Getting the Most from Your Deck in the Fall
During the summer, you might have sat out on your deck under a tall umbrella, drinking cold drinks and grilling dinners, but as the weather turns colder, you don’t have to abandon the deck just yet!
In fact, you can turn your deck into an autumn retreat, perfect for an evening alone or with friends.
How do you do it? Here are a few ideas:
Add some warmth. That heat you were hiding from a couple of months ago will now be more than welcome on a chilly fall day. Make the most of it by incorporating some warmth right into your deck.
- Day: If possible, open up the deck to more sunlight. That patio umbrella that gave you great shade on hot summer days can take a break now as the autumn sun streams through.
- Evening: There are a couple of great options for adding warmth on a cold evening. You can add a deck fireplace or fire pit that will instantly become a favorite hangout for family and friends. Alternatively, you can get a space heater made specifically for your deck—just check with professionals to make sure you get the safest option for your home.
Incorporate lighting. If outdoor lighting makes you think of a single bulb on the back porch or motion sensitive lights on the side of the house, it’s time to get excited about elegant, decorative outdoor lighting.
There are plenty of options to choose from: the type of lighting, where it will be, shape, and color, for instance. You can have lights added onto your deck beams or added right to the floor or steps themselves!
Keep it neat. One of the biggest drawbacks to spending time on your deck during the fall is the accumulation of leaves. Allowed to remain, wet leaves will make a mess of your deck.
Thankfully, this is easily fixed in 5 or 10 minutes and a little bit of luck on the weather. When the leaves are dry, grab an outdoor broom and sweep the leaves off of the deck to keep it clean regardless of the changing seasons.
