As things start to warm up
and green up, we’re entering our long season of outdoor living and
entertaining. By maintaining our outdoor
space and keeping it organized, it’s primed and ready the next time you want to
take the party outside.
“Supply and demand” can also
feel like it means that you demand to
keep your supplies where you put them,
minus water hoses walking off and never being able to find the right tool or
gardening supply when you need it. So
house your outdoor maintenance items right.
You may have room in the garage for a section dedicated to them, but you
may not. Consider a small tool shed or
supply container similar to the size of a chest deep freezer. Today’s tool sheds come in kits you assemble,
and they look like attractive mini houses.
Placing one in your backyard or on the slab of a patio can give you room
enough for the lawnmower, ladder, weed eater, mulch, fertilizer, and even
shelves of tools and other supplies. Keep
it under lock and key, and you’re protecting your investments from the elements
and theft alike. Additionally, large
storage containers with hinged lids offer space for shovels and spades, hoses
and watering cans, seeds and pesticides.
Add an outdoor-only broom for patio sweeping that stays out of sight. Top with a layer of outdoor fabric cushions
on the lid, and you’ve added additional seating to your back patio space.
If you’re into gardening, use
a weatherproof rolling cart to hold your go-to supplies like gloves, hand
tools, and potting soil. Keep a boot
tray outside your patio door to keep dirty shoes from tracking your backyard
in. If outdoor games occupy your patio space,
a short shelving system can hold sealed bins of balls, paddles, rackets, and
darts. Keep a container of cleaning
wipes stored away outdoors for quick wipe-downs of patio furniture just before
you’re ready to use it.
Also consider your home’s
front entry. Are your house numbers
visible from the street? If all you have
is a faded indicator on the curb, refresh your mailbox numbers and add
decorative house numbers to your exterior in a high-visibility spot. Is it time for a fresh coat of paint on your
home’s trim? Think about making that a
budget item this spring. If you have
various items just left out that should be located elsewhere, take the time to
clean up and remove anything that’s not adding to your curb appeal. A good sweeping, door cleaning, new welcome
mat, and maybe a few potted plants or succulents can go a long way to renewing
your entryway’s look for spring.
Manage your outside with the
same care the inside deserves. So
whether you’re ready to sit out with an ice-cold lemonade and watch a sunset or
get to that more consistent lawn maintenance, you’re doing it in a space all
set for outdoor living.
Today mark’s DesignInMind’s 200th column!
Appeared in the Valley Morning Star March 30th.
