How to Make Your Outdoor Spaces More Usable in Winter This Year





As summer comes to an end, it’s now time to start thinking about preparing your home and outdoor spaces like your deck or yard for the fall and winter seasons. Where 2020 has been a very unusual year, many of us have been spending a lot more time at home than usual. For instance, a lot of professionals working from home rather than commuting to workplaces, and many kids and college students are also studying at home, where in a lot of regions, schools have been closed. This has meant space at home has been at a bit of a premium for a lot of families, and if this has been an issue for you, being able to make use of your outdoor spaces as a place to relax, or even work, in winter, as well as summer, could make a huge difference.

Here are some things you can work on now to make your deck, patio, porch or yard usable in the colder months:

Heating and Shelter

The most essential things when it comes to making outdoor spaces suitable in different weather are outdoor heating and shelter. Look for patio heaters that will allow you to stay warm while working or unwinding outside, though be aware that these are not the most environmentally friendly things, and can also end up being quite expensive to run, so you may want to consider buying some nice warm blankets people can sit under and stay cozy some of the time, so you can keep using the heaters to a minimum. 

Treat Your Wooden Furniture and Decking

Preparing your decking and garden furniture by giving them a fresh coat of varnish or paint will make sure these outdoor spaces are nice and inviting through the winter. It can be best to do any painting or finishing now while the weather is still good, giving everything a chance to dry without any issues. If you don’t have the right products and tools to prepare your outdoor wood yet, then check out this article comparing the best paint for wood furniture.

Outdoor Lighting

Lighting is another essential if you want to be able to use the outdoor areas of your home during the winter, as this will mean you won’t be restricted to the short daylight hours if you want to read or study outside. You can get really cost-effective LED lights for outdoor use these days, and you can choose different light styles for different moods, from cozy lanterns through to pretty outdoor fairy lights for enjoying an evening drink outside. You may also want to consider lights that can double up as security lighting if you are investing in newoutdoor LEDs.

If you love the idea of being able to get some use out of your outdoor living areas once summer is gone, then it can be easier than you might think. If you start doing the necessary DIY and choosing the things you need now, you can have a more versatile space outside that all of your family can enjoy at any time of year.