Home Improvement Information

Deck Decorating


On my blog, I once wrote about life on the Veranda - a favorite Southern, summer pastime.

Picture a Charleston side-porch house, facing the obligatory magnolia tree, refreshing gin and tonics or the standard mint julep.

But Veranda living is more than just a sense of "place". What really makes it memorable is the company of friends and neighbors, sparkling conversation, or a languid repose with a loved one.

A deck may not technically be a Veranda, but it can, nevertheless, be the perfect gathering spot where memories are made.

The key, however, to great deck entertaining is to have a great deck. Many people don't believe in decorating their decks but having good seating and some type of a theme can help make your deck the most beloved part of your home.

A favorite theme for a deck is "Outdoor Barbeque." Though not really an official title, a version of "Outdoor Barbeque" encompasses a nice deck, with a classy set of chairs and a table and a grilling area where your husband and his friends can show their talent on the grill. Sharing hamburgers and margaritas with your friends while you wait for the homemade ice cream to finish running - now that is my idea of putting a deck to good use.

On the other hand, a fun theme is great if you have kids. For example, the Beach theme is ever popular for decks. Beach and lounge chairs cover the deck with a table and chairs in the center covered in bright blue and white striped fabric. You can even use ropes, sails, nets, and lifeguard floats to hang from the sides of your fun deck and post flags from different Caribbean or Mediterranean countries on the corners of the deck.

Keeping a chest inside of beach paraphernalia - floats, leis, sunglasses, and even a pirate's eye patch will keep your children entertained as you try to prepare dinner.

You can also have a country theme on your deck. My great-aunt has this huge covered deck and on it she uses old barrels as side tables and chairs; for the chairs part of the barrel is cut for the back and the previous top of the barrel as nailed down as the seat. There's kind of a country atmosphere there with the added touches of old Pepsi bottles, signs, and tools hanging on the wall as well as flowers hanging from every corner of the roof.

Whatever theme you decide to use on your deck, the essentials are a table and chairs with some extra seating and side tables. If your deck is too small for that, you can simply purchase a couple of Adirondack chairs and side tables to match. Your parties may be smaller, but you can always put a picnic table in the yard to seat more people. Choose your own theme; a deck is a place where you can put your favorite random items to good use. So from Coca-Cola to country to classic, create your own deck decorations and spend the rest of the summer enjoying your friends on your jazzy new deck.

And no one will care if it's not an official Veranda.

Elizabeth Holly lives in the South and writes for women about fashion, fitness, frolic and focus. Visit her at http://www.elizabethholly.com


MORE RESOURCES:

Trust the big names in home improvement?
Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
About 15 years ago, I was a VP of a major "remodeling retailer's" home improvement business. I say "remodeling retailer" because they were not really in the ...

and more »


Lowe's: Home Improvement and Heart Surgery
FOXNews (blog)
When Donald Roberts (photo on the left) undergoes open heart surgery next month to repair an aneurysm, the home improvement store employee will not have to ...



980 CJME News Talk Radio

Home Improvement Giant Comes to Sask
NewsTalk650
It has been rumored for months and now it's confirmed- a giant home improvement store is coming to Regina. Lowe's will be opening its doors next year on ...
Lowe's comes to SaskatchewanRegina Leader-Post
Home improvment retailer Lowe's to open its first Saskatchewan store in ReginaCanadianBusiness.com
Business WatchWinnipeg Free Press
Trading Markets (press release) -Charlotte Business Journal -StarPhoenix
all 51 news articles »


Home-Improvement Projects That Pay for Themselves
New York Times
By AP NEW YORK (AP) -- As the housing market keeps sputtering and it becomes clear you may need to stay in the same home for a long time to recover your ...

and more »


Home Improvement Retail Market In Canada - New Market Report Published
OfficialWire (press release)
This profile focuses on the home improvement retail market in Canada and provides current and forecast data on market value in relation to the parent retail ...

and more »


AG sues Marlboro man impersonating builder
Boston Herald
A Marlboro man “desperate for money” built a home-improvement business based on lies, stealing another contractor's identity to line up ...
Marlborough man accused of improperly working on homes in SudburyMetroWest Daily News

all 6 news articles »


Boston Globe

Home improvement
Boston Globe
Win safely in hand, Kevin Garnett and Rasheed Wallace enjoy a video. (Jim Davis/Globe Staff) By Julian Benbow Aside from Jonas Jerebko still darting up the ...

and more »


Drying up an oily wall
Seattle Times
Homefix: Dwight Barnett answers home-improvement questions. This today's topic is on moisture forming on the interior portion of an exterior wall. ...

and more »


24dash

Manchester home improvement partners "save the day" with free kitchen for new ...
24dash
A Manchester youth club has been rescued from its own 'Kitchen Nightmare' by the partners working to bring home improvements to thousands of properties in ...



Globe and Mail

Canadian Retail Sales Record 0.7% Increase in January
TopNews United States
As has been revealed by a report released by Statistics Canada on Friday, customers looking to make the most of the home-improvement tax credit ended up ...
Canada January Retail Sales Rise as Renovation Credit ExpiresBusinessWeek
Last-minute home renovations propel retail sales in JanuaryOttawa Business Journal
Home reno tax credit boosts retailersToronto Sun
Tolerance -Toronto Star -CBC.ca
all 82 news articles »

Google News

home | site map
© 2006