Colin and Justin: Personalize your patio – Smash Newz

Hanging out at home? Take a bar porch, yard or balcony and create your very own patio season, says Colin and Justin

Today, with the return of unstinting optimism, we turn our attention to the great outdoors. Yes, climatic vagaries aside, we remain unaffected by what can best be described as meteorological indecision. Sun for a minute. Thinking next? Do you sound familiar?

But there is hope even if you have to make your own fun as you go. Just because your favorite patio bar and outdoor restaurant tables are currently off-limits doesnt mean you cant bring home the excitement of the patio season.

Heres our sunshine guide to help optimize your garden, deck or patio

Freshen up. Before you think about furniture and accessories, make sure your space is spic and exciting. Use a washer to remove grain and dirt. Doing this will not only cleanse, it will reveal the original tones and patina on your patio table.

Shake me timber. Apply wood preservative to inhibit moisture penetration and sun damage. Shop online at your local Home Depot and select sidewalk pickup products.

Every creak and fool. If you have an area of slabs, clean between each tile (the manicure comes later: with out-of-bounds talent salons, who the hell breaks it?) And apply weed killer to curb further problems.

Change shop. Call or email neighbors to exchange products: was there ever a benefit of such compromised times, its the idea that friends and neighboring owners look out for each other more than ever. But of course, disinfect everything you plan to share and wipe down any intake. Jeesh: we can hardly believe that we wrote the last bit (its heartbreaking, really) but better safe than sorry.

Be safe with your foot. It is good to avoid glossy surfaces in outdoor areas. For this purpose, we often add sand to the exterior floor paint to provide extra grip. About half a cup of medium gauge per Gallon should keep you vertical.

Light up. Choose lighter colors to reflect warmth so your patio stays cool. If you have grass, think Wimbledon: pull out your lawnmower (or lend a neighbor, obviously distanced) and start striping your lush patch. After all, a mowed lawn suggests a unified garden.

sorted. To prevent your porch from becoming a messy stop-off for kitchen waste, use color-coded boxes, not cross-pollinate, and avoid overflow. If space is cramped, sort the waste into the bags and drive to your nearest recycling center if it remains open. You know, it makes sense.

Bloomin lovely. Bright potted flowers add drama; today you dont have to be an expert to achieve good results even big box stores (those that remain open), horticulture is bred to challenge even the least green thumb. Hanging baskets also add pop, but keep in mind that on hot days they can get dry in less than an hour. Then use that watering can to avoid a dry basket.

Soft, soft. More cooshun to then pooshun: carefully selected throw pillows add pop to ordinary furniture, while decorative outdoor crockery will awaken even the dullest table. If you have a basement, loft or closet full of seasonal items, excel the best bits for recycling and send the rest to the charity when stores reopen.

Flicker. Pull tea light into storm jugs and turn on lemon zest to keep bugs in check. Wouldnt it be hell to find an army of yellow jackets that suck the life out of your walnut dressing as you serve the really cool grape and spinach salad. Stung tongue, anyone? Didnt think.

All in all, we remain focused on brighter times (socially and literally) in the future. There is a light out there that we remain drawn to at every moment. While we may be stronger together, apart from, just imagine the strength we want to build, combined as our world eventually heals

Look for Colin and Justin at Cabin Pressure and Great Canadian Cottages (Cottage Life TV) and at Cityline (CityTV). Find the Colin and Justin Collection in stores all over Canada. Visit http://www.colinandjustin.tv

See the rest here:
Colin and Justin: Personalize your patio - Smash Newz