CategoryOutdoor Living Space

Top Outdoor Heating Options for Warmth and Comfort

Anyone with a home outdoor living space knows how much chilly weather can dampen your enthusiasm to use it.

Summer never seems to last long enough in Canada and many of us find ourselves longing to extend the use of our decks, patios, and backyards.

Investing in one of the various types of practical outdoor heating options is the best way to squeeze a few more weeks of enjoyment from your backyard during the year.

Find out how to extend your outdoor living season with our guide to the best outdoor heating options.

Outdoor heating products are popular

The pandemic accelerated consumer interest in buying outdoor heating products and their popularity continues. That’s not surprising, considering how many homeowners have invested in backyard upgrades in recent years.

An outdoor kitchen and living space serve as a valuable extension of the home for relaxation and socializing. Adding a fire feature for warmth to get more use out of it makes perfect sense.

Fixr’s annual Outdoor Living Trends survey found that 58% of home design and construction experts believe homeowners will invest in a backyard fire feature this year.

Infographic from Fixr.com

A few more factors that make today’s outdoor heating options more appealing are:

• a rapidly growing variety of stylish outdoor heating products to choose from
• an increased appetite for more of the comfort-giving amenities our indoor living spaces have
• a wider selection of energy-efficient outdoor heating options

What are your outdoor heating options?

Outdoor heating solutions are versatile and come in various shapes, sizes, fuel types, and materials.

To make the best choice for your deck or patio, factors like your budget, the square footage you want to heat, the desired aesthetic, and the environment of your space need to be considered.

The first three factors are pretty self-explanatory. “Environment of your space” simply refers to taking things such as how much your outdoor area is shaded and affected by the wind into consideration.

We’ll explain what each of the following most commonly used outdoor heating options offers:

fire pits and fire tables
patio heaters
outdoor fireplaces
chimineas

Don’t let a crisp spring or fall day or a chilly summer evening deter you any longer from using the outdoor living area you’ve invested in. Get some outdoor heating ideas to add warmth and comfort to your deck or patio.

1. Fire pits and fire tables

One of the most popular outdoor heating options are fire pits and fire tables. The term “fire pit” traditionally referred to an in-ground enclosure for burning wood. Nowadays, “pit” and “table” are often used interchangeably to describe above-ground enclosed structures where a fire burns with a wood or gas fuel source. For simplicity’s stake, we’ll refer to them as “fire pits”.

From a practical functionality perspective, fire pits naturally provide heat and a modest amount of area lighting, as well as ambiance. What you might not appreciate is the attractive decorative touch they add to a backyard space and how much of a central focal point they become.

Fire pits come in a variety of styles, typically in round, square, and rectangular shapes. Gas-powered and wood-burning fire pit designs can be simple or more elaborate and high-end, allowing for various customization options. Here’s a brief explanation of what else each type offers.

Gas fire pits

Arguably, the best way to heat a deck or patio is a gas fire pit because of how many benefits they offer. Gas fire pits use propane or natural gas as a fuel source.

A few more factors make gas fire pits an attractive outdoor heating option compared to wood-burning fire pits:

Convenience: many gas fire pits easily ignite with the flip of a switch or push of a button.
More decorative appeal: high-end gas fire pits add a luxury touch with elegant designs and decorative media like coloured lava rocks and ceramic stone.
Enviro-friendly: natural gas and propane burn significantly cleaner than wood and the heat level can be controlled.
Low-maintenance: gas fire pits don’t need a constant supply of firewood and there’s no ash cleanup required.
Smoke-free: the cleaner burn from gas doesn’t produce any irritating smoke.

Gas fire pits add an attractive decorative element to decks and patios.

Wood-burning fire pits

If you want a more traditional outdoor heating method, wood-burning fire pits offer the whole package: the flickering flames, the crackling sound of burning logs, and the distinct smell of burning wood.

Two advantages wood-burning fire pits have over gas fire pits are that they typically cost less and they’re capable of producing more heat.

The trade-offs of these benefits are notable, however – wood-burning fire pits demand far more prep and cleanup maintenance than gas fire pits and starting fires takes a lot longer. They’re also subject to more municipal fire safety restrictions.

2. Patio heaters

Patio heaters are one of the most popular outdoor heating options available. Homeowners appreciate these versatile products for their affordability, efficiency, and ease of use.

Powered by propane, natural gas, or electricity, patio heaters come in a variety of forms including freestanding units, tabletop models, and wall-mounted options.

Although they’re not quite as effective as fire pits or fireplaces at boosting a deck or patio’s ambiance, patio heaters do make backyard gatherings more comfy with their warmth and soft glow. Most patio heaters also operate silently. Here’s an overview of what the different types of patio heaters offer.

Electric patio heaters

Most electric patio heaters use infrared technology to produce radiant heat. This type of heater is commonly referred to as an infrared or radiant heater, which is the same thing.

Radiant heaters are designed to warm up floors and objects in an area. This process helps a space retain heat better compared to just blowing heat into the air as convection heating does. Electric patio heaters are one of the most energy-efficient ways to heat an outdoor living space.

Electric heaters are simple to set up – all you need is an electrical outlet. They can be easily moved from one spot to another on a deck or patio and are an excellent choice for areas where open flames are not allowed or a safety risk if you have pets or children.

Propane patio heaters

Another type of patio heater that’s easy to set up and use are propane heaters. They’re powered by a propane tank that is typically stored in the base, which makes them easy to move around. One benefit of using a propane heater is that no permanent installation is required.

Another advantage of propane patio heaters is that they can heat up a space quickly, providing almost instant warmth. Propane heaters are also more effective at heating larger areas.

The biggest drawback of a propane heater is the inconvenience of having to occasionally refill its tank. Just like a propane grill, it’s wise to have a backup tank on hand to avoid running out of fuel in the middle of a backyard gathering.

Natural gas patio heaters

For those who prefer a more permanent outdoor heating option, a natural gas patio heater is the way to go. Because a natural gas heater lacks the mobility of propane and electric heaters, you need to carefully plan where it will be installed on your deck or patio.

These heaters are connected to a natural gas line, which delivers a consistent supply of fuel supply. For this reason, natural gas heaters are one of the most convenient long-term outdoor heating options.

Like propane, natural gas heaters offer consistent heat output and are ideal for heating larger backyard spaces. One advantage of natural gas over propane is that it costs less.

3. Outdoor fireplaces

A wood-burning or gas-burning fireplace becomes an important architectural feature in an outdoor living space.

Most outdoor fireplaces are either wood-burning or gas-powered. They have very similar benefits and drawbacks to fire pits, so we won’t cover them again. We will, however, take a look at a few of the differences that set them apart from those other outdoor heating options.

Adding a custom outdoor fireplace is the most impactful way to make a serious statement with your outdoor heating system. Outdoor fireplaces are often built into the structure of a patio or deck, adding an impressive architectural feature that improves a backyard’s overall aesthetic.

Building a backyard fireplace aligns with the modern trend of incorporating more indoor design elements outdoors, as 20% of the experts in that Fixr survey believed.

The biggest drawback of outdoor fireplaces is their cost. Although some high-end gas fire pits aren’t cheap, most fireplace additions are an expensive investment due to their permanent installation and the materials used to construct them. Outdoor fireplaces are generally considered to add value to a home, however.

4. Chimineas

Perhaps the least well-known type of outdoor heating option are chimineas, which is Spanish for “chimney”. Chimineas are made from terracotta clay or metals like cast iron, stainless steel, and cast aluminum.

They’re fuelled by wood, gas, or pellets, offering similar pros and cons to other wood-burning and gas heaters in terms of maintenance and convenience. Chimineas are another cost-effective outdoor heating solution.

Chimineas have a compact vertical design with an open-mouth fire pit and a chimney to direct smoke upwards instead of into the seating area. They most commonly have a distinct bulbous shape, but you can find many different styles and shapes nowadays, too.

The distinct rustic look of a chiminea gives an outdoor living space warming appeal (literally and figuratively). Because chimineas are freestanding, they can also be moved around on a deck or patio.

The heat from a chiminea radiates outwards, providing warmth in a small, focused area. This makes them ideal for smaller patios and intimate gatherings.

Get one of the best outdoor heating options

These popular outdoor heating options provide a great way to extend the use of your outdoor living space throughout the year.

Whether you prefer the simplicity of an electric patio heater, the convenience and visual appeal of a gas fire pit, or the luxury of an outdoor fireplace, there’s an outdoor heating solution to meet every need and budget.

Outeriors carries one of the best outdoor heating options: handcrafted Dekko fire pits. These durable, high-quality fire pits are made with lightweight concrete and can be installed virtually anywhere in your backyard.

Extend your outdoor living enjoyment with the warmth and ambiance an outdoor heater provides.

We also specialize in creating custom-designed outdoor kitchens and can handle all aspects of your project from start to finish.

Enhance your outdoor living experience by scheduling a free design consultation with us. Stop by our Vaughan showroom to view our fire pits and luxury outdoor kitchen displays!

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9 Spring Backyard Decor Ideas to Spruce up Your Space

As this season of renewal blooms, our homes call out for attention for a refresh and some sprucing up.

All areas of a home need an occasional revamp and that includes the backyard. This spring, why not think beyond just doing the usual tasks to get your backyard ready for the warmer weather?

In addition to spring backyard maintenance essentials like raking leaves and debris, getting your gardens ready, and working on the lawn, put some effort into changing up your backyard’s decor, too.

Try these spring backyard decor ideas

Spring is an ideal time to improve an outdoor space by reimagining and upgrading its decor to make it more comfortable for your family. Making the right changes also boosts your curb appeal, which isn’t just limited to a home’s front exterior.

Backyards offer a wealth of design possibilities to express your personality and create the perfect aesthetic. From making a minor modification like using mulch more decoratively to installing a backyard-transforming outdoor kitchen, there are many ways to approach a backyard decor refresh.

The first thing you’ll want to do is assess your backyard’s strengths and weaknesses to identify areas for improvement. Do certain areas underwhelm in the looks department? Could the whole space benefit by having a more cohesive design or colour scheme?

Use these spring backyard decor ideas to make some noticeable improvements to your home’s exterior space.

1. Spruce up your patio

Some colourful foliage, nice furniture, and a simple outdoor kitchen setup elevate the look of this patio.

For any space’s decor to stand out, an attractive foundation is essential. If you have a patio, for example, the impact of any decorative elements you add to it will be significantly diminished if the patio surface itself doesn’t look great.

Although patios need less maintenance than decks, they still require a little attention following the harsh Canadian winter. To clean green mould, algae, dirt, and other types of surface debris from a concrete, paver stone, brick, or flagstone patio, a pressure washer is effective.

Using a hose with a gentle cleaner and a stiff bristle brush is also fine, but be mindful of the cleaning solutions you use on your patio. Bleach, vinegar, and other common household liquids are commonly used to clean patios. Some of them, along with harsher cleaners, will likely be harmful to nearby plants, flowers, and garden vegetables, however.

When you have a patio, weeds (literally) come with the territory, so you’ll probably need to deal with them in the spring as well. Once again, reconsider using store-bought weed-killer products. They may be effective, but most of them aren’t enviro-friendly. And the less exposure your kids and pets have to such hazardous chemicals, the better.

The best weed removal solution is to do things the old-fashioned way – get down on your hands and knees with a weeding tool and pull the weeds out at the root. This method is more effective at eliminating weeds on a long-term basis compared to other non-chemical weed removal methods like killing them with boiling water.

Most types of patio surfaces should be resealed every two to five years. Resealing helps repel water, slows down the erosion process, helps maintain surface colour, and can add an attractive high-gloss surface finish. Plenty of enviro-friendly patio sealer products are available to buy.

To update a brick or paver stone patio’s look, inject some artistic flair by incorporating coloured bricks or pavers to create visual interest. You can also try creating your own unique patterns with the building materials to give your patio decor a personalized touch.

2. Refresh your deck

Like installing a patio, a deck addition has long been a reliable way to increase a home’s value. Remodeling Magazine’s annual Cost vs. Value Report calculates the return on investment (ROI) for home improvement projects. Their latest report estimates that deck additions deliver an impressive 82.9% ROI. To ensure the maximum investment return and to keep them looking nice, decks do need regular maintenance, however.

Decks made with composite materials are more low-maintenance compared to wood decking. Composite decking cleans up quickly with some water, a little soap, and a soft bristle brush. A pressure washer can also be used at a low PSI setting.

Wood decks require a bigger time commitment every one to three years for sanding, sealing, and staining to maximize their longevity and preserve their visual appeal. All of that work will be worth it, though. Once that final coat of fresh paint or stain has dried, a properly restored wood deck can look brand new again!

One way to add to a deck’s decor is to have a railing system installed on it. Deck railing gives a deck a completely new look and there are a wide variety of materials and styles available, including:

wood
iron
aluminum
composite materials
glass

Here’s another backyard design idea you may not have considered: having both a deck and a patio. More homeowners are getting patio and deck combinations to maximize their backyard space. Typically, they’ll already have a patio and will add an elevated deck that utilizes the available vertical space at the back of their home.

3. Have an outdoor kitchen installed

The natural elements of a wood gazebo, stone patio, and surrounding greenery are paired with the modern aesthetic of an outdoor kitchen featuring stainless steel appliances and stylish cabinetry. The pops of red on the grill and side burner control panels add a striking contrast.

Backyard upgrades have become a bigger priority in recent years as we look for ways to extend the living space of our homes. Outdoor kitchen additions are an ideal way to make better use of a backyard and they’ve exploded in popularity.

Not only do they expand the usefulness of a home by providing a second cooking space, but outdoor kitchens also offer an abundance of design options to change a backyard’s decor.

A professionally-designed outdoor kitchen has a major impact on a backyard’s aesthetic by changing its layout and adding fresh elements like:

a built-in grill
storage cabinets
appliances
countertops
new lighting

Premium outdoor kitchen products have high aesthetic standards, whether it’s with professional-grade grills, luxurious countertops, or cabinets that rival the aesthetic quality of high-end indoor kitchen cabinets.

We mentioned adding pops of colour to a backyard and even a grill can be used to do this. Considering how virtually all grills come in two colours (stainless steel and black), you may be asking how that’s possible. Premium grill manufacturer Hestan offers a way to create a unique outdoor cooking space look. Hestan grills feature dynamic colour accent panels that come in a range of custom designer colours to complement your backyard decor.

4. Reconfigure your garden setup

One way to rejuvenate a backyard’s look is to reimagine how your gardens are set up. Instead of having several traditional in-ground gardens, reconfigure where your plants, gardens, and veggies grow by incorporating more planters, hanging baskets, and raised garden boxes.

Using them will change the layout of a backyard, partly because they help create more defined zones. A lot of the value of using these different planting methods is the decorative freedom they provide. Planters, in particular, offer lots of decorative functionality because there are so many styles and colours available at your local home improvement stores and even more from online retailers.

Wooden raised garden boxes/beds give a backyard a warmer, more natural feel compared to metal garden boxes. Avoid building with pressure-treated wood because the chemical additives are bad for anything being grown in the bed. These are the best types of wood to use for a raised garden bed:

redwood
cedar
pine
juniper
Douglas fir
white oak

There are two more benefits of growing things in your backyard off the ground: you’ll have fewer weeds to deal with and tending to your plants, flowers, and vegetables will be easier on your back and knees.

5. Upgrade your outdoor living space

The design of this outdoor kitchen and living space heavily incorporates the natural look of wood, which thoughtfully mirrors the home’s exterior aesthetic.

If you had to pick one room in the house where the decor gets the most attention, it’s probably the living room. So why not add a second living room to your home that gives you even more freedom to express your style and personality?

An outdoor kitchen is a worthwhile investment because there’s nothing like cooking outside and spending time with your friends and family when the weather is nice. To make your time outdoors even more enjoyable, consider pairing an outdoor kitchen with a dining and living area.

Investing in a complete outdoor kitchen and living space is one of the most transformative upgrades you can make to improve your family’s home living quality.

During the design process, you can go in a couple of different directions. One of them is to create an outdoor space that functions as a seamless extension of the indoor living space, right down to the decor that is chosen for the exterior area. Another option is to give an outdoor living area its own stylistic identity that complements the design elements around it.

When you’re setting up an outdoor living room, you can put your decorative stamp on the space in many ways. There are a bounty of options with just the patio furniture alone, considering the range of materials available (including aluminum, composite, wood, wicker, plastic, and wrought iron).

A couple more decorative features to consider for an outdoor space are ceiling fans and a fire pit. Stylish ceiling fans add an elegant touch and useful functionality to keep the space cooler, provide lighting, and help remove cooking smoke. An outdoor fire pit or table makes a backyard feel cozier and brings some welcome warmth on those chilly evenings.

6. Add a water feature

There are some compelling reasons to consider adding a water feature to an outdoor space. Let’s start with the aesthetic upgrade they bring by adding visual interest and beauty to a backyard.

Whether it’s an elaborate pond with aquatic plants and fish, a wall or statue fountain, or a simple bird bath, the right water feature(s) can become the focal point of your backyard and enhance its overall appeal.

Water features bring a sense of serenity and relaxation to your backyard. The sound of running water has a calming effect, which can reduce stress, foster a more peaceful atmosphere, and help transform the backyard into the oasis you’ve always wanted.

One of the less-considered benefits of water features is their ability to mask the type of ambient noise you’d rather not hear while you’re spending time outside. Instead of hearing unwanted background sounds like vehicles and loud neighbours, you’ll get to enjoy your backyard with the gentle trickle of a fountain or the calming burble of a waterfall as your soundtrack.

7. Add more backyard colour

Contrast the neutral colours of a backyard landscape by adding more vibrant colours with flowers.

Most of the foundational elements found in backyards such as decks, patios, fences, walkways, and a home’s exterior have neutral colours like black, brown, beige, and grey. Many of the items we use in our backyards tend to have neutral colours as well, including patio furniture and grills.

Lots of backyards could use a primary colour infusion to change their outdoor decor from drab to fab and there are several ways to do this.

One of the best backyard decor ideas is to change up the textiles you use on your deck or patio. It’s also a very quick and inexpensive way to refresh your outside decor.

Adding more colourful patio furniture cushions, throw pillows, and outdoor rugs will change an outdoor living space’s aesthetic and make it feel more inviting. If you have an outdoor dining set, try using a tablecloth, placemats, and even dishware that adds more colour to your space. And with the many types of patio accessory colours and styles available to buy, you can let your creativity run wild!

Planting more flowers, plants, and other types of greenery is a natural way to revamp the aesthetic of your backyard spaces with more colour, texture, and a living touch.

It doesn’t take many flowers or plants to make a big difference, either. A modest amount of strategically planted additions from the garden centre that add some pops of colour can be quite effective. Choose resilient, low-maintenance plants and flowers that can thrive in the shade, don’t require a lot of watering, and won’t attract too many pests.

8. Improve your backyard lighting

The impact of lighting on any living area is often underestimated. Proper lighting is a crucial element of interior design…and “outerior” design as well.

Here are a few reasons to make good backyard lighting a priority:

you can showcase any backyard decor upgrades you’ve made, along with architectural and landscaping features
warm lighting boosts ambiance and creates a more welcoming environment
you extend the usability of your outdoor space well into the evening
strategic lighting affects our depth perception and can make a backyard feel more spacious
task lighting helps with outdoor meal preparation and cooking
good lighting enhances safety by illuminating pathways, stairs, and potential hazards

Incorporating different types of lighting adds versatility and flexibility to a backyard’s design. Once again, you have an endless number of choices for outdoor lighting, including outdoor lamps, spotlights, railing lights, step lights, spotlights, string lights, wall lights, and lanterns.

9. Mulch it up

One of the easier spring backyard decor ideas you can use is to put down more mulch around trees and shrubs, as well as in your gardens.

Mulch adds an attractive finishing touch to a backyard and comes in various colours to enhance the area’s overall aesthetic, especially if you use certain mulch colours to contrast effectively with their surroundings. Mulch usage is also another way to add texture to a backyard landscape.

The benefits of mulch extend well beyond its decorative functionality, too. Here’s what we mean:

Weed prevention: because mulch blocks most of the sunlight hitting the soil, it’s harder for weeds to grow.
Pest control: certain types of wood mulches have natural chemicals that repel bugs.
Soil enrichment: some organic mulches improve soil quality with nutrients as they break down over time.
Water retention: less watering is needed because mulch slows down the evaporation process.
Temperature regulation: the soil underneath mulch stays at a more consistent temperature, which helps protect plant roots.

Upgrade your backyard decor this spring

Those are nine spring backyard decor ideas that will help make your home’s outdoor space more enjoyable to use during the spring, summer, and fall.

If you’re planning on adding an outdoor kitchen, why not work with Outeriors to ensure the project gets done right?

We offer a full-service approach and will handle all aspects of your outdoor kitchen project. Our seasoned design consultants provide personalized service and can guarantee your outdoor kitchen and living space is customized to meet your exact needs.

To get your customized outdoor kitchen project started, schedule a free design consultation with us.

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Cottage Outdoor Kitchen Ideas That Will Inspire You

Your cottage’s interior has been upgraded and remodelled to provide most of the modern conveniences of your GTA-area home.

There’s a state-of-the-art kitchen, contemporary bathrooms, central air conditioning and heating, major appliances, and maybe even a wine cellar.

Outside your cottage is a finished deck or patio, a newly rebuilt dock and boathouse, and a beachfront and property that is beautifully manicured. So what improvements remain to be done so your dream cottage will finally be complete?

Adding an outdoor kitchen and living space is the perfect way to complete your home away from home.

An outdoor kitchen and cottage life go hand in hand

Year after year, RE/MAX’s annual Cabin and Cottage Trends Across Canada survey shows that the biggest reason anyone owns a cottage is to have a place where they can relax and spend time with family and friends.

We can’t think of many better ways to enhance the experience of escaping the city for some R & R and hosting weekend get-togethers than by adding a cottage outdoor kitchen and living space.

An increasing number of suburban homeowners have recognized the benefits of adding an outdoor living space to their backyards or upgrading their existing deck or patio area. These additions enhance the functionality of a home and increase its amount of livable square footage.

Cottage country’s “design renaissance”

Cottage owners are following suit. More cottagers are upgrading the exterior of their second home with a nicer cooking space and adding other features that boost their comfort level.

As the National Post writes, “Cottage country is undergoing a design renaissance. Cottage owners want meaningful amenities along with the great outdoors. They want to indulge in the simple pleasures they are too busy to enjoy in the city.”

Most Ontarians would agree that our summers are way too short. That’s why building a cottage that allows you to get as much enjoyment as possible from it during the warmest months of the year should be a high priority for any cottager.

Having a well-rounded cottage outdoor space for cooking, dining, and relaxing will make it even more of a valued summer getaway place you can’t wait to get to and will hate to leave.

Why a cottage outdoor kitchen is a great investment

10% of Canadians own a cottage. Owning recreational properties in popular Ontario cottage country areas like Muskoka, the Kawarthas, and Haliburton has never been more desirable.

Even before the pandemic, there had been big demand and little supply for cottages in the province, especially for waterfront properties. The pandemic only made cottages more of a hot commodity, resulting in the current record-low levels of cottage inventory.

The cottage market will eventually stabilize, but a well-located, remodelled Ontario cottage property will be in-demand for years to come. A big reason is that although Ontario may be a large province geographically, there are only a finite amount of easily accessible waterfront properties that are viable to build on.

Any major upgrades that can be done, such as adding a cottage outdoor kitchen, adds to the home’s value and makes it that much more of an attractive property.

More often than not, luxury cottages that are newly built or that have been upgraded from a smaller cottage structure lack an outdoor cooking area befitting of the rest of their home. A well-appointed outdoor kitchen with space for dining and lounging is the perfect way to complete a high-end cottage building project.

Keep it in the family

Of course, a lot of cottage owners have no intention of ever selling their property and maintain the family tradition of passing it on from one generation to the next.

A long-term cottage ownership commitment makes investing in impactful upgrades that may cost a little more very practical. A new cottage outdoor kitchen and living space will be enjoyed right now, in your retirement years, and maybe even by your kids and grandkids years from now.

Ontario cottages are more in-demand than ever before. Investing in upgrades like an outdoor kitchen boosts a cottage’s value.

Additional outdoor kitchen benefits

A kitchen is called the heart of the home and cottage kitchens are no different. Doubling up on the amount of high-activity space your summer home has can only be a positive thing.

If you’re still not convinced about why you should get a cottage outdoor kitchen, here are a few more outdoor kitchen benefits to consider:

an outdoor kitchen gives you more cottage cooking options
you can enjoy the natural beauty surrounding your cottage more
spending more time outside is good for your physical and mental health
cooking outdoors makes it easier to socialize with guests
grilling is one of the best ways to cook healthier meals

8 outdoor kitchen design principles

Any outdoor kitchen being built in Ontario should follow these design principles to create a cooking space with both form and function:

Design the kitchen to suit your lifestyle and how the space will be used. For example, if you plan to entertain a lot, a design that allows you to easily socialize with guests while preparing meals is ideal.
Choose durable, weather-resistant outdoor kitchen materials that won’t rust or warp quickly, will retain their colours for a long time, and are low-maintenance.
Anchor the cottage outdoor kitchen with a built-in premium grill that cooks more reliably than a cheaper grill. Customize the size of the grill’s cooking surface to accommodate how you will entertain.
Outfit the kitchen with enough cabinetry to take care of all your storage needs and cut down on the number of trips that need to be made into the cottage.
Add slightly more countertop space than you think you’ll need so there’s always enough room on the work surface for preparing meals, setting down cooked foods, etc.
Incorporate cooling appliances for easily accessible food and beverage storage. Extra appliances like side burners and warming drawers are also helpful amenities to have.
Consider adding a sink for added convenience if it’s feasible with your cottage’s plumbing infrastructure.
Take advantage of the wealth of styles, finishes, and colours available with your outdoor kitchen products to complement the exterior features of your cottage.

Unique design considerations for cottage outdoor kitchens

In addition to following these outdoor kitchen design principles, a cottage outdoor kitchen design gives you a few more things to consider.

The location and size of your cottage’s deck or patio will largely determine how the kitchen design will come together. If you’re lucky enough to own a cottage with a lakefront view, try to have your designer situate the outdoor living area where you can take full advantage of your scenic surroundings. Also factor in the position of the sun and the amount of wind that will affect the cooking and lounging areas.

Raised decks tend to be more common on cottage properties than residential ones, so deck support upgrades may be needed to handle the added weight of a kitchen.

Outdoor kitchens in traditional homes typically use a connection to a residential natural gas line to power their grills and fire pits or outdoor fireplaces. That option won’t be available in most rural locations. Relying on several regular-sized propane tanks for your outdoor cooking needs isn’t very practical, either.

The best solution is to get a large refillable natural gas or propane tank to fuel your outdoor kitchen and the inside of your cottage if needed.

Why cook inside on a beautiful day at the cottage when you can make your meals while enjoying your natural surroundings?

Go big or go small

Outdoor kitchens come in all sizes and levels of design complexity. Cooking enthusiasts who love trying new recipes and having all the amenities of an interior kitchen can have a larger, fully-outfitted kitchen created so they can cook to their heart’s content.

On the other hand, perhaps a small, simple outdoor kitchen design is more practical because you and your family are only casual grillers or your cottage’s exterior has space limitations. A cottage outdoor kitchen design with a built-in grill, a little counter space, and a few storage cabinets beats a standalone grill and a rickety side table any day.

Expanding a smaller outdoor kitchen design, later on, is another option. Ask your designer to come up with a design that makes it easier to add on in the future if the need arises. It’s always nice to have options, right?

Cottage outdoor living space ideas

The only thing nicer than having an outdoor kitchen at the cottage is having a kitchen that is accompanied by a bar, dining area, and outdoor living room.

A complete outdoor living space takes care of all of your cottage hosting needs as an evening on the lake unfolds. Your gathering of friends and family can move from pre-dinner mingling to dining al fresco with freshly grilled food, then ease effortlessly into the relaxation and entertainment portion of the evening in a comfy outdoor living room.

An outdoor bar or beverage station is tailor-made for entertaining at the cottage and keeping your guests happy with a cold beverage. Add some high-quality outdoor furniture to your cottage deck or patio to create a dining area where your grilled meals can be enjoyed in the great outdoors.

Enjoy the comforts of the indoors outside

Cottage outdoor lounging areas have evolved well beyond setting up a few fold-up chairs and some chaise lounges. Modern outdoor living rooms bring all the comfort of an interior living room out to your cottage deck or patio with furniture like couches, love seats, and recliners that are made for outdoor use. An ottoman and side and coffee tables can be added to round out your furniture arrangement and make the space feel like more of a living room.

Some Adirondack or Muskoka chairs (a cottage staple) and lounging furniture like a porch swing, rocking chair, or hanging chair will fit right in on a cottage deck or patio.

Another way to make any outdoor living space feel cozier while making a decorative statement is to add outdoor rugs and throw cushions for the furniture. Switch up the look of the area by occasionally changing the cushions and rugs (double-sided outdoor rugs are perfect for this).

An outdoor kitchen and dining space is tailor-made for the cottage lifestyle.

Set up a cottage outdoor entertainment space

Some people like to escape to cottage country to reconnect with nature and disconnect a little from the things that contribute to the hustle and bustle of everyday life, such as modern tech. Others like to spend some of their time at the cottage enjoying the same entertainment options they’re used to having at their primary home.

Enjoying things like movies, televised sports events, video games, and music nowadays makes it impossible to fully disentangle ourselves from the tech that powers our lives.

Setting up an outdoor entertainment space at the cottage is fairly simple. All you need is an outdoor television that is built with specialized components and parts that allows it to operate in damp and humid conditions. Outdoor TVs can also function in a wider range of temperatures than normal TVs, which makes them ideal for cottage use.

Boost the TV’s sound quality with a wireless surround sound system or a high-quality sound bar. Now you’re ready to enjoy the ball game or one of the latest Hollywood blockbusters in 4K with excellent audio quality.

Let the music play!

And we can’t forget about music! Enjoying great summer tunes while lounging outdoors at the cottage is as much a part of the Ontario cottage experience as waterskiing or catching some rays on the dock. WiFi or Bluetooth wireless portable speakers let you bring your music anywhere around the cottage area.

Another option is to get a wireless audio system installed at your cottage. Weatherproof, low-profile wireless speakers with great sound can be strategically positioned to provide complete sound coverage on your cottage property.

How to stay connected while you’re at the cottage

A good WiFi signal will be required to use most of the aforementioned tech, which can be an issue for remotely located cottages. Some luxury grills have smart tech that requires a WiFi signal. Having internet access at the cottage is also useful so you can spend more time at your family retreat by working remotely.

If your cottage is unable to get a “traditional” internet connection via land-based cable, phone, and fibre optic network systems, here are a few solutions to get online while you’re at the cottage:

Set up a WiFi hotspot via a smartphone’s cellular data connection. Using a tablet or laptop with a SIM card will work, too. If your cellular signal is weak, a cell signal booster will help.
Use a wireless internet service that is tailor-made for rural areas. This method works by using a small antenna installed outside a cottage which connects to a wireless network.
Get a satellite internet system like SpaceX’s Starlink, which uses a satellite dish to receive a signal from space that provides you with high-speed internet access.

Keep in mind that the first two cottage internet solutions (especially the WiFi hotspot method) won’t give you the kind of ultra-fast internet speeds you’re used to in the city and suburbs. They can still provide enough functionality to serve most of your online needs at the cottage.

Keep things cool, dry, and (almost) bug-free

Cottagers like to be outdoors as much as possible, but a rainy day can spoil the fun. An overhead covering for a cottage outdoor kitchen and living area comes in very handy when you want to stay dry or stay cool on a hot, sunny day.

Nothing says “I’m at the cottage” more than the strong smell of bug repellant and having to constantly swat away mosquitoes, horseflies, and other pests.

A screened-in deck or patio is an effective and less intrusive way to reduce the number of insects around a cottage deck or patio. You won’t have to hear the constant sound of bugs being fried by a bug zapper or take in the aroma of burning citronella candles or coils. Get a screen enclosure system that can be rolled up or retracted during the day.

A fire pit extends your cottage season

An outdoor living room at the cottage provides a comfortable place to relax and wind down after a sun-filled day of water activities. A natural gas or propane fire pit adds to your outdoor living enjoyment and is perfect for the laid-back, cottage lifestyle.

Fire pits boost the ambiance in any outdoor setting. Natural gas and propane fire pits are easier and safer to use than wood-burning fire pits (which may not even be allowed in some cottage areas).

Another benefit of having a fire pit is that it can help extend your cottage season. They provide a steady, controllable level of heat that can take the chill off a deck or patio in the early spring and late fall.

“Today, more than ever before, cottage buyers are using their properties year-round, making them even more valuable,” said John O’Rourke, a Royal LePage Lakes of Muskoka broker.

A fire pit adds warmth and comfort as you relax on your cottage deck or patio.

Savour life outdoors at your cottage

Outeriors doesn’t just create amazing outdoor kitchens in Toronto and its surrounding area – we also design cottage outdoor kitchen and living spaces.

Work with us to create a personalized cottage outdoor kitchen and living space that will make your home away from home an in-demand summer destination for friends and family.

We take care of everything. Our full-service approach is designed to make your project stress-free.

Schedule a free design consultation with us to get your outdoor kitchen and living space project started.

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Backyard Spring Cleaning: Top 10 Tasks to Tackle

Spring is in the air. That means it’s not just the nicer weather that is finally coming – all of those home spring cleaning tasks are as well.

While spring cleaning is typically associated with organizing and sprucing up the inside of a home, there’s still plenty of essential work to be done in the backyard, too. Several months of the harsh Canadian winter does tend to take a bit of a toll on the exterior space of our homes.

The average home property presents a sizable amount of backyard spring cleaning work to be done. Everything from the lawn to the gardens to your grill will need some TLC.

8 benefits of backyard spring cleaning

The pandemic has made us reflect on how our homes are designed and how we use them. Homeowners have never appreciated being able to use their backyards more, than right now.

Enjoying your backyard doesn’t come without a lot of effort, however. Spring is a time of renewal and the best time to get a yard in shape so you can get the most out of it throughout the rest of the year.

If you’re struggling to get inspired about starting that backyard spring cleaning work, consider these eight benefits of doing it:

Having a nicer backyard means you’ll be more likely to be drawn outside to enjoy it.
The early spring temperatures are more comfortable to work in. You won’t be sweating buckets in May and June doing neglected yard chores.
Connecting with nature by getting some fresh air and sunshine is good for your mental health. A pre-pandemic survey by Coleman Canada found that 29% of Canadians spend less than 30 minutes per week outside.
Backyard spring cleaning work is great exercise.
Completing the work in spring to get your backyard summer-ready means you can enjoy the space more during the best weather of the year.
Yardwork provides a good opportunity for family bonding and gets kids off their numerous screens (at least for a little while).
Being proactive in the spring with the maintenance and care of your lawn, gardens, and other types of foliage keeps them healthier.
There are fewer bugs to be annoyed by!

Get spring off to a positive and productive start. Whether you’re doing your own yard work or hiring a pro for the job, be sure to include these ten essential tasks on your backyard spring cleaning checklist.

1. Clean up any backyard debris

The first step in refreshing a backyard’s appearance is to clean up all of the debris that has accumulated over the winter.

Rake and pick up any dog waste, broken branches, leaves, wind-blown garbage, and other types of debris that ended up on your lawn, deck or patio, and walkways. Do the same with any loose debris in your gardens (we’ll come back to them later).

The sooner that this initial cleanup step is done, the sooner you’ll be able to:

start restoring the various areas of your yard
give your lawn and gardens more direct sunlight
better assess what backyard areas will require some extra attention

2. Start restoring your lawn

One of the top priorities on a backyard spring cleaning checklist will be getting your lawn looking lush and colourful.

Nothing impacts backyard curb appeal like the appearance of a lawn. A beautifully manicured lawn with a consistent green colour is an instant eye-pleaser, whereas a dried-out lawn with brown and yellow patches is just an eyesore.

Winters are rough on lawns, especially if too many leaves are left on the grass. An excess of leaves on a lawn over the winter can damage the grass by blocking the sun, matting it down, and creating mould and fungal diseases. That’s why you’ll want to remove those leaves as soon as you can come springtime.

On the other hand, leaving some mulched leaves on a lawn over the winter can be beneficial by covering up root systems, adding nutrients, and reducing weed growth.

Snow mould is another potential lawn issue you might have to deal with in the spring. It’s a fungus that leaves white, pink, or grey patches on lawns, typically in locations that get heavy snowfalls. Scotts, the leading maker of lawn care products, explains more about why snow mould occurs on lawns and how to treat it and prevent it.

FYI: dog poop is not a fertilizer

There’s a common misconception that dog poop left on lawns helps to fertilize the grass. In fact, dog poop kills grass if it sits on a lawn for too long and it also contains bacteria and parasites. Try not to wait until the spring to clean up dog waste in your yard. Cleaning up the dog poop every week or two throughout the winter will leave less of a cleaning mess in the spring. Your lawn will appreciate it, too.

Dog urine causes lawn burn over time, which can be difficult to combat since dogs like to do their business in the same area. Treating grass damaged from pet waste involves replacing sections of sod altogether or trying to grow new grass by using a combination of soil, fertilizer, and grass seed.

To help get your entire lawn looking its best, use fertilizer and grass seed, as well as aerating and dethatching your grass. Don’t mow your lawn too short, either. That impedes the root growth of the grass and can cause more weeds to appear. Scotts says to “only cut the top 1/3 of the grass blades at any one time, even if this means you have to mow again after several days”.

3. Get your gardens ready

Getting flower and vegetable gardens ready for the spring planting season is another big task for most homeowners.

Since we’ve already cleaned up any wind-blown debris that ended up in them, now it’s time to remove any dead growth in the gardens. This will not only improve the appearance of your gardens, it also creates more room for new growth and removes potentially problematic funguses and diseases.

Perennials should be pruned and trimmed back to make way for new growth. Some compost can be spread around them to aid the soil with root growth. If you’re using chemical fertilizers in the garden, don’t stray from the manufacturer’s application instructions. Overfertilizing can burn or kill plants.

Using mulch in gardens preserves the soil’s moisture and also reduces weed growth. For the best results, it needs to be replaced every spring, however. Remove the old much and put down new mulch after your planting is completed.

With the gardens now ready for the growing season, turn your attention to your pots and planter containers. Clear out any dead plants from last year, empty the old soil, and give the containers a cleaning so they’re ready for new residents when warmer temperatures allow for planting.

4. Clean your grill

There are plenty of benefits of using your grill during the winter, but some people don’t enjoy cold-weather cooking and store their grill away in the fall.

Whether you’re in the latter camp and didn’t give the grill a good cleaning before storing it or your grill was used throughout the winter, now’s the time to give it a spring cleaning. A clean, well-maintained grill will:

be safer to use
produce better cooking results
function more reliably
last longer

Disconnect the gas line (which you should also inspect) and remove parts like the rotisserie rod, grill grates, drip trays, and warming racks. Soak them in warm water with some dish detergent for a while before using a degreaser and scrubber to remove the rest of the dried grease and food remnants. Rinse the degreaser off thoroughly before putting the parts back.

Scrub the entire grill interior using warm water with a little dish detergent. Don‘t forget to clean the burners and flavourizer bars. Avoid using grill scrubbing brushes with wire bristles because the bristles can break off and end up in your food.

Using a cleaning product for the exterior of the grill will make it look nicer and help protect its finish. Once your grill cleanup work is all done, run the appliance at a high temperature for 15-20 minutes to burn off any residual degreaser and soap.

Another option to get your grill ready for the spring and summer is to hire a professional grill cleaner. They’ll come to your home and clean your grill and give it a tune-up.

Why not expand your outdoor cooking space?

Most outdoor cooking spaces take up the amount of space of a homeowner’s small grill. If your family enjoys barbecued food, why not make your outdoor cooking space bigger?

A professionally designed outdoor kitchen provides additional cooking space for your home. You can have it fully outfitted with a built-in grill, appliances, countertops, a sink, and cabinetry for all your storage needs. Or, if you prefer, you can have a smaller outdoor kitchen space installed that will still be a major upgrade over a standalone grill.

Outdoor living space upgrades are one of the most popular types of home renovation projects over the last couple of years. You can complement an outdoor kitchen with a dining area and living room. This allows you to expand your home’s livable space and enjoy your backyard more.

5. Clean your outdoor furniture

Next on our backyard spring cleaning checklist is getting your outdoor furniture ready. Even high-quality outdoor furniture needs some occasional maintenance.

After getting your furniture out of the garage or a shed (or removing their covers if the furniture stayed on a deck or patio during the winter), take stock of what shape everything is in.

Wood furniture requires the most upkeep. It can be cleaned with a wood cleaner and soft brush. If it needs more than a cleaning, restore its appearance with a treatment of oil or stain.

Soap and water and a light scrubber or rag should take care of cleaning up any dirt and grime on plastic, aluminum, and wrought iron furniture. Use touch-up paint to make plastic furniture with faded paint look new again. Rust on wrought iron furniture can be sanded off and then repaint the sanded areas.

Wicker furniture can be cleaned with a water and soap mix and brush as well. Afterwards, rinse off the furniture with a low-pressure hose. It’s a good idea to hose down your wicker furniture at least once a month between the spring and fall.

Don’t forget your outdoor cushions

Some outdoor cushion covers are machine washable. Run them through the washing machine on a low cycle with mild detergent.

For cushions that can’t be machine washed, clean them with some warm water, a mild detergent, and a cloth or sponge before rinsing them off.

If you need to replace some outdoor furniture or buy new pieces or cushions, remember that the demand for outdoor furniture goes up as the temperature goes up. If you wait too long into the summer, you’ll have fewer buying options and anything you are buying or ordering may be backordered.

6. Clean and repair your deck and fence

Sweep off your deck so you can give it a good wash after being pelted for the last few months with snow and rain. If you have a raised deck, check that all of the railings are sturdy.

To clean a wood deck, first, rinse it off with a hose and then use a handled deck scrub brush along with a deck cleaning product to remove dirt, stains, and any mould. Remember to scrub with the grain of the wood and then rinse the deck with a hose or pressure washer.

Replace any rotting or heavily split deck boards if needed. Wood decks typically need to be treated every 1-3 years with a stain, sealer, or stain/sealer product. Composite decking is much more low-maintenance than wood but does cost more.

Wood fences should be cleaned every spring. At the very minimum, use a hose or power washer to remove any dirt. A deeper cleaning with a scrub brush and cleaner is ideal to remove stains, mould, and mildew. Wood fences need to be stained and sealed approximately every 2-5 years, depending on the type of wood.

7. Clean your patio stones and walkways

Patios and walkways built with the most common types of stone-based products (like concrete, paver stones, flagstone, cut stone, and clay brick) are relatively low-maintenance.

A little bit of spring cleaning attention should be all the work that your backyard’s stone surfaces need until the late fall, other than an occasional quick sweep or hosing off.

See if any of the stones are damaged badly enough that they should be replaced. Remove any weeds growing around and between the stones by hand, making sure you’re pulling them out by the roots.

To clean most underfoot hardscape surfaces, using a hose or pressure washer along with dish soap and a scrubber should suffice. To remove tougher stains, mildew, and algae, a stone cleaner can be used.

For any of your backyard spring cleaning tasks, be mindful of using eco-friendly cleaning products. Cleaners are available that don’t contain chemicals that can damage anything growing in your yard and be harmful to people, pets, and local wildlife.

8. Prune your trees, shrubs, bushes, and hedges

Tending to your shrubs, trees, hedges, and bushes in the spring doesn’t only help breathe new life into your backyard, it keeps them healthy and stimulates their growth.

After removing any winter protection netting and wrapping they have, remove any dead limbs. Dead branches are unsightly, a falling hazard, and make plants susceptible to diseases that can spread throughout the organism.

The amount of pruning work you’ll be doing in early spring depends on the types of vegetation you have. Some types of vegetation (like birch and maple trees) should be pruned in early spring.

With other types of plants (such as lilacs and forsythia shrubs), it’s best to wait until mid-to-late April to give them a pruning.

9. Clean your gutters and downspouts

Cleaning out your home’s gutters and downspouts is another important spring cleaning job. Sure, it may not produce the kind of eye-catching results you’ll appreciate when you’re outside. It’s still an essential task that shouldn’t be ignored, though, especially since spring is Ontario’s rainiest season.

Clogged gutters and downspouts can cause water damage to the roof, siding, and foundation of a house. Attached patios and decks can get damaged as well.

Gutters and downspouts should be cleaned at least twice a year – in the spring and fall. Since they were last (hopefully) cleaned in the autumn, leaves, shingle grit, and other debris will have accumulated in them.

Leaf/gutter guards will significantly help keep your gutters from getting blocked. They’re not a catch-all solution (pun intended) to keeping gutters debris-free, however.

Downspouts should ideally be drained a minimum of five feet away from a house. If needed, use downspout extensions to ensure that rainwater is draining far enough from your h0me’s foundation.

10. Organize your garage and shed

The final thing to include on your backyard spring cleaning checklist is getting your garage and shed organized.

Assess which yard and gardening tools and powered yard equipment will get you through another year and which items are ready to retire. Do the same with your hoses, hose attachments, and sprinklers.

Give all of your landscaping tools a good cleaning and organize them so they each have a home, which makes it easier to find them and put them away.

If you need help getting your garage organized, Garage Living has great storage and organization solutions that you’ll find invaluable.

Get your outdoor living space project started

All of this backyard spring cleaning work will be worth it as you get to appreciate and spend time in a nicer backyard for the months to come.

Why not maximize your enjoyment outside with an outdoor living space that brings an exciting new look to your backyard?

From design to installation, Outeriors takes care of everything with your outdoor living space project. Schedule a free design consultation with us today to get started on your backyard’s transformation.

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7 Fall Outdoor Living Ideas To Extend Your Patio Season

As the days of autumn whiz past, there is more urgency to squeeze in just a little more fall outdoor living time on our decks and patios.

It won’t be long before the snow and frigid temperatures make the backyard a recreational no-go zone until next spring.

The enjoyment of spending time in the backyard doesn’t have to come to an end so early into the fall, however.

How to improve your fall outdoor living experience

By making some forward-thinking decisions for an outdoor living space’s design, you can maximize its functionality for use virtually year-round. And by adding some simple fresh design elements, an outdoor living area can be made to feel cozier.

Backyard get-togethers with the family and friends can continue well into the autumn season. Use your outdoor living space as a spot to take a break from doing your fall chores like raking the leaves. Or just curl up beneath a blanket beside the warmth of a fire pit on a crisp fall day with a hot drink and a good book.

If you enjoy the bounty of autumn’s magnificent sights and smells and are looking for ways to extend your patio season, there are plenty of ways to revamp your outdoor living area.

Here are seven tips to improve your fall outdoor living experience.

1. Turn up the heat

An absolute essential to make your fall outdoor living experience more comfortable is a good heating source. When it’s chilly, nothing boosts the cozy feel of a space like adding some warmth to the area, especially if it’s generated by real flames.

Popular product choices to warm up an outdoor living area are fire pits (which also come in table and bowl designs), outdoor fireplaces, chimineas, propane patio heaters, and electrical heating appliances like infrared heaters.

There are numerous advantages of using propane or natural gas to fuel an outdoor fire source instead of wood:

propane and natural gas burn much cleaner than wood
there‘s no cleanup or maintenance required
starting and extinguishing gas-powered fires is instantaneous
both gases are cheaper to use than wood
there’s no annoying smoke to deal with

You’ll naturally want to locate any heating sources as close to your seating and dining areas as possible.

A high-quality fire pit/table/bowl becomes the centrepiece of an outdoor room. It doesn’t only have a magnet-like effect on everyone because of the heat it provides, they also add ambiance, a sophisticated touch, and visual appeal to an outdoor living space.

Before buying a heating product for your backyard, be sure to check on what your local laws allow for operating open fires. For example, the city of Toronto doesn’t allow residents to operate backyard fires that are fuelled by wood.

A heating source like a fire pit is essential for maximum comfort when using an outdoor living space in the fall.

2. Enjoy fall outdoor entertainment

An outdoor room with the right design can be used to bring the indoors outside and add another dimension to a home’s living space.

When coupled with a reliable heating source to help keep you warm and toasty, an outdoor living room can be used for longer into the year as an entertainment space.

The fall is prime time for North America’s four major professional sports. The NHL and NBA seasons get underway, the NFL is in full swing, and Major League Baseball offers up the excitement of September pennant races and October playoffs.

Why not enjoy your favourite fall sporting events or a family movie night with your friends and family in the comfort of your backyard? An exterior entertainment space with an outdoor TV, a great audio system, and high-quality furniture creates a comfortable extension of your living space.

To boost your comfort level, consider adding thermal outdoor curtains, which can usually be attached fairly easily to an outdoor living area’s overhead covering. They’ll help keep an outdoor living space’s heat in and are useful year-round for privacy, bug control, and blocking out the sun and wind. If you’re using a propane patio heater, just be sure the area has enough ventilation.

3. Keep your outdoor kitchen open longer

There’s no substitute for the unique, savoury taste of food grilled over a flame. It’s not difficult to set up an outdoor kitchen so it can be used well into the fall and beyond. A grilled meal during the winter is a welcome menu option that helps to alleviate those February blahs (use these winter grilling tips).

Any outdoor kitchen needs a good grill, so don’t cut corners when it comes to buying the most essential appliance in an outdoor cooking space.

Invest in a premium grill that provides a headache-free cooking experience. High-quality grills are more reliable and will:

start up every time
hold steady cooking temperatures
cook food more quickly and efficiently than cheap grills
allow you to grill foods at different temperatures with variable heating zones
offer convenient features like smart tech and under-hood grill task lighting

The damper, colder weather of fall is a good reminder that your outdoor kitchen cabinet and countertop materials need to be of the highest quality to endure through Canada’s ever-changing weather.

Outeriors offers a wide selection of distinctive outdoor kitchen countertops and cabinets in a variety of attractive materials, styles, and colours.

To feel cozier while spending time in your backyard on chillier fall days, set up a hot beverage station in your outdoor kitchen. Beverages like hot apple cider, hot chocolate, wassail, and pumpkin spice latte are perfect for autumn and will warm you up as you extend your fall outdoor living time.

Design your outdoor kitchen so it’s available for convenient year-round use.

4. Use high-quality outdoor furniture

An outdoor living room’s furniture is another element where investing in higher-quality products will serve you better in the long run.

Winter may be the harshest season of the year, but the fall and spring’s unpredictable weather and constantly fluctuating temperatures will take a toll on outdoor furniture, too, especially cheap furniture.

Spend a little extra to buy high-quality outdoor furniture that has everything you look for when buying indoor furniture, including comfort, visual appeal, and durability. The latter characteristic is a little more important with outdoor furniture, of course.

Prioritize buying outdoor furniture made with weather-resistant materials that will reduce the likelihood of the furniture rusting, developing mould, fading, and warping. These outdoor furniture materials are considered the most durable:

powder-coated steel and aluminum
wrought iron with a weather-resistant finish
hardwoods such as teak, white oak, and eucalyptus
polyresin wicker

Weather-resistant cushions are another essential for outdoor furniture. No one likes to sit on a hard surface at any time of the year and especially not when the weather is cooler. Metal furniture materials like wrought iron can feel ice-cold on a chilly day and cushions act as a welcome buffer.

To extend the life of your outdoor furniture, keep them in a covered space to protect them from the elements and cover the furniture pieces up whenever possible.

5. Upgrade your exterior lighting

As the days get shorter, the lights come on earlier. That makes having good lighting extra important for an outdoor living space that will be used during the fall.

Lighting that is dim and harsh can singlehandedly neutralize any of your efforts to make a deck or patio area feel cozier in the autumn with heating and some decorative upgrades. The look and feel of a space is hugely impacted by lighting and simply using more bulbs to brighten an area isn’t a good strategy.

Incandescent and halogen lighting is considered outdated. Even relying solely on LEDs, today’s preferred exterior lighting choice, isn’t enough since there are a variety of bulb styles and colours that produce different results. Lighting also needs to be strategically located.

Consulting with a professional who can help with your outdoor living area’s lighting is a good idea. They’ll know how to achieve the best results so everything is well-lit for functionality and safety. A pro will also know how to effectively highlight the best parts of an outdoor living space and its surrounding landscaping.

6. Gimme shelter

Another of the essential fall outdoor living ideas to consider is adding an overhead covering for more comfort. A roof extension, covered pergola, gazebo, pavilion, or large awning are the most common solutions for covering an outdoor living space.

An outdoor living space should ideally have some sort of overhead covering to provide protection from the sun and rain during the summer. This is even more important in the fall when the combination of cool temperatures and rain is enough to drive everyone inside.

An overhead covering also prevents snow from covering your outdoor kitchen and living room area. That extends the life of your outdoor living products and allows you to continue using the grill year-round. When the weather won’t cooperate with your cooking plans, you won’t need to get out an umbrella or snow shovel before you fire up the grill.

Lousy weather won’t limit the functionality of an outdoor living area if it’s got overhead covering.

7. Add cozy fall touches

Cool temperatures make it harder to feel cozy in a space. Along with heating your patio area, add some decorative touches that incorporate fall-themed decor elements to infuse the outdoor living space with a cozier vibe.

It doesn’t take much effort to quickly change the look and feel of a room by getting creative with the décor. This can be done several ways:

switching out furniture cushions
adding texture and softness to the space with outdoor area rugs, throw pillows, and blankets
using fall-inspired colours on your furnishings to set a seasonal and festive mood
adding seasonal accents like a table centrepiece and foliage garland
light fall-themed candles to enhance the mood

Upgrade your fall outdoor living experience

There’s no reason any outdoor living space shouldn’t be enjoyed late into the fall, even in Canada!

All of the fall outdoor living ideas we’ve covered aren’t just practical in the autumn – they provide the same comfort benefits for the chillier days in spring when you’re itching to get outdoors after another long winter.

Outeriors provides the total package outdoor living remodel experience. Schedule a free consultation with us to get started on the design for your custom outdoor living space.

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10 Outdoor Living Room Ideas That Bring the Indoors Outside

What’s better than having one nice living room you enjoy spending time in? Two of them, of course, in the form of an outdoor living room.

When people look to increase the amount of living space their home has, it’s usually a house extension or addition that comes to mind.

Anyone who has undertaken a renovation project like this knows how daunting it can be. They’re messy, expensive, tend to drag on for longer than expected, and will inconvenience your family.

Instead of knocking down walls to expand your living area, why not make better use of the space you already have?

One very practical way to extend your home’s living space is to upgrade the backyard to include an outdoor living room.

There’s an outdoor living boom

The livability of our homes has never been as front of mind as it is these days. The pandemic has reminded us that our families and our homes are everything.

Prioritizing the functionality and quality of our living spaces has made the backyard a logical area to focus on when making homes upgrades. The increased interest in backyard improvements actually started well before the pandemic and now the outdoor living boom is in full bloom.

High demand for outdoor living products means there are a wealth of buying options when you’re shopping for things like outdoor rugs, outdoor furniture, patio heating sources, and outdoor kitchen products.

Bringing the indoors outside to expand our living spaces led to an 8% surge in outdoor living product spending in 2020, according to a study from The Freedonia Group.

Experts weigh in on the hot outdoor living trends

Fixr.com, an online network that connects consumers with renovation professionals, revealed some interesting statistics in their recent annual Trends for Outdoor Living Spaces Report. A group of industry experts were surveyed about which outdoor living trends they expected to be popular with homeowners:

80% of the experts believe outdoor spaces that have been upgraded would be used for gathering with friends and family.
61% said outdoor kitchens were the most in-demand addition for outdoor living areas.
48% of the surveyed experts expect outdoor spaces to be designed for year-round use.
85% said that homeowners are more interested in outdoor living space upgrades compared to before the pandemic began.
63% of the experts said that homeowners wanted bigger outdoor living areas than before the pandemic.

Trends for Outdoor Living Spaces infographic

Infographic from Fixr.com

Benefits of an outdoor living room

A well-designed outdoor living room adds practical exterior functionality to the home. There are innumerable ways to decorate the space, which gives the home’s décor an update as well.

Just like indoor living rooms, no two outdoor living rooms will look the same. Each design will be dictated by how the owner plans to use the space, as well as personal style and décor preferences.

Once your backyard lounging room is completed, here are just a few ways it can be used:

for outdoor dinner parties with your friends and neighbours
as a great setting for a kids birthday party
for exercising or meditating
as a spot to watch the sunset while enjoying a nightcap
to work on your tan
as a quiet backyard sanctuary where you can put your feet up and enjoy a good book
as a makeshift work-from-home space

To design the ultimate deck or patio outdoor living room with all the trimmings, here are 10 ideas you can’t go wrong with.

An outdoor living room can be used to relax, for social gatherings, or even as a private work-from-home space.

1. High-quality outdoor living room furniture

You can’t do much “living” in a living room without comfortable, high-quality furniture.

Modern outdoor furniture design has come a long since the days of those wobbly folding patio chairs in gaudy colours and hard Muskoka chairs that you could never quite get comfortable sitting on.

That also means good outdoor furniture isn’t cheap, either. If you’re going to the expense of having an outdoor living space built, make room in your budget to buy the best quality furniture you can.

Looks, comfort, and function are the main things you concern yourself with when buying indoor furniture. Since exposure to the elements is now a factor, you have to add durability and how much maintenance is required to your list of outdoor furniture considerations.

Choosing materials for outdoor furniture

Wood, wicker, plastic, and metal (commonly wrought iron and aluminum) are the materials used to make most outdoor furniture. Wood furniture is the most high-maintenance, while plastic and metal furniture require the least amount of upkeep. Invest in furniture with resilient, easy to clean fabrics.

Note that furniture made with cheap metal does rust quickly. If possible, buy metal outdoor furniture that has a powder-coated paint finish, which protects against rust.

Consider the weight of the furniture if you expect to change the arrangement of your seating from time to time. You also want it to be heavy enough to stay anchored in windy weather.

A wide array of outdoor furniture types are available to help you decorate your room exactly how you want. Outdoor tables, chairs, sofas, ottomans, umbrellas, loungers, and day beds are a few examples.

To maximize your outdoor storage space, buy furniture that has room for hidden storage where things like cushions and blankets can be stashed.

2. Cover your outdoor living room

There are few things more enjoyable than spending time in a comfy outdoor living room when the weather is perfect. But when that sun gets too hot or the skies open up, an outdoor living space isn’t much use unless it has some sort of overhead covering.

If a home’s roof is extended to cover the outdoor living area, it’s important to keep the sides of the room as open as possible to still make you feel like you’re outside. The photo below is a good example of this.

A large awning is an ideal option for anyone who wants some versatility with their outdoor living room. The room can stay uncovered when the weather is nice and then quickly covered up when you need to take refuge from the hot sun or rain.

A pergola is another popular backyard shade protection solution. The overhead slats provide just enough partial coverage from the sun to keep things comfortable. Pergolas can be custom-designed to create a beautiful backyard showpiece. This chic pergola with a lattice roof and gorgeous white drapery really caught our eye.

Locating your outdoor living room inside a pavilion or gazebo are additional ways to keep the space covered. And for a less costly way to stay dry and cooler, there’s always the reliable patio umbrella.

In an outdoor living room with a permanent roof like this one, it’s important to keep the sides of the room as open as possible to still make you feel like you’re outside.

3. Add some style underfoot

To accentuate the flooring of an outdoor living room on a deck or patio, add a stylish outdoor rug or two.

Whether it’s the flooring materials or the materials used in an outdoor kitchen, most outdoor living space colour schemes lean heavily on earthy neutral colours like brown, grey, and beige. While this looks beautiful and ultra-modern, you may want to add some pops of colour to your outdoor setting. Furniture fabrics, cushions with bold colours, and some colourful rugs are great ways to accomplish this.

To really make your outdoor living room’s décor stand out, put in some extra effort to find rugs that coordinate nicely with your outdoor furniture. And if you want to switch up the look of your room in an instant, get reversible outdoor rugs with stylish patterns on both sides.

Many types of outdoor rugs are made with 100% recycled plastic and are stain-resistant and UV-resistant. They’re low-maintenance and can be cleaned with a hose. For more stubborn stains, simply use a little laundry detergent.

Outdoor floor tiles are also worth looking at as a backyard floor décor upgrade option. They’re super-easy to install and come in a variety of styles that simulate the look of grass, stone, and wood.

4. An outdoor kitchen and dining area

The only thing better than relaxing in an outdoor living room while enjoying the weather and the company of your friends and family is to do it on a full stomach.

An outdoor living room by itself qualifies as an outdoor living space, but pair your backyard lounging area with an outdoor kitchen and dining area and now you’ve got a truly complete outdoor living space.

Clearly, more homeowners feel this way based on the results from that Fixr survey, as well as other recent surveys from Brown Jordan Outdoor Kitchens and the National Kitchen & Bath Association. Data from those organizations are surprisingly consistent and show that 60-65% of homeowners consider an outdoor kitchen to be an important part of an outdoor living space.

Like the living room, outdoor kitchens are another big part of the trend of adding interior functionality to the outside of our homes.

Outdoor kitchen designs can be so elaborate nowadays that they can even rival the designs of many indoor luxury kitchens!

With a high-performance grill, a range of outdoor appliances, sturdy countertops for dining and food prep, and weatherproof outdoor cabinetry for storage, cooking in the backyard has never been easier or more fun.

An outdoor kitchen paired with an exterior living room gives you the full outdoor living experience.

5. An outdoor bar

An outdoor kitchen and living room takes your backyard’s functionality to the next level, but there’s still something missing…like an outdoor bar.

Brown Jordan’s 2021 Outdoor Living Report, which was part of that trio of surveys we referenced above, found that 42% of homeowners want their backyard space to include an outdoor bar. During the pandemic, online searches for outdoor bar products skyrocketed.

To set up an outdoor bar that enhances your backyard living space even more, here are some of the essential features to include:

an outdoor fridge
a kegerator/beer dispenser
an ice making machine
an outdoor sink
a complete beverage centre/cocktail station that includes a sink, ice bins, and bottle storage area
comfortable bar stools

6. Bring the home entertainment room outside

Remember when watching TV in the backyard involved using one of those tiny, boxy portable TVs with lousy reception and a grainy picture to catch the afternoon ball game? Thankfully, we’ve come a long way from those days.

Modern outdoor televisions offer the same high-quality features available on “regular” indoor TVs, such as 4K video resolution, smart technology integration, and streaming capabilities.

You might hear outdoor TVs referred to by a few different names, including:

weatherproof TV
weather-resistant TV
all-season TV
four-season TV
waterproof TV
outdoor-rated TV

They’re all essentially the same thing and specifically built to be used outside. High-quality outdoor TVs are constructed with materials and electronic components that are durable enough to handle moisture, dust, temperature fluctuations, and humidity. Part of their weatherproof design includes exteriors that have powder-coated finishes.

Just as with a modern indoor TV, the thin flatscreen design allows for some versatility when you’re considering where to locate it. Most people choose to wall mount their TV. Although most outdoor TVs provide a brighter picture to offset the effects of glare and natural outdoor light, you still need to locate it in a good spot that is out of direct sunlight.

If you want to make your outdoor living room even more unique, you could have a pro install the TV so it folds down from the ceiling when you want to use it or raises from the floor at the touch of a button. Talk about a conversation piece!

Audio ideas for an outdoor space

When you’re enjoying summer movie night in the comfort of your backyard, you’ll want the same movie theatre-quality sound we’ve become accustomed to in our indoor entertainment rooms.

A good soundbar built for outdoor use can produce rich, dynamic sound that makes the experience of watching a movie or sporting event more immersive. You could also opt for a more traditional audio setup with low-profile speakers or hidden speakers that are incorporated into the outdoor living room design.

Wireless speakers are being used in more homes because of the cleaner look that comes without any wiring. There’s also less setup involved with them and they offer convenient smart tech functionality.

With the right high-quality products, you can enjoy the same level of audio and video quality outside as you can indoors.

7. Make your outdoor living room more private

If you’re looking for a little more privacy in your outdoor living room and don’t have a few years to wait for a new hedge to fully grow, there are a few options to consider.

A fence is a natural solution to add more backyard privacy. A trellis is another way to give a backyard living area a decorative touch and more privacy, especially if you add vining plants to grow on it.

Along with giving an outdoor living space shade covering, pergolas are also useful for providing privacy and a structure to decorate with greenery. In addition to climbing plants, you can hang planters from the roof.

Waterproof outdoor curtains and patio privacy screens are other ways to maintain your privacy and they’ll also help out a little with bug control.

It’s important to avoid overdoing it with any privacy-related additions to the overhead and sides of your outdoor living space. You don’t want the space to feel too enclosed and be unable to enjoy a mild spring or summer breeze!

8. Add heating for more comfort

Outdoor Spaces Adapted for Year-Round Use infographic

Infographic from Fixr.com

As you can see from the above infographic, homeowners want to use their outdoor spaces all year round. The most practical way to make an outdoor living room a three-season or four-season room is to add some type of heating element.

Outdoor heating allows you to stay outside longer when a summer evening cools off and also during the early parts of spring and late weeks of fall.

The most popular outdoor heating products include:

gas or propane outdoor fire pits or fire tables
wood-burning fire pits
gas or propane outdoor fireplaces
wood-burning fireplaces
gas lamps/patio heaters
electric outdoor infrared heaters

Gas and propane fire pits have quickly become a favourite backyard heating solution for homeowners, mostly because of their ease of use.

59% of the experts in that Fixr survey named fire pits as a must-have for outdoor living areas.

Fire pits are a popular choice to heat backyard living areas.

9. Pamper yourself with a hot tub or spa

If you have the square footage in your backyard living space and really want to pamper yourself, add a hot tub or spa.

If you’re wondering what the difference is between a hot tub and a spa, it’s quite simple: a hot tub is installed above-ground, while a spa is typically installed in-ground.

A spa or hot tub provides a soothing space to relax, can be used for hydrotherapy, and are sure to become one of the most memorable features of your outdoor living space for guests.

If possible, try to strategically locate a spa or hot tub to take advantage of one of the best views your outdoor living space has to offer.

10. Light up your outdoor living area

Good lighting is essential for a backyard living area. You want your outdoor lighting to look elegant and add ambiance, while also providing enough illumination so you can function in the backyard after dark and navigate around safely.

Enhancing your backyard curb appeal with lighting can include using everything from mini lights to floor lanterns to patio lanterns to outdoor chandeliers.

There are lots of cheap outdoor lighting products out there, so do your homework before buying anything. Choose products that are built to last in Canadian weather and have a good warranty.

Unless you have experience with installing outdoor lighting, it’s best to let a trained pro handle the job. They’ll ensure everything works safely and things like wires are well-hidden.

Boost your backyard curb appeal with functional and stylish outdoor lighting.

Make your outdoor living room something special

We hope this article has given you some ideas and inspiration to help make your planned outdoor living room and backyard living space something special and unique.

Get started on making better use of your backyard with an outdoor living project that is customized for your home. Schedule a free design consultation with Outeriors today.

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5 Reasons a Pro Should Install Your Landscape Lighting and Audio

There are plenty of home improvement projects that are suited to a DIY approach, but many projects are best left to the professionals.

Complex jobs like replacing electrical wiring, plumbing fixes, roofing upgrades, or a room remodel are no place for anyone who can’t tell the difference between a wrench and some pliers.

Installing landscape lighting and audio is another type of home upgrade project that is smarter to leave for a pro instead of attempting to do yourself.

A landscape lighting and audio project needs a pro’s touch

If you’re planning to improve an existing outdoor cooking area or add an outdoor kitchen, making landscape lighting and audio upgrades to the areas surrounding this space is important.

These two additions will enhance your outdoor living space with extra functionality and boost your backyard curb appeal.

You’ll want to ensure the project gets done properly, on time, and with products that will last. Most of us don’t have the time or patience to contend with the headaches a project of this nature can present to an inexperienced DIYer.

Therefore, the wise choice is to hire a professional for the job. Here are five reasons to hire an expert for your landscape lighting and audio installation.

1. They’ll use high-quality landscape lighting and audio products

There are many outdoor audio and lighting products of a higher quality on the market that are only available to professionals and not the general public. These high-end components are vastly superior to the products available in your local home improvement store.

For example, Coastal Source products are designed to withstand temperature changes, moisture, and basically any type of weather conditions. In our challenging Canadian weather, that kind of durability ensures greater reliability and less maintenance for your lighting and audio products.

Cheaper models of outdoor speakers produce lacklustre sound and limited functionality. Premium audio products with high-performance sound and modern features that conveniently allow you to control the audio system with a mobile device will make your outdoor living experience that much more enjoyable.

High-quality LED outdoor lighting products also typically come with a better warranty and are more energy-efficient than cheaper lighting products.

2. Design and installation experience matter

Experienced lighting and audio professionals have a deep understanding of the art and science of installing these features on your property.

They know what works, what doesn’t work, and how to achieve the look you want for your outdoor kitchen and entertaining space.

The installation process will be completed seamlessly and with care, so as not to disturb your home’s existing style and outdoor décor.

3. The results will be more satisfying

Choosing a pro to handle a landscape lighting and audio installation gives a home a higher-end, more professional look that’s more satisfying than if you attempted the job yourself.

You’ll see results that you never imagined, such as how the architectural accents of your home are now more noticeable at night.

Both the audio and lighting systems will be inconspicuous and blend effortlessly into the surroundings of your outdoor living space.

Setting up an outdoor audio system isn’t as simple as placing many speakers simply anywhere. A pro will know the perfect locations to place the speakers and properly balance them for an optimal listening experience.

4. You’ll save money in the long run

Even though you might not think hiring a professional will save you money, it will in the long run.

When you buy landscape lighting and audio products online or from a big-box store, the quality of the products is typically inferior to what a professional would use.

Chances are, you will have to replace low-quality lighting and audio fixtures more often than fixtures and components of a higher quality.

DIY installation mistakes due to inexperience can also necessitate getting a pro out to your house to fix a poorly executed outdoor lighting and audio project.

An expert can help you avoid those costly mistakes.

5. Add to your home’s value

Professionally installed audio and lighting will significantly add to the outdoor aesthetics of your house at night, which can increase the value of your home.

When your home is properly lit and complemented by an outdoor sound system that has been professionally installed and optimized for your outdoor living space, you will boost your home’s backyard curb appeal.

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CategoryOutdoor Living Space

Top Outdoor Heating Options for Warmth and Comfort

Outdoor heating products are popular

What are your outdoor heating options?

1. Fire pits and fire tables

Gas fire pits

Wood-burning fire pits

2. Patio heaters

Electric patio heaters

Propane patio heaters

Natural gas patio heaters

3. Outdoor fireplaces

4. Chimineas

Get one of the best outdoor heating options

See also:

9 Spring Backyard Decor Ideas to Spruce up Your Space

Try these spring backyard decor ideas

1. Spruce up your patio

2. Refresh your deck

3. Have an outdoor kitchen installed

4. Reconfigure your garden setup

5. Upgrade your outdoor living space

6. Add a water feature

7. Add more backyard colour

8. Improve your backyard lighting

9. Mulch it up

Upgrade your backyard decor this spring

See also:

Cottage Outdoor Kitchen Ideas That Will Inspire You

An outdoor kitchen and cottage life go hand in hand

Cottage country’s “design renaissance”

Why a cottage outdoor kitchen is a great investment

Keep it in the family

Additional outdoor kitchen benefits

8 outdoor kitchen design principles

Unique design considerations for cottage outdoor kitchens

Go big or go small

Cottage outdoor living space ideas

Enjoy the comforts of the indoors outside

Set up a cottage outdoor entertainment space

Let the music play!

How to stay connected while you’re at the cottage

Keep things cool, dry, and (almost) bug-free

A fire pit extends your cottage season

Savour life outdoors at your cottage

See also:

Backyard Spring Cleaning: Top 10 Tasks to Tackle

8 benefits of backyard spring cleaning

1. Clean up any backyard debris

2. Start restoring your lawn

FYI: dog poop is not a fertilizer

3. Get your gardens ready

4. Clean your grill

Why not expand your outdoor cooking space?

5. Clean your outdoor furniture

Don’t forget your outdoor cushions

6. Clean and repair your deck and fence

7. Clean your patio stones and walkways

8. Prune your trees, shrubs, bushes, and hedges

9. Clean your gutters and downspouts

10. Organize your garage and shed

Get your outdoor living space project started

See also:

7 Fall Outdoor Living Ideas To Extend Your Patio Season

How to improve your fall outdoor living experience

1. Turn up the heat

2. Enjoy fall outdoor entertainment

3. Keep your outdoor kitchen open longer

4. Use high-quality outdoor furniture

5. Upgrade your exterior lighting

6. Gimme shelter

7. Add cozy fall touches

Upgrade your fall outdoor living experience

See also:

10 Outdoor Living Room Ideas That Bring the Indoors Outside

There’s an outdoor living boom

Experts weigh in on the hot outdoor living trends

Benefits of an outdoor living room

1. High-quality outdoor living room furniture

Choosing materials for outdoor furniture