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Monday, March 25th, 2019
The Le Cercle Round Dining Table from Fine Furniture’s Deco Collection can be the ‘meeting table’ for your next neighborhood activity. It’s reliable and fashionable, just like the good neighbor that you are.
Haven’t you noticed that there is at least one house on every block that’s considered the social hub? It is easy to spot one – just take a careful look at the number of kids that drop by there and the parents who chat while sitting on the porch – everyone just seems to be drawn to that spot.
If you know, deep inside, that you’re not meant to be a wallflower, then it’s time to take some drastic steps. You can be the next hangout house on your block. And, yes, there are ways that you can bring more people to your lovely home.
All Things Bright and Beautiful
What better way to begin than to paint your front door a bright color?
Red is known to be the most welcoming but if you want something more cheerful, there’s always sunny yellow.
And please don’t stop with that welcoming front door. You can always add pops of colors on the porch. Some flowerpots will certainly increase your home’s cozy vibe.
A Furnishing That Says Hello
Another way to draw in some neighbors is to hang a porch swing. This will certainly catch the attention of kids and adults alike.
If you have a spacious lawn, then you can also hang tire swings for the young ones. These will pretty much scream irresistible to all the neighborhood kids. It’s also an effective way to detach the younger generation from their gadgets.
Attract the neighborhood kiddos by inviting them to snack indoors with your little ones. They can raid your well-stocked cupboard or buffet. The simplest things such as lemonade and cookies or some popsicles should be good enough for these little ones.
Dine Outdoors
Did you know that food can actually taste better and can even be digested more easily if you dine outdoors?
This means you could be healthy as you also invite your neighbors to bring food as you spend a few hours of neighborly feast. So go ahead and de-stress by firing up the grill and inviting your neighbors over. Don’t pay too much attention on the food that you’re going to serve. What matters is that you leave your gadgets behind and you just enjoy an evening full of conversations.
If you prefer to eat outdoors in the morning, and you should because it’s spring and it’s warmer out, then you even get the added benefit of being flooded with Vitamin D.
A Neighborhood Tradition Does It
You can also begin a tradition such as setting up a porch table every weekend. This is a great way to catch up on neighborhood gossip – ahem – life stories and also a wonderful way to share some baked goodies.
Putting out some coffee and pastries out in your porch is also a relaxing way to begin your weekend mornings. If you’re a night owl, then you can always set up cocktails on Friday evenings after work.
If doing this weekly is a bit tiresome for you, then you can always hold a monthly tradition instead.
Begin a Garage Biz
If you’ve been meaning to clean out your garage, then this is also the perfect time to do so. Hold a bazaar right in your garage.
You get to revamp this part of your home plus you also earn some cash as some of your neighbors purchase your old stuff as bargain pieces. Be sure to set fun prices so that the activity is more exciting rather than a serious endeavor to earn money.
Imperfect Is Fine
Lastly, if you want to be the next social hub, try to relax. If you’re so tight and caught up with fixing and making things perfect, then you fail to enjoy the moment.
Allow the kids to run around. It’s okay to set limits but resentment should not be built all because of these rules. It’s also alright if you run out of food, just ask some of the neighbors to pitch in and you’d be surprised how obliging they would be.
Your genuine presence is the most important thing so be there.
Tags: dining outdoors, hangout spot, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, neighborhood social hub, outdoor dining, outdoor dining area
Posted in Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements, Outdoors Style | Comments Off on 6 Tips on Being the Next Neighborhood Hangout Hub
Monday, December 19th, 2016
Uttermost Accessories Suzuha Large, Finial 19235 is an interesting decor for your outdoor setup.
If you’re thinking of entertaining friends and family during the holidays but are problematic about the amount of space needed to do that, then have no fear. Your festive ideas can still come into fruition if you learn to use the outdoor space to your advantage.
Here are some outdoors ideas that will make the holiday season truly a moment of merriment –
Create a Makeshift Bar
All you would need is a sleek cart for your outdoors bar and you could start prepping and serving your guests with luscious cocktails. Any space in your front or backyard could be transformed into that holiday makeshift cocktail station.
In the absence of a bar cart, you can also set up card tables for that makeshift buffet or bar. Just cover it with a tablecloth or a plain white sheet and you’re done.
Add some barware, cutting board and some seasonal décor and you’re good – you’re absolutely good.
Maitland-Smith Accessories Bamboo Cast Brass Bar Cart 3020-042
Or a Coffee Cart
You can also repurpose your garden or bar cart to a mobile breakfast station. Add some gourmet coffee and some juice choices plus some newspapers for the complete breakfast experience.
Ask Guests to Contribute to the Fun
No, don’t think that they’re going to bring decorative items. Just ask them to make memories with you buy bringing some musical instruments that they can play. You could jam with them for nights of musical entertainment.
Apart from musical fun, your guests could also add some puzzles and games to what you already have in your collection. Make sure the kids have their own crafts and other fun activities so that both adults and small ones would have a grand time.
Set Up Outdoor Furnishing
Limited on furniture for your outdoor haven? No problem. Bring some pillows and blankets and they’d instantly become the cozy fireside seating units for your guests and loved ones.
If you are expecting a group that’s much larger than your dining room, then you have more reason to set up the outdoors. Find an outdoor dining table that will be able to accommodate the extra guests.
‘Thinking of using hardwood table? Just make sure that it will be set up in a covered area or a part of your yard that can have a makeshift roof should the elements rain down on your holiday refuge.
Now, as you set up the dining table, just don’t be content with a bare look. Decorate it. Go bananas on your lanterns and centerpieces. Or you could take some ideas from al fresco dining restos such as setting up some metallic chairs and tables underneath a picnic umbrella. Sitting on metal doesn’t mean you have to suffer from discomfort so make sure that the seats are still comfortable. You can provide some thick colorful cushions to up the level of comfort while also adding pizzazz to your design.
Prepare for Chilly Nights
You must also prepare for chillier evenings. Have an outdoor fireplace set up or just have a fire pit built especially for your outdoors entertainment area. This fire pit is a surefire way to make the entire area more inviting.
Let the Lights Glow
But what is an outdoor entertainment area without the bright lights? Be sure to install ample lighting – don’t worry, you won’t need a lot – just enough so people could have their merriment while still seeing each other. If you’re thinking of a romanticized version of an entertainment area where candles are lit, then be sure to have these lights protected from the elements.
You might want to install stair and pathway LED lights, too, especially when you’re entertaining during the evening. All lighting fixtures must be outdoor-rated so it will be able to take cold, hot or damp weathers. Weatherproofed lighting is the only way to go if you want you and your guests to be safe.
Tags: Christmas dining, dining outdoors, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, outdoor dining
Posted in Outdoors Style | No Comments »
Thursday, March 24th, 2016
The RayLen Vineyards Collection offers this dining set that will look great in a roofed backyard space.
Living in the city can be fun but if there’s one thing that you don’t get to enjoy there, it’s the spacious backyards. Compact homes offer awkward or narrow spaces as extensions of a home. If you have such an outdoor space, what would you do? Would it mean confining yourself to limited space all of the time? Or would you like to learn how to maximize your backyard?
Break It Into Zones
You can begin by creating various functions. Arrange furniture pieces strategically to visually create different rooms such as cooking, dining, lounging, and entertainment areas. All four zones can be placed inside one small home.
Light Up to Break Up
It’s time to implement a lighting design that can function in many ways. A multi-faceted lighting scheme will do you lots of good. The living room can have brighter lights while the bedroom can have the subdued types of lighting. Arm pendants or chandeliers hang best inside dining rooms. Know how to create lighting that will break up one whole space into various sections.
The Indoor Space Extension
Find the indoor space which you think is the smallest then have that extended to your available space in your backyard. If the kitchen is too small, for instance, then you can have a portion of the backyard installed with kitchen equipment and furniture. Outdoor technology should be able to help you with whatever you want to do outside.
You can also complement the interiors by using the same colors that you used there to a room that was set up in your backyard. You can stylize by picking textures and colors that harmonize. Do more than buy a couple of chairs and that cute dining table. Lounge seats and other accessories should make the room more exciting and seemingly more spacious.
Learn to Manipulate
If the problem in your home is square footage, then learn to utilize scale, angles, and surface materials. You wouldn’t want to force a 12-seater dining table into a particularly small backyard dining space. Consider, instead, extendable tables or a storage unit with lots of drawers of shelves.
If you have many functional areas, then learn to use a single material that will unify them. Small spaces need to be cohesive, for instance, the parents’ entertainment area could have the same carpet color as the kids’ play zone.
FFDM’s Summer Home Collection has this lovely pair to make your reading corner much more exciting.
Get Rid of Clutter
The more elements that you put into your backyard space, the tighter it would eventually feel. Instead, incorporate non-curvy lines, clean seating, and a limited number of potted plants or bushes. Say no to bulky furniture since the small space will surely be overwhelmed by them.
The cleaner look works better in a backyard that you want to maximize. Instead of using 15 pots as decor, just use five then have them strategically placed throughout the limited space. Pick about two or three planters, 2-3 colors, and just about anything that would complement each other so that the space won’t look overwhelming or chaotic.
Have the Space Enclosed
This might seem ineffective for someone whose aim is to make a small space appear larger. Enclosing a small space, though, you make it more intimate and cozy, aspects that are hard to achieve when you have a large space to work with. An enclosure will also make you feel that you have an outdoor room rather than just a place to store clutter.
Having plants can help you create an intimate yet seemingly roomy space. Redbud trees and trumpet vines usually work if you want to maximize your backyard. So go ahead and use greeneries to your advantage.
Tags: arranging furniture, backyard design, backyard style, decorating with houseplants, decorating with plants, designing the backyard, furniture arrangement, furniture placement, indoor-outdoor furniture, maximizing the backyard, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, outdoor dining, outdoor dining area, outdoor furniture, plant decor
Posted in Outdoors Style, Special Rooms In Your Home | No Comments »
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