How To: Transition Your Summer Patio to a Cozy Fall Retreat

Celebrate the harvest season by turning the back yard patio into a cozy fall retreat.

Guest Blog Post by The Home Depot

Outdoor rooms have become very popular across the country. We’re looking to squeeze every last bit of living space and value out of our homes and there’s no reason that all of us can’t enjoy our back yards throughout the fall months even in colder climates. The bright palette of summer colors deepens to a rich, darker one and regardless of the actual climate, it’s time to celebrate the harvest season by turning the back yard patio into a cozy fall retreat.

Indoor/outdoor fabrics have been around for a long time, but today’s amazing products bare little to no resemblance to the heavy awning stripes that we so often think of when it comes to using fabric outdoors. Swap out your summery patio cushions with deeper, richer tones for fall and your outdoor room will take on a whole new life. From sheers to chenilles, these sturdy outdoor fabrics will stand up to the elements no matter where you live.

Have you seen some of the new outdoor carpets on the market? As with outdoor fabrics, these beauties are pretty enough for indoor use, but sturdy enough for use outdoors as well. Most often made from nylon or polypropylene, these rugs retain their vibrant hues year after year. Cleaning is a breeze – just hose them off! Looking for a truly personalized option? Paint your own floorcloth using left-over vinyl flooring, which can be cut to your exact size preference. Simply prime with a heavy duty primer, paint and protect with a lacquer coat or three. Allow plenty of drying time between steps and you will have a long-lasting and completely personalized outdoor carpet.

When the temps really start to drop, heat things up with a cozy fire pit or a portable chiminea. Regardless of the time of year, there is little that is more relaxing than sharing a bottle of wine or a pot of hot chocolate while staring into the burning embers.

Don’t let the shorter days keep you inside! Light up your outdoor space with an array of fabulous fixtures from solar powered patio lanterns, twinkling strings of outdoor mini-lights hung off of railings and chunky pillar candles inside protective hurricane lamps. Lighting is not only attractive, but a safety feature as well. In addition to the decorative lighting ideas mentioned above, highlight your walkways and stairs with low-voltage and solar powered spot and floodlights.

Pumpkins aren’t just for making pie and jack-o’lanterns. Hollowed out small pumpkins make great vases for festive seasonal flowers or candles and a large hollowed out gourd can be filled with ice for a unique ice bucket.

When lush summer blooms are long gone from our gardens, they can feel completely dead, literally overnight. Fill in the empty spots with pots of multi-colored mums that will last throughout the season.

Linda Merrill is an interior designer from Massachusetts, who enjoys writing about projects for The Home Depot. Besides providing advice on interior décor, Linda’s interests range from giving fun entertainment tips to helpful hints on creating cozy outdoor spaces using patio cushions and inventive outdoor furniture arrangement.

Lindsay is the the Director of Media Engagement for Coldwell Banker Real Estate and manages the brand’s media and social media department. She is also a licensed real estate professional. In 2017 & 2018, she was named a top 20 social influencer in the real estate industry in the annual Swanepoel 200 power rankings.

Lindsay lives in Livingston, NJ with her college sweetheart and now husband Joe and rwelcomed another Joe into her life as she became a mom in June 2016.

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12 Comments

  1. How To: Transition Your Summer Patio to a Cozy Fall Retreat | Susan Lerner's Real Estate Blog
    October 16, 2013

    […] Pumpkins aren’t just for making pie and jack-o’lanterns. Hollowed out small pumpkins make great vases for festive seasonal flowers or candles and …read more […]

    Reply
  2. How To: Transition Your Summer Patio to a Cozy Fall Retreat | Earl Forbes Blog
    October 16, 2013

    […] Pumpkins aren’t just for making pie and jack-o’lanterns. Hollowed out small pumpkins make great vases for festive seasonal flowers or candles and …read more […]

    Reply
  3. How To: Transition Your Summer Patio to a Cozy Fall Retreat | Donna Dagley's Blog
    October 16, 2013

    […] Pumpkins aren’t just for making pie and jack-o’lanterns. Hollowed out small pumpkins make great vases for festive seasonal flowers or candles and …read more […]

    Reply
  4. How To: Transition Your Summer Patio to a Cozy Fall Retreat | Elouise Margita's Blog
    October 16, 2013

    […] Pumpkins aren’t just for making pie and jack-o’lanterns. Hollowed out small pumpkins make great vases for festive seasonal flowers or candles and …read more […]

    Reply
  5. Your Home’s September Honey-Do List | Janet Glowacki's Blog
    September 4, 2014

    […] over. If you’re not ready to move inside, consider transitioning your summer patio to a cozy fall retreat. Add a few autumnal touches, like a chiminea and garland lights to make your outdoor space work […]

    Reply
  6. Your Home’s September Honey-Do List | Lerner Realty Solutions
    September 4, 2014

    […] over. If you’re not ready to move inside, consider transitioning your summer patio to a cozy fall retreat. Add a few autumnal touches, like a chiminea and garland lights to make your outdoor space work […]

    Reply
  7. Your Home’s September Honey-Do List | My Website
    September 4, 2014

    […] over. If you’re not ready to move inside, consider transitioning your summer patio to a cozy fall retreat. Add a few autumnal touches, like a chiminea and garland lights to make your outdoor space work […]

    Reply
  8. Your Home’s September Honey-Do List | Earl Forbes Blog
    September 4, 2014

    […] over. If you’re not ready to move inside, consider transitioning your summer patio to a cozy fall retreat. Add a few autumnal touches, like a chiminea and garland lights to make your outdoor space work […]

    Reply
  9. Your Home’s September Honey-Do List | Elaine Allinson's Blog
    September 4, 2014

    […] over. If you’re not ready to move inside, consider transitioning your summer patio to a cozy fall retreat. Add a few autumnal touches, like a chiminea and garland lights to make your outdoor space work […]

    Reply
  10. Your Home’s September Honey-Do List | Patrick Lim's Blog
    September 4, 2014

    […] over. If you’re not ready to move inside, consider transitioning your summer patio to a cozy fall retreat. Add a few autumnal touches, like a chiminea and garland lights to make your outdoor space work […]

    Reply
  11. Your Home’s September Honey-Do List | Elouise Margita's Blog
    September 4, 2014

    […] over. If you’re not ready to move inside, consider transitioning your summer patio to a cozy fall retreat. Add a few autumnal touches, like a chiminea and garland lights to make your outdoor space work […]

    Reply
  12. Transition Your Backyard for Fall
    September 15, 2014

    […] that the danger of mud and sand being tracked onto your patio has diminished somewhat, add an outdoor carpet to brighten up your area. These carpets are designed to look as beautiful as an indoor area rug, […]

    Reply

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