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Make your porch or balcony as comfy as your home's interior

Grab some outdoor fun now! No matter if it is just a balcony or a porch, this is the time of year when outdoor living is most appreciated. Make it at once comfortable, relaxed and safe for everyone in your household.

This may require spending a little bit on seasonal amenities, but there's no better investment if a staycation is in your immediate future. Besides, you can use the improvements for spring and fall months, too.

If you live in a part of the country that has a lot of insects, the first logical consideration for both enjoyment and health safety is to find a way to deal with your bugs! Solutions can range from citronella candles to mosquito netting.

Check into mosquito curtains for your porch or deck area. It is even possible to enclose an area shielded by an awning. To give you an idea of price, an awning that is 10 feet out from your house structure and about 9 feet high would cost about $606 plus shipping.

An outdoor area rug is an effective way to designate an outdoor room and make a space with hardscape feel cozier. The one pictured here is bright and celebratory, but you can find durable rugs that are plain, too. Check at stores such as Big Lots, T.J. Maxx, HomeGoods, Target and Lowe's for easy-to-obtain rugs.

Online is another convenient way to buy outdoor rugs. My favorite is The Perfect Rug website because it will send you samples. Generally made of recycled materials or plastics, the rugs are impervious to mildew, fading and moisture. Hose the rug off and you are good to go!

Sizes follow standard interior rug sizes and shapes. You can build an entire outdoor color scheme by pulling colors out of a rug.

Next think of your furnishings. Remember that patio furniture has come a long, long way.

Durable and attractive indoor/outdoor textiles come in a wide range of colors, patterns and textures that are soft to the touch. The harsh feel of old-school outdoor fabric is a thing of the past. Your exterior decor can rival color schemes once reserved for interiors only. If your pillow and seat cushion fabric is made of solution dyed acrylic yarns, they can withstand a reasonable amount of weather and exposure to direct sunlight.

Most people are familiar with the name Sunbrella, and use it interchangeably to describe outdoor fabrics, much like Kleenex for tissues. I often use thicker fabrics made of 100 percent solution-dyed acrylic yarns in family rooms and other areas that are flooded with light. Perennials and Chella Textiles are two other lines of luxurious outdoor textiles. Frames for furniture are made of lightweight, durable aluminum or all-weather woven resin.

Pay attention to potted plants in your area. If they are shabby and ugly, make the effort to either repot the container or move them out of sight.

Try to use matching plant containers. For example, you might select black for all plantings even if you use a mixture of ceramic and plastic containers.

Treat the plants used as an important part of the mood. If you want to create a tropical paradise theme, palms and ferns are wonderful. Do not pair roses with them, but look for tropical blooming plants such as bird of paradise, fuchsia or ginger.

If an English garden theme is your preference, then consider climbing roses or blooming jasmine plants in large pots with trellises. It is important that each element will support the theme of your outdoor living space.

Christine Brun is a San Diego-based interior designer and the author of “Small Space Living.” Send questions and comments to her by email at christinebrun@sbcglobal.net.

© 2015, Creators.com

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