3 Tips for Bringing the Indoors Out

Creating the Perfect Patio space is easier than you may think. Here's a few tips for using interior decorating tips for making a stylish and functional outdoor living room.

Patios and decks are a great way to expand the livable space in your Dutchess County or Orange County, NY home. Having your family spill out on the back patio for an alfresco weekday dinner can really add an incredible dimension to life here in the Hudson Valley. But outdoor living spaces can feel cold if comprised of all stone, wood, and earth. So how can you warm them up and bring your indoor style of living to the great outdoors? Here’s 3 easy tips to bring your landscape some love. 

1. Colorful Outdoor Pillows

Stone seatwalls have become very popular as of late and many Dutchess County landscapes are benefitting from the extra seating they can offer. But just like more conventional outdoor furniture like chairs and sofas, cloth and cushion are a necessity for comfort. Be sure to incorporate colorful pillows and seat cushions covered in outdoor fabrics from companies like Sunbrella. 

2. Outdoor Rugs

Patios made from concrete patio pavers from manufacturers like Unilock, Techo-Bloc, and Cambridge are functional, long-lasting, and certainly beautiful. However, if not “softened” by cloth and fabrics they can leave the space feeling a bit cold. Use outdoor rugs on your patio and decks to bring a bit of the indoor comforts to your outside spaces. 

3. Potted Plants

Potted greenery is a great way to add life—quite literally :) — to the outdoor spaces of your Hudson Valley landscape design. While many patios and decks have expansive plantings surrounding them, it’s very helpful to place a few specimen shrubs or trees in oversized pots of varying colors and finishes right on the stone or wood. Connecting to nature while enjoining the sleek lines of pavers and composite decking is the best of both worlds. 

Want more information on creating the perfect patio area?
Check out this free jam-packed guide.

TOP: Images courtesy of Allmodern.com.

3 Tips for choosing a concrete paver for your Hudson Valley patio or walkway.

Just like so many products today, the dizzying options for concrete paver styles from manufacturers like Unilock can be a daunting task. So many catalogs filled with ideas to look through which are fantastic for inspiration, don’t get me wrong. But how do you begin to narrow down the choices to something that you know will match well with your home’s exterior and last forever? Here’s a few tips to get you heading in the right direction. 

1. Look for the Lifetime Guarantee

There are so many manufacturers of concrete paving stones today that offer a wide range of products with differing quality. With all of these quality options there is no reason for homeowners to settle for a product that doesn’t have a lifetime guarantee on the structural integrity of the product. Your Dutchess and Orange County, NY outdoor kitchens, fire pit areas, patios, and walkways will thank you later. 

2. Style Choices

Let’s face it. Just like when deciding on colors and styles for the interior rooms of your home, the style of your patio pavers is crucial to your satisfaction. Many manufacturers offer tools like real outdoor displays, design suggestions, tested combinations, and photo galleries to help homeowners see the different colors, finishes, textures, sizes, and shapes available. Look to tap into the expertise of a landscape contractor for help as these folks design and install these paver materials day in and day out. Take your time and choose pavers that you will be happy living with for years to come. Related: 3 Beautiful Driveway Makeover Tips.

3. Contractors you can trust

Concrete pavers are not very useful unless they are installed correctly. Hiring a landscape professional like the team at Harmony Hill Landscaping in Fishkill, NY to install your paver patio or walkway guarantees that you will be enjoying your landscape for years to come. In fact, it's guaranteed. As Unilock Authorized Contractors, Unilock stands behind our work and warranties it along with us. How's that for piece of mind? Choosing a paver that comes with contractors that you can trust to get the project done right is very important. 

Learn the secrets of the pros and create a dream backyard patio! 
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Outdoor Living, HGTV Dream Home Style

Image Courtesy of HGTV

Designer outdoor living spaces and landscapes have officially come to the center stage, not just here in Dutchess and Orange Counties in the Hudson Valley, but all across the country. And nowhere is this more evident than when taking a quick glimpse of HGTV's Dream Home projects over the last ten years.

While they have always been beautiful and inciting, the early 2000's Dream Homes' outdoor living spaces were comprised of traditional wooden wrap-around porches set with a few adirondack chairs. Fast-forward to today and the stunning evolution of the modern day outdoor living space is amazingly clear.

The design for the 2015 Dream Home has a bluestone patio located off of every major bedroom and the 2014 design included a luxurious outdoor fireplace with a multi-level stone patio. And yes, custom outdoor living and landscape design has arrived to the Hudson Valley area as well.

The installation of concrete pavers, walkways, and retaining walls is really just the start of what the talented team at Harmony Hill Landscaping do everyday. From the design and installation of custom fire pits and outdoor fireplaces to outdoor kitchens complete with pergolas that sit poolside, we are privileged to work on some truly amazing outdoor living projects right here in the Hudson Valley. We will be working in familiar places like Beacon, Hopewell Junction, Lagrangeville, and Fishkill throughout the season and we'll be sure to share some pictures to keep the outdoor inspiration flowing. 

Centerpieces for your outdoor living space

Spring in the Hudson Valley is an exciting time of the year as it is the season when many gorgeous flowers come back to face the world. Since the options are fresh and fragrant, it’s the perfect time to go all out and have breathe-taking centerpieces regardless of whether you have a special occasion or not. Here are some ideas for great specific flower choices, as well as combinations that can be used to create a centerpiece that will bring your NY landscape to life.

 

Tulips

Tulips are not symbolic of spring for no reason. The blooming and bright flowers have a way of breathing in life wherever they are used and will definitely look dazzling when used for your outdoor living centerpiece.

 

Lilacs

Lilacs are simply remarkable flowers that have a billowing effect while providing magnificent color. You can either use one color hue or go for a variation of subtle tones that are ideal if you are looking to have a layered, painterly arrangement. All you have to do is gather blooms in three hues and organize them by color gradation for an outstanding look.

 

Grape hyacinth

A sweet-smelling flower with a conspicuous blue color. These offer a unique look as they appear to have a grape or balloon-like look. These are bound to look fabulous regardless of the type of vase they are presented in.

Try these combinations: Daffodils + crocus;  Roses + peonies + lavender  

5 Ways To Create A Cozy Hudson Valley Outdoor Room

A beautiful landscape is without a doubt an amazing addition to any Dutchess or Orange County, NY home. In fact, creating an outdoor oasis that would leave your neighbors green with envy is really all in the details. 

We all know that outdoor living spaces are very useful in the morning and afternoon when the sun is shining and the birds are chirping. But what happens when night descends? That beautiful outdoor room doesn’t stop being a great addition to your entertaining space. The solution to continuing the fun long into the night is fusing the coziness of the inside of your home, with the breathtaking beauty and openness of the Hudson Valley outdoors.

Below are 5 ways you can achieve this amazing dream outdoor living space.

1. Outdoor Furniture and Outdoor Living Accessories

The first and most obvious way of creating a fantastic outdoor space is by adding pieces of furniture, such as chairs, tables, and even a large sofa. This not only opens up your space by extending your home, it also ensures that you can eat, relax, and catch up with family and friends outdoors.

You can accessorize this space with items such outdoor rugs, pillows, weather proof TVs, potted plants, outdoor artwork and even a mini-bar. - Photo courtesy of Unilock.

2. Patio Heaters

One of the main reasons people prefer to stay indoors during the spring and fall is the warmth found inside a house. You can now bring this warmth outside by adding a portable heater to your outdoor space.

Thanks to the advancements in portable heaters you can choose from a variety of designs and colors that will meet the style you have chosen for your Dutchess County outdoor space. Alternatively, you can opt to put in a fire pit, fireplace or heat lamp. - Photo courtesy of Unilock.

3. Landscape Lighting in the Hudson Valley

No one really enjoys groping around in the darkness or squinting to see the other person’s face, and that is why you should incorporate landscape lighting into your Orange County, NY landscape design.

This can come in the simple form of candles, but for a more long-term solution you can choose hanging string lights, lanterns, pathway lights, and spotlights. Aesthetic appeal and safety are great results.  - Photo courtesy of Cast Lighting.

4. Built-in Grill and Outdoor Kitchen

We all love to eat, and some of us love to cook. But why cook inside when you can grill outside? By building an outdoor kitchen you can create a space where you can prepare and cook food even as you socialize with others.

Additionally, your grill area can be customized to meet your cooking needs, budget, and size requirements—perfectly complimenting your Hudson Valley landscaping. - - Photo courtesy of Brown Jordan.

5. Water Features

There is something very relaxing and refreshing about water, and if your budget allows for it you should definitely add a water feature to your landscape.This can come in the form of a small fountain, water garden with Koi fish, or an elaborate pondless waterfall with custom pavers and retaining walls. - Photo courtesy of Unilock.

As you can see, finding inspiration for your outdoor living space and landscape design has never been easier. By including some or all of the elements, you can create your own piece of outdoor heaven this season. So go ahead and begin planning the cozy outdoor space for your Hudson Valley home!

Related: How much will my Dutchess County landscaping project cost?

Looking for more information on how to create the perfect outdoor living space?

Check this guide out with tips on choosing the right paver material, designing the right size space with the perfect features, staying on budget, and choosing a contractor. It's jam-packed with great stuff!