for added stability.  The extra weight in the lamp bases comes in handy when you encounter a stiff breeze.  Outdoor patio lamps also have weatherproof, grounded cords and plugs.  Patio lamps that come with cloth shades are covered in weather resistant fabrics that prevent fading and moisture damage.

The best part about outdoor patio lamps is their appearance — they are just as beautiful and stylish as any indoor lamp.  In fact, many homeowners choose to use outdoor patio lamps inside the home as well as outside.  No matter where you put a patio lamp, it will safely provide you with the right amount of lighting for whatever project you intend to focus on.

Outdoor Entertaining, Outdoor Living Spaces, Shade Solutions

Relax in the Shade

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Retractable Awning

Warm weather is upon us, and it’s only going to get hotter! Spring and Summer are prime times to get outdoors and enjoy your backyard. Sometimes, however, the sweltering sun can be too much to bear. If you aren’t blessed with shade trees covering your porch or patios, relaxation in the shade is still a possibility! Awnings and shade sails can both provide protection from the sun while also looking stylish and cool in your backyard.

For people opting for a semi-permanent or occasional shade for a patio or porch, a retractable awning is perfect choice. The motorized awning attaches to your home and rolls out at the touch of a bottom. Most come with a remote control, which allows you to adjust your awning without ever leaving your seat. While extended, these awnings provide complete protection from sun and rain. When you are in the mood for direct sunlight, they retract in minutes. They provide you with complete control of sun and shade with very little effort.

Shade Sails

Shade sails are intended to be a more permanent form of shade protection. They provide a super stylish alternative to a covered porch. Shade sails offer unique versatility because, unlike a retractable awning, the

y can be attached to almost any back yard structure, including your home, trees, or even installed columns. They are removable at the end of every season, but when you see how beautiful they are installed, you will want to leave them visible year round! They come in a variety of materials, offering different degrees of UV protection, and shapes so they can be customized to fit any taste.

Why limit your outdoor activity this summer because of the super hot sun? With a retractable awning or shade sail covering your porch, patio, or backyard area, you will be lounging in comfort all summer long! Sit down, relax, and enjoy the shade.

Backyard Fun, Outdoor Entertaining

Unique Outdoor Games Encourage More Family Time Together

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One of my favorite things to do when the weather is pleasant is to herd the family outside for some fun outdoor games.  My preferences, though, are more unusual outdoor games.  I certainly love kicking the soccer ball around and tapping the croquet balls with a mallet, but it’s those less than common outdoor games that really get my family’s attention and keep us together having fun for longer amounts of time.  Like chess, for example.

What’s so unusual about chess?  The chess I’m thinking of has thigh-high sized weatherproof pieces and an enormous chess board that can be easily set up in the backyard or on the patio.   At this size, you can have a truly unique experience with a classic game of strategy.  Outdoor chess is fun to play one on one or in teams, and all family members will get a kick out of working together to defeat the opponents.  With enough people — and some fun costumes — you could even substitute real people for playing pieces.  Now, that’s a unique outdoor game.

Beach Accessories, Shade Solutions

Get Ready For The Beach With a New Umbrella

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Beach Umbrella

I am super excited that my family and I are beginning to plan our annual family beach vacation. There is nothing like the smell of salt water in the air and the sand beneath my toes. However, as I have become older, baking in the sun all day doesn’t seem like as good an idea as it used to. Besides the painful sun burns that ruin the remainder of your vacation, you also have to worry about the risk of skin cancer and premature aging! Yikes! Besides stocking up on sunscreen, I am investing in a beach umbrella this year. This way, I can enjoy my days at the beach without the intense direct sunlight that I normally endure.

Beach Umbrella

There are beach umbrellas out there to fit every kind of beach goer, from the occasional user to the seaside business owner. Casual vacationers will love the light weight, aluminum poles that are easy transport. These poles are often fully adjustable without ever having to remove the pole from the sand. Commercial, break resistant fiberglass poles are built to withstand high winds and everyday use. Both are made to hold securely in the sand and adjust to give you the exact position you are looking for.

No matter what type of pole you prefer, the canopy of my umbrella will definitely be made of Sunbrella fabric! This material is amazing. It is fade resistant, weather proof, and super heavy-duty. The material provides great UV protection. When made with wind vents, they have also been shown to stand up to winds up to 50 miles per hour. Beach umbrellas with Sunbrella made with this material are sure to last for years to come.

I can just picture myself now: toes in the sand, relaxing under my beach umbrella. I will be able to enjoy the sun and surf without the intense heat and harmful UV rays. My skin will thank me for me years to come!