How to Turn Your Fire Escape into a Patio Without Breaking The Law – Yahoo Lifestyle

Photo credit: Lindsey Ramsey

From House Beautiful

For those seeking a useful way to spend their time during social distancingor anyone simply interested in forging a deeper connection with their homesHB has launched Home Love, a series of daily tips and ideas to make every minute indoors more productive (and gratifying!).

When I first moved into my own place a few years ago, I had to make my peace with the fact that I had not found an apartment with the ultimate, but elusive, NYC amenity: outdoor space. It never bothered me too much since I'm a short walk from a huge park, and my neighborhood is full of great bars and restaurants...then social distancing happened. Confined to my 500-square foot apartment, completely alone save for my cat, I started dreaming of outdoor space, ANY outdoor space. And there it was: my fire escape.

Before you start, yes, I know it is illegal to install items on your fire escape. That's why I decided I'd only bring out things that could easily be removed once I came back inside. I need Vitamin D, people! My super actually walked by while I was out there, and when I told him, "I swear it's all removable," he said, "you gotta go what you gotta do." If that isn't my 2020 mood, I don't know what is. So, here's how I transformed the overlooked space into an at-home getawayfor under $300.

To start, I knew I needed to channel joy and put up some string lights. These are the only part of the project that I don't take down each time I come inside. I strung them through the bars and made sure that the ladder was still accessible to others in case of an emergency. I leave the lights on until I go to bed and it never fails to to bring me happiness.

Next, I wanted to find something to make the floor more solid. I just knew I'd drop a phone or something through the grates. I researched a few different options, and congratulated myself on my brilliance when I came across some bamboo bath mats. These give the look of a wood floor but are super easy to store inside. I decided not to go for the full floor, and just bought four to make a cozy corner.

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To complete the corner, I found a super cute, bright yellow metal table where could rest a laptop or a place a drink. I also accessorized with some fake plants (I kill all plants, as a rule), and my vintage-inspired bluetooth speaker.

Now for the biggest decision of my mini-makeover: What was my seating strategy going to be? I needed something that could fold up when I brought it inside, as I'm already maxed out on seating in my tiny living room. But I also wanted something comfy that I could sit in for hours should the weather allow. I decided on a reclining chair with a pillow. It's perfect for reading or just catching some sun, plus it's easy to fold up and store when not in use.

Now I have the perfect little outdoor space to take work calls during the week, or relax, read, and listen to the new Fiona Apple on the weekend. And as someone who would have been spending these spring weekends in a park, having somewhere to sit outside is an absolute game changer. All in, I spent less than $300 to transform this space into something that's saving my sanity every day the temperature creeps above 60 degrees. And now that it's in full use, I've discovered an added bonus: Since I'm only one flight up, friends can walk by and actually have a conversation while maintaining social distancing. Outdoor space and visits from friends? Normal is just around the corner.

For more Home Love ideas, head herewe'll be launching a new one every day. And tag your own home project photos #homelove for everyone to enjoy.

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How to Turn Your Fire Escape into a Patio Without Breaking The Law - Yahoo Lifestyle