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Umbrella Market Place - your online store for custom-crafted patio, market, commercial and beach umbrellas
Sells garden supplies and accessories, including planters, sheds and garden tools, as well as outdoor and patio lighting and greenhouses.
Not too long ago, a patio was just a functional portion of a lawn or outdoor
space. A deck was simply an uncovered porch. Today both are quickly becoming
extensions of our indoor living space—almost another room with its
own need for décor, heating, and cooling.
A patio umbrella can be the centerpiece of your outdoor look. Consider
using an umbrella to stand alone, not just set in an outdoor table. Color
is an individual choice, but trends today are for colors that
complement rather than match other nearby colors including awnings,
window trim, exterior finishing, or the color of the deck or patio themselves.
For more information, read our article on current
trends in color for outdoor spaces.
New technology offers options for painting or staining concrete,
something to consider if you have a concrete patio. Recently designers
have gone creative with patterns or designs painted right on to patio
floor surfaces. If your taste is more traditional, consider the use of
brick over concrete. If you’re somewhere in between, visit your
local hardware or home improvement center and check out choices in concrete
pavers.
For your deck, choosing a paint or stain can be a daunting experience.
Of course, matching the color of your home’s exterior is best done
with an opaque paint, and the deck material will be slightly different
than even a wood exterior house. Experts recommend choosing the longest
lasting paint or stain, even if it costs more initially. In the
long run it will save money and time.
Potted plants
are a natural choice for decorating outdoor spaces. So are flowering shrubs
planted around a deck or patio. Landscape designers suggest using plants
with “echo” colors, that is, colors that mimic existing color
features. For example if you use a patio umbrella that’s red or
orange,look for other similarly-colored flowers such as tropical hibiscus,
geraniums, or red salvia for areas with afternoon sun.
Shaded patios might try large lacewing begonias or impatiens.
Reds and oranges work well with blues and purples which also add a softening,
cooling effect.
Natural colored umbrellas such as white, beige and green, work well with
about any flower color. Experts advise, “If flowers don’t
harmonize in the cart at the garden center, they won’t work well
together on your patio.”
The past several years have seen a dramatic increase in the popularity
and availability of different kinds of outdoor accessories. Many of these
can be found online or in your local gardening center. If you don’t
have the good fortune to live near a gurgling stream, a small water
fountain can be a good substitute. From a simple ceramic bowl
with stones to a lighted, multi-level water miniature waterfall, there
are water accessories to fit most any budget. Note: Many kinds are not
meant to withstand weather and must be brought inside or covered.
Another often overlooked accessory is a set of wind chimes. Wooden chimes have a warm tone and make a nice complement to a wood deck or a wood umbrella.
In addition to you
umbrella or umbrella table suite, a glider or a pair of Adirondack
chairs can turn a sparse patio space into a beautiful room that’s
sure to get plenty of use.
Other articles:
ABOUT UMBRELLAS:
How to care for your umbrella fabric
Choosing the right umbrella base
What's up with cantilever umbrellas?
What's New in Patio Umbrellas and Canopies
OUTDOOR SPACE IDEAS:
Coordinate your
Patio/deck Colors with Nature
Current trends in colors for outdoor spaces
Environmentally Sound Outdoor
Heating
Current trends in patio decorating
ABOUT PATIOS AND DECKS:
Staining and Cleaning Redwood Decks
To Seal or Not to Seal (your pavers)?
New life for your patio
Creative lighting for your patio or deck
A Water Feature For Your Patio
Cement Patio Ideas
Simple Patio Walkway Design Ideas
Building A Patio Straight From The Future
Transform Your Patio
ABOUT OUTDOOR FURNITURE:
Plastic & Resin Patio Furniture
Outdoor Furniture Set That's
Right for You
Arranging you lawn and patio furniture
Choosing the right deck/patio furniture
Magic of Wrought Iron Patio
Furniture
OTHER OUTDOOR LIVING ARTICLES:
Directory over 100 categories to choose from.
Garden Zone finder, Giant Garden Directory 100's of categories to find gardens, specialty nurseries and garden supplies for wholesale and retail trade. Free garden pictures. Copyright free and royalty free pictures. Books, Links to Free Magazines, Articles and more.
Buy or sell almost anything. No listing fees, free image hosting, and automatic re-list. Sellers may link an item to their own websites.