Tips & Ideas for Creating Your Outdoor Room Oasis

• Water features not only add a great "wow" factor, but they also add to a relaxing ambiance.  Al's carries a great assortment of contemporary, modern and traditional fountains.  Or if you're on a tight budget, consider making your own fountain in a beautiful colorful ceramic pot.
  


• Incorporating lighting is especially important in an outdoor dining area, whether through candles in your centerpiece, string lights around your trees, or a battery operated light fixture that attaches to the umbrella (shown below).
  
  

  

  Above:  Al's Spring/Summer 2011 Furniture Collection

• Add an umbrella for shade or even a pop of color. There is a significant cost difference between an 8’ and a 13’ umbrella. Al’s also carries other sizes, as well as wall umbrellas.
  

• Investing in a good quality patio dining set saves you money in the long run, because it lasts and stays looking nice for a longer period of time. The table shown at right has a gorgeous inlaid stone top. 
  
  
  
• To create adequate privacy that is tall enough, consider creating a living wall of plants by planting trees and shrubs in pots.  Shown above:  Monterey Cypress, Coralburst Flowering Crabapple Tree, Lion's Main Maple, and Rhododendrons.
  


• Al's is a great place to get creative ideas for your yard such as the door screen shown above made by hinging two salvage doors together.  You'll find other creative ideas at Al's Garden Center displays.
  
  
  
  

Ceramic pots are a great way to add a splash of color in your outdoor rooms.

Notice the outdoor art hanging on the wall as well.  This is a fused image onto cedar boards... A great creative concept for adding the comforts from inside to the outside! 

Additionally, using cloth napkins, and placements help add a touch of elegance to your dining table.

Left:  Al's Spring/Summer 2011 Furniture Collection

Outdoor Living Areas

Incorporating cushioned deep seating into your outdoor living area will greatly contribute to the comfort factor, especially when you add a fountain, and ambient lighting!

Other design elements incorporated in the room above include:

• An outdoor area rug that can be hosed off.
• A wall of potted plants for added privacy.  Indoor tropical plants help set the mood for summer, and they can be moved back indoors during the colder months.


• Throw pillows and ceramic pottery add splashes of color.


• A firepit table is great for family time and entertaining friends after dark. 


• Remember to add an umbrella for shade!  Shown right is a wall umbrella...
  
  
  Click here to view Al's Garden Center on the Fusion show.  Robin Burke from Fusion is  talking in more detail about ideas for creating outdoor rooms.
  
  
  

Click on photos for larger view 

Fountains add to the sense of sound and are very relaxing! 




Click here for tips on creating this door screen...



Grouping your pots together creates a greater impact than scattering them about...

Al's has great outdoor tableware made from acrylic and plastic wine glasses...

Firepit table for family time & entertaining.... 

Or consider a tabletop firepot.  Several great styles are available at Al's...

Or the least expensive ambient lighting option of all3--- Candles!