5 Steps to Make your Patio the Perfect Winter Hangout

1. Cut down on wind chill with ceiling to floor shades
When you’ve got a craving for the outdoors in the winter, one of the strongest deterrents is often wind chill. Thankfully, you can easily diminish the wind’s effect by supplementing your space with shades or blinds. When made of natural materials like wood or bamboo, these inexpensive additions look at home in just about any setting and can make sitting outside in winter a whole lot more enjoyable!

2. Use seating that retains warmth (but not moisture)
Metal or plastic patio furniture might hold up well under outdoor conditions, but when winter hits, these pieces offer very little in the comfort department. By picking furniture with insulating padding (but covered by a water-proof protective surface) you will not only have a more cushiony seat, but one that retains your body heat during cold weather, as well!

3. Enhance your lighting
Many porches and patios are lit more for function than for relaxing. To make the space more hospitable, lose the harsh edge of a single bulb and upgrade to several smaller fixtures. If your lighting swivels or is placed on tracks, you can adjust where the light hits to fit whatever function is on the agenda. This will not only be a benefit during the winter, but all year round.