Spring is here which means summer is just around the corner! It’s a great time of year to plant window boxes and plan veggie gardens, sleep with the windows open, and generally enjoy the outdoorsa and pleasant temperatures. What isn’t so pleasant is when your outdoor space still has gunk from last summer’s salsa disaster. If your porch, patio or deck needs some love, read below about how you can spruce it up.

Before you go crazy with the sprucing, consider a good power washing. Cleaning up will prepare your space to become a blank canvas. Chase away winter dirt and grime from kids and pets. Throw out anything that has outlived its usefulness or overstayed its welcome. Don’t forget to hose down your patio furniture and inspect it for damage. While everything dries, let’s go shopping!

Outdoor rugs are a great place to start! The foundation of an outdoor design, they are available in a variety of sizes and almost limitless styles and patterns. Outdoor rugs are manufactured to withstand sun and weather, without fading or rotting. If they get dirty (from another salsa disaster or otherwise) they can be spot treated or hosed down entirely. Beginning with the rug sets the stage for everything else; you can easily choose items to complement it and create a cohesive look for your space. Select a large rug to set off a larger area, or create smaller “conversation” areas using smaller rugs. If you already have cushions that are in good condition, make sure your rug choice works with them.

When setting up your outdoor living space, arrange the furniture in ways that will reflect how you will use it. Planning to read on the chaise? Place it near the patio umbrella with a side table for your icy drink. Love entertaining? Make sure there is a place for guests to sit down and space for their stuff, including plates of food or beverages. Once you have finalized the placement, decide on the cushions (if necessary), making sure that they agree with your choice of rugs.

Keeping the area rugs and cushions in mind, choose accents that will complement your motif, but not too much. Everyone likes to spend time with someone who agrees with them, until things get boring. Don’t be boring! Use your accents to bring a little spice. Pick up a few pillows with a contrasting design but a similar color, or select an unexpected centerpiece for the coffee table. And don’t forget the flowers! Even if the weather isn’t quite hospitable, you can make a plan for plants. Choose ones that will flower for the season in colors that go with your outdoor “living room.”

If you need help picking out an area rug for your outdoor space, measure first and then visit the helpful design professionals at Carpet Advantage Company Inc. They can help you select something that will set the stage for this summer’s outdoor living! And hopefully not another salsa disaster.

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