Household Fixes

Hiring an interior designer to help you with the changes you want to make when redoing the inside of your home just makes since. It also makes since to have the same type of design input when you are making changes to the outside of your home as well, just thinking about being outside and not in.

A good example is the use of color. You have so many plants to choose from but you also must consider where they will be planted because of sun placement during the day. This is hardly an issue when you are dealing with the indoors!

Once you realize the differences you will need to consider, the help you may need to hire and the time it will take you from start to finish, you can then get down to business. To begin with let us look at some of the design elements you will want to consider.

Balance brings pictures of the scales measuring out the two sides so each weighs the same. However, balance in design does not always equate to an equal part on two sides. It’s more of an even flow from one thing to another; a symmetry where everything equals out in the end. Watch that you create more than separate spaces but a collective whole that comes together.

Think in terms of earth, wind, water and fire and the way nature uses these elements as a way to balance and flow, creating an underlying rhythm. The flow of water, the crackling of a fire, wind rustling through the trees; all are areas that help bring balance to an area and you can incorporate one or more of these types of natural elements to bring balance and flow to your yard.

The above is also an example of a natural rhythm, which is another basic element of design. Rhythm can also be accomplished by the use of patterns throughout your yard and garden. It can be as simple as the cushions you have on your outdoor furniture or the pattern of your fence. You can also have more complex patterns in your gardens by the way you plant your flowers and lay stones or other walking paths.

Another element you will want to strive to have in your yard is harmony. If you think about this in terms of nature, there is always a harmonic tone or discord that makes you look or think twice. That’s because to appreciate the harmony in a place there has to be a bit of discord there so you can really hear or see that all is in harmony with each other. It’s a fantastic mix and sometimes hard to find but it is always there.

The last thing is focal points of interest. Sometimes we have focal points that we wish to diminish such as a greenhouse or storage shed. In these cases, use other elements such as a grand pergola or garden seating area that draws your attention away from what you do not want to be seen to that you do want to be seen.

This discussion could go on and on with ideas flowing about great design for your yard and garden. I hope it is clear that bringing in a great designer for your yard is just as important as having one for the interior of your home. Using great garden dcor is as important as what furniture you choose and can make or break the look and feel of your overall project. You can have the perfect yard for you and your family with a little planning and some good design. Don’t be afraid to go for it!

Tags: arbors, design, design elements, diy design, garden decor, greenhouses, home decor, landscaping, outdoor decor, outdoor lighting, pergolas, plant stands, pot holders, remodel, trellises
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Making outdoor patio furniture covers is easier than you think. By making your own covers you get the design and colors that you want. Making your own covers will also save you money. I have seen patio set covers made out of a variety of different fabrics. There is no right fabric. The choice of fabric is up to the individual taste.

It is important that your patio furniture be protected from the elements. The amount of protection your furniture will need is dependent upon where you live. Those people that live in tropical areas will want to protection their furniture from the blazing sun or salt spray every chance they get. The tropical sun will remove an entire layer of varnish in less than 6 months. Unless you don’t mind sanding and re-varnishing you best acquire some covers for your patio furniture.

The first step to making your own covers is material selection. There are more factors to consider than color or pattern alone. The price point of the material is going to be dependent on the quality. There are some specially formulated materials which are more weather resistant than others, which will obviously be more expensive than a generic fabric. This is not necessarily always the case, so it is important that the material you choose is worth the cost, both in terms of protective value, as well as esthetic appeal.

Now you are ready to design the shape of your patio covers, and take measurements to cut your material and assemble it. When creating custom designed covers, you must think in terms of the volume that your furniture occupies. Most pieces can be simplified into very basic shapes, such as rectangles, cubes and tubes. Covering a table will require you to create a simple box, cutting the top and side cut a few inches larger than the table measurement to allow for seams and a little extra ‘wiggle-room’. You will also want to create a slight widening taper towards the bottom so the cover slides easily over the table without getting stuck halfway down.

Creating a custom fitting cover for your chair is as simple as creating essentially a cube with one side shorter than the other. The back will be a rectangle measuring the same as the back of the chair, and the front will measure the same as the front of the chair, either as high as the seat, or the top of the arms if your chair has arms. The sides are slightly trickier, since they are not rectangles, but rather they are cut with one side as high as the arms or seat at the front, and the other side cut to the height of the chair back. Make sure that all your pieces have a seam allowance, and a bit of extra size so they will slip easily over the chair once constructed. As with table covers, you can add a hem with a drawstring at the bottom if you chair covers need extra securing.

With a little planning, and a little measuring and a little sewing, you can see how easy it is to create your own set of completely custom outdoor patio furniture covers. The best part about making your own set is the ability you will have to create an entirely unique look for your back yard or patio, not to mention the cost savings compared to having a custom set of furniture covers made to order.

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