Summertime! There is nothing more rewarding than creating an outdoor living space that you and your family can enjoy. Barbecues, entertaining, and a place to get comfy with a good book does not end with fantastic flooring.
Now that you have settled on one of the following flooring options, composite wood, traditional wood or artificial turf, you can concentrate on accessorizing your space.
Remember:
- Composite decking tiles are great ways to cover up cold concrete balconies and traditional decking that is tired but still structurally sound. Composite decking tiles provide a maintenance-free deck and comes with a 15-year warranty.
- Are you looking for luxury? Why not install exotic wood flooring? It offers the look of a traditional wood deck. Exotic wood pavers also come with a click-together base which makes for an easy install!
- Artificial turf is a simple way to transform a space with the look of greenery without having to be a green thumb!
Now it’s time to jazz up that flooring with unique touches that you and your family can enjoy all summer long. While you’re browsing, scrolling social media, and flipping through the pages of design magazines for the perfect outdoor accessories to complement your flooring, don’t forget the one component of an excellent outdoor living experience that usually gets neglected–lighting.
Don’t have a lot of wall outlets on the exterior of your balcony and patio? Wondering how to illuminate your space? Well, luckily, there are many alternatives to lighting your outdoor space without having to use wall sockets.
Alternative methods for lighting your outdoor space includes:
LED and motion sensor lighting
LED lighting: LED lights can be installed right into your new or existing patio flooring. The team at Urban Patio and Balcony Flooring commonly drills holes into the decking material. It does not matter if your flooring consists of porcelain pavers, exotic ipe decking pavers, or composite decking. Professional flooring installers will have the tools that will produce clean finishes to your in-floor lighting preferences.
Battery and Solar lights: Battery-operated outdoor lights are a stylish way to add a soft glow to your outdoor living space. Battery-operated lights are lighting can be added to rock gardens or planters for a brighter lighting experience.
Pros of battery-operated patio and deck lighting:
- Many battery-operated outdoor lights can last up to 4 days before needing to be recharged
- Energy efficient
- Reduce the cost of having to add additional electrical outlets, thus decreasing your renovation budget
- Simple and easy to install
- Waterproof
- Can be installed anywhere on your patio, deck, or balcony
Puck lights are an easy solution to your outdoor lighting challenges. They are versatile and are generally used in areas that require lots of lighting but have few available options for electrical sources.
Puck lights are compact and durable. In addition, they often come with adhesives that allow installation on any surface and in any location.
- Beside hot tubs
- Inside planters
Unlike traditional, run-of-the-mill battery-operated outdoor lights, puck lights provide a longer-lasting battery life–up to 17 hours.
Battery-operated lighting, LED and motion sensor lights, and puck lighting are an easy and economical way to illuminate your patio, balcony, or deck. These worry-free alternatives provide excellent brightness without the worry and hassle associated with having to run an extension cord or add power sources.
Now that you have chosen your outdoor flooring and lighting solutions. It is time to accessorize your deck.
Planters. Customized planters come in a variety of sizes and materials. They are a great way to add greenery and flowers to your floor plan. Planters are especially good for large spaces, such as a terrace or rooftop. In addition, platers also offer privacy for smaller spaces, like a standard condo balcony.
Plants! Add an injection of greenery to your outdoor living space. In addition to adding an infusion of colour and fun, plants also add much-needed oxygen into the environment, especially amongst the pollution of city living.
Positioned right, a multitude of plants, tiny shrubs, and even small rooftop and patio trees can act as a filter to buffer out the noise of the hustle and bustle around you.
Choose local plants to increase the longevity of any plants you decide on incorporating into your outdoor landscape. Plants and other greenery should be hardy and able to survive year-round life and weather conditions. Including wind shears associated with elevated balconies.
Plants such as Jasmine and lilac can increase the ambiance of your outdoor living space by adding soothing and relaxing natural fragrance.
Remember, having plants on your balcony does require upkeep. If gardening does not come intuitively to you, you might want to consider incorporating artificial plants into your space.
In addition, river rocks in small spaces can be a great way to incorporate other textures, break up large spaces, create rock gardens, and finish off odd, shaped areas.
Privacy fence: When choosing outdoor flooring, think of the space. Where is your balcony seating area in relation to your next-door neighbour? What elements work well together? What designs will increase the usability of your space?
Privacy fences are a great solution to break up larger spaces. They also provide much-needed shelter from your next-door neighbour.
Privacy fences can include using items such as shutters, roller blinds, and curtains. Another innovative way to create a division between you and your neighbour is to install a herb wall. Herb walls have become increasingly popular amongst urban homeowners who desire gardens in limited spaces.
Living in an urban setting means tucking your life into smaller spaces. While many people overlook their balcony, patio, or deck as a potential space, it is important to create an outdoor living space that reflects your style and attitude.
Creating your own unique outdoor living space is limited only by your imagination and creativity. You can recreate and personalize your balcony, patio, and rooftop however you wish.
So, when life indoors becomes constricting, don’t forget that you have an additional 300 or more square feet of untapped space waiting for you outdoors. With a little creativity and ingenuity, your balcony, patio, or deck can be an added space that becomes your own private get-away.
