About Home: Guide to Outdoor Living and Entertaining

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Home From Diane Schmidt, your About Home Editor Now that the temperatures are climbing higher and the sun is setting later, it's time to think about getting outside. To help you do that, we've gathered together the best of the best when it comes to outdoor living. These guides will take you from refinishing the deck through to furnishing and decorating your space so you'll be ready to entertain family and friends. Furniture for Outdoor Living and Entertaining This past weekend we bought a couple of plantation chairs for our front porch, thinking we wouldn't be using them for a few weeks. But the very next morning, I woke up to find my husband enjoying his coffee on the front porch - a space we barely used before. Furniture can transform not only how your outdoor space looks but more importantly, how you use it. Search Related Topics:  outdoor living  patio furniture  fire pit Budget-Friendly Outdoor Decorating Ideas Once the furniture is in place, it's time to think about how to decorate the space to make it work for you. This article is packed full of helpful ideas and suggestions that will take you from outdoor seating to outdoor cooking and entertaining all in one spot. Check it out. Search Related Topics:  craft decor items  decorating accessories  curb appeal Lighting Ideas for Your Outdoor Space Our neighbors just installed these beautiful outdoor lights that transform their once dull patio into a goregous magical space. While they did purchase some updated furnishings, it's the lighting that makes the space come alive. So the next shopping trip for me will be to use this guide to find the perfect lights for our backyard. How to Clean and Refinish a Wood Deck Before you purchase more furniture or lights or outdoor decorations, it's best to make sure the basic foundational pieces that make your outdoor space both functional and beautiful have been given the care they need. This includes the deck. A refinished deck will take your outdoor space from drab to fab in a matter of hours. Search Related Topics:  about spring cleaning  wood deck refinishing  Related Searches Outdoor Living Outdoor Wood Decks Outdoor Patio Ideas Outdoor Lighting Deck Designs Ideas Featured Articles How to Start Container Gardening Knitting with Cotton Before You Buy Pet Health Insurance How to Decorate with Old Photos Shade Tolerant Vegetables All About Kitchen Lights   More from About.com 10 Easy Ways to Look Thinner Don't wait until you've lost those first pounds to make these simple, slimming changes. Read more...> Create a Shared Photo Stream Sharing your photo stream with friends and family is a great way to keep in touch. Read more...>   Sign up for more free newsletters on your favorite topics You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the About.com Home newsletter. If you wish to change your email address or unsubscribe, please click here. About.com respects your privacy: Our Privacy Policy Contact Information: 1500 Broadway, 6th Floor New York, NY, 10036 © 2012 About.com   Advertisement