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Creating the Ultimate Outdoor Living Space

May 4, 2017 by Traci

Transforming your backyard into a modern oasis is a lot easier than you’d think, and it doesn’t have to break the bank. With a few décor strategies and smart investments, you can host magnificent parties for family and friends in your own backyard. Keep these tips in mind as you begin drawing up plans for your outdoor living space and extend your livable areas without adding square footage to the house itself.

Outdoor Furniture Needs

You can find inexpensive garden and patio furniture at Overstock.com. From fire pits to outdoor cushions, this site offers pretty much everything you need to make a modern outdoor paradise. Shopping online usually offers price saving benefits, and this site is no different. Grab some online Overstock.com coupons from Official Coupon Code and get that picture perfect patio set for next to nothing. As you start shopping for furniture for your new outdoor space, focus on items that can withstand the weather in your area. Fabrics should be mold-resistant, and the structural portions of your tables and chairs should be made with sturdy materials like aluminum. This type of frame won’t rust and can stand up against freezing cold temperatures.

The Comforts of the Indoors…Outside

While your living space will constitute a separate area, you still want to ensure your home’s interior blends into the exterior. The easiest way to accomplish this? Simply add the comforts of the indoors to your patio area. Grab plush, stylish rugs from ModernRugs.com to lay underfoot so kids and adults alike can go barefoot even outdoors—this is especially important when the sun goes down and temperatures dip. You can hang heavy-duty picture frames and décor on the exterior walls, add cozy pillows to your outdoor furniture for some plush relaxation stations, and keep blankets on-hand for anyone who gets chilly. Your goal should be to offer your family and friends every comfort they’ve come to expect indoors, outside.

Add a Water Feature

Add the soothing sounds of running water to your backyard with a quaint water feature. Grab a wall fountain to add some pizazz to your home’s exterior, or go all out and invest in a backyard pond filled with fish and greenery. Hire a professional landscaper to help you conceptualize and create a water feature that will become the focal point of your outdoor living space. The right fountain or pond can add great value to your backyard, and will provide a soothing, peaceful sense of tranquility—who couldn’t use a bit of that these days?

Don’t Forget the Lighting

Make the most of your outdoor living space even when the sun has gone down with appropriate lighting features. From string bulb lights that give your patio an extra bit of charm to motion sensor lights that ensure no one trips in the dark backyard, there are plenty of lighting solutions to make your backyard a standout. This will also ensure your get-togethers can continue for hours into the evening—you no longer have to move the party indoors when dusk hits.

Get into Gardening

Outdoor living space isn’t exclusive to patios. Consider getting into gardening and create your own garden bed. Choose between beautiful flora or stick to veggies and herbs that you can use in your kitchen. Gardening has actually been proven to serve as a solid stress reducer, and can be a great family activity if you want to get the kids involved. In our tech-heavy world, most of us don’t spend nearly as much time outdoors as we wish we did, and gardening gives you a reason to head outside and soak in the sun. It’s also just plain fun to get your hands a bit dirty every now and then.

If you’re looking for ways to create a beautiful, functional outdoor space in your backyard, keep these tips and tricks in mind. Whether you’re looking to become the “hostess with the mostess”, or you’d like to get your kids excited to play outside, adding these fun features to your home can improve your happiness and make sure you make the most of this gorgeous summer weather.

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Filed Under: Decorating Delights, Party Planning Tagged With: decorate, furniture, hostess, lighting, Outdoor, Outdoor living space, Parties, rugs

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About Traci

I'm a curly-headed dreamer, currently living in Ashland, Ohio. I'm a photographer, and recently made my business official (LLC). I would love to talk to you about booking a photoshoot with me! View my photo gallery (click here) Check out my pricing and choose your package (click here) I love coffee, chocolate and potato chips.  I love a good … Read More...

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Blushing with your delicate, rosy hue, a gentle b Blushing with your delicate, rosy hue, 
a gentle breeze blows through fresh, new blooms.
Your time is fleeting, yet faithful,
a promise of beauty each spring.

Gifting petals that fall to the earth,
You are waiting for me to visit you.
Basking beneath warm shadows,
Deeply breathing in nature’s favorite perfume. 

A legacy of faithful promise,
Graceful, elegant, familiar and kind.
As the sun streams through branches,
Your reflection twinkles and twirls, 
Leaving your dance card upon my heart.

You whisper, come linger a little longer,
No need to be in such a rush.
Through storm clouds, torrential rain, 
and those picture perfect days,
You continue your steady climb toward the heavens.

Your limbs grow stronger, your roots deeper still.
Your humble beauty speaks for itself. 
No need to shout, nor beg for attention.
You hold the secrets of many who return year after year,
Who sit beneath your branches,
and find healing to bloom as well.

- Traci Little
TraciMichele.com
@traci_michele_photography
"To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow." - A "To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow." - Audrey Hepburn 

@traci_michele_photography @kingwoodcentergardens
What Jesus offers is nothing compared to what the What Jesus offers is nothing compared to what the world offers.  Read 1 John 2:15-17
⭐️⭐️⭐️

Don’t trade God’s perfect timing for impatient substitutes. 

The counterfeit isn’t anything compared to the real deal. 

Surrender brings peace, joy, and rest. 

So trust fully to His perfect plan for your life. 

No more rushing ahead. 
No more backseat driving. 
No more comparing.
No more striving. 

Lay down the endless coveting of an illusion of perfection. 

He’s everything you’re longing for, 
striving after, and so much more. 

Open your hands and release your grip. 
Now you’re ready to receive His good 
and precious blessings.
In a time with so many voices, opinions and commen In a time with so many voices, opinions and commentaries, we can get overwhelmed by the noise. 

What should we believe?
What should we say?
Who's side are we on?

You can never go wrong with running to the feet of Jesus.  Get alone with God today, open His Word, and hear the words that matter above all else.
Walk in God's law Keep God's testimonies Seek Hi Walk in God's law 
Keep God's testimonies 
Seek Him with your whole heart 
Steadfastly keep His statues
Keep His commandments diligently 
Fix your eyes on His ways 
Praise Him with an upright heart 
Guard His Word 
Hide His Word in your heart 
Be Teachable 
Declare His ways with your mouth 
Meditate on His precepts 
Delight in God's statues
Ask to have your eyes open 
Ask for understanding and wisdom 
Find your strength in His Word 
Choose the way of faithfulness 
Set His ways before you 
Turn your eyes from worthless things 
Trust in His Word above all else 
Find comfort in His promises 
Make God's ways your heart's song 
Be friends with those who fear God
Value God's Word far more than riches 
Remember His faithfulness that endures through all generations 
His words are sweeter than honey 
His Word is a lamp to your feet 
His Word is a light to your path 
His testimonies are your heritage 
His testimonies are the joy of your heart 
He is your hiding place and shield 
Do what is just and right 
Hate every false way 
Ask the Lord to be gracious to you
Ask His face to shine on you 
Learn to be saddened by sin 
Daily put His promises to the test 
Peace is given to those who love His law
This world will offer you information, but true kn This world will offer you information, but true knowledge comes from God and His Word.  What are we filing our minds and hearts with? What we meditate on, will consume us and change us.  Let's makes sure we are being filled with truth.  Read Proverbs 2 today.  Look at all we gain from seeking after the knowledge of His Word :

Receive 
Treasure 
Listen 
Be Attentive 
Incline Your Heart 
Call out for insight 
Raise your voice for understanding 
Seek & Search 

-> then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find knowledge of God, righteousness and justice.

He is my shield 
He gives me abundant wisdom 
He guards my path and watches over me 
Wisdom will come in my heart 
Knowledge will be pleasant to my soul 
Discretion will watch over me 
Understanding will guard me 
Keeps me walking on the paths of righteousness
Hello! I'm Traci and I own Traci Michele Photograp Hello! I'm Traci and I own Traci Michele Photography, LLC.  I've always been passionate about photography and I decided to chase after my dream of becoming a photographer. 

I serve the Ashland, Richland County and surrounding areas of Ohio. 

My focus is on portrait / events / business branding photography.

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