How to Design Your Deck or Patio

You do not need to hire an exterior designer to make your patio, deck or other outdoor living space shine. Today, those areas are more popular than ever and the Home and Garden cable station even has a show totally dedicated to helping people redo their outdoor gardens and swimming pool spaces. Here are ten tips I have picked up over the years to help you do-it-yourself and save hundreds of dollars.

l. Getting started. The smaller the space, the smaller the furniture. This does not mean you need to limit your creativity. That bulky and heavy Redwood Deck Set may look good in the showroom, but simply will not fit on your little outdoor deck or patio, especially if you live in an apartment. The same can be said about those fancy gazebos which work well if you have the yard space, but would crowd out an entire deck. I have found that folding furniture, like deck chairs and those handy fold-up resin picnic tables give you livable and attractive furniture, but allow you to move the pieces easily and get the furniture through doors. The best part is you can fold them up for storage in the winter or easily lift and load them into the car for a daytrip elsewhere.

2. Plants. It is always a good idea to start with a few artificial plants. The newer silk ones look much more glamorous than aged plastic. They are expensive, but last forever. Dollar stores have these in abundance and you can buy them by the piece to arrange however you like. I have found that a few basic white, blue and red flowers work well, especially during holidays. Orange autumn colors look good for fall and go well with wood accents. Yellow is very summertime and the color may be limited to one season. For this reason, greenery should be chosen first. The bigger the leaf and the more accented with veins and white tips, the more realistic the plant will look. Vines work especially well to wrap around poles, deck railings and lattice. Always choose live plants that are in season and do not try to plant too early. Remember to water and feed your plants regularly so they do not end up looking sickly. Rhodies, daisies, evergreens, pansies all work well in enclosed spaces. Keep bug spays away from eating areas. Screens, Citronella candles and more natural electronic pest repellers are best.

3. Planters. Resin planters hold up better, but wood looks classier. If you purchase those old wine barrels, line them so the bottoms do not rot out and set them on some kind of waterproof surface. The plastic bags that tire stores use to store old tires in are just the right size to fit around these barrels. If they are waterproofed and lined, they can even be used as a base for fountains or holding goldfish ponds. Wishing wells, wheel barrows and bird-feeder gazebos look great and look like they are providing a purpose to the yard. Pink flamingoes, refrigerators and character impersonations (unless they are stone sculptures) scream second-hand trash. If your patio has solid glass doors or a slider, you might want to place stickers or suncatchers on the them to prevent anyone accidentally walking into them (this happens more often than you might think). It helps to make sure planters are away from traffic areas or near doors and to make sure they cannot tip over easily when brushed by active children or pets.

4. Personal signs. Political statements, personal plaques with your full name, Buddhas or other religious statements are best not to use in today's diverse and easily offended culture. Wood-burnt name plates are inviting identity theft or unsolicitied mail. It is OK to support a candidate, if your lease or community building code allows such things - remember, many do not, but remember to take those signs down when the election is over. The same can be said for Christmas decorations. Leaving the lights up all year round, especially unused, simply decomposes them for the next holiday season. Waterproof tablecloths work well all year round to protect and cover, so a plain design may be more practical than seasonal motif. Wind chimes are lovely, but be sure they are not too noisy. Avoid any large contraption containing cowbells, horse shoes or any metal sculpture which not only looks horrible but could potentially kill someone if the wind blew it off your deck. Seaside resorts sell the hardiest and most creative wind flags, since the coastal areas are experienced in blowing breezes.

5. Water sources and art. Waterfalls are high maintenance and barrels do leak and are cumbersome. A bettter idea are the new resin water fountains. Table top, battery operated ones are noisy and do not work well. The rule is the larger the fountain, the better it probably works, so long as it has an electric source. You will need to figure out how to put it together and make sure you wash it thoroughly and try it out before installation on a wall or floor. My two favorite places to shop for accessories are Brylane Home (inexpensive) at www.BrylaneHome.com or call 1-800-528-5150. For a more upscale purchase, check out Touch of Class at www.touchofclass.com or call 1-800-457-7456. These two catalogs can provide you with hours of fun and creative ideas. They highlight different styles and motifs such as Southwestern or Oriental, so you can theme your garden space. Try to choose pieces that will compliment your indoor space.

6. The best place to shop for outdoor furniture, wicker and bamboo items as well as glasses and dishware for entertaining is Cost Plus World Market www.costplusworldmarket.com. They also sell online and are less expensive than other import stores yet have the high-quality look of exotic treasures. Cost Plus World Market has a great selection of light strings and imported foods too. Rattan, wicker and wood hold up well even in damp environments. I use Japanese Shoji screens to change up the look of my deck and provide privacy. They are great since they let the light in and give a romantic glow at night as the light shines out. Speaking of lights, forget about solar since most deck areas may not be getting enough sun to collect for storage in solar cells and the cells are too small to emit much light back out at night to make a difference.