Just because it’s December doesn’t mean you have to go hibernate. With some heating features and some ingenuity, and some cooperation from Mother Nature, you can still enjoy your patio or deck. A sunny day is ideal for spending time outside in the winter, but you can spend evenings outdoors as well.Â
Let’s take a look.
With cold temperatures, you have to have a heat source to be able to enjoy your outdoor living space. Within this area, you have several options, depending on your patio or deck. They include:
If you have an outdoor fireplace, congratulations! Whether it’s wood burning or uses natural gas, you have probably already spent some cold evenings gathered around the fireplace. If you don’t have an outdoor fireplace, keep reading, but think about the benefits of installing one.
Related Reading: Top 3 Benefits of an Outdoor Fireplace
A built-in fire pit or even a portable fire pit can warm things up outside, as long as you’re sitting close enough. They don’t put out quite as much heat as a fireplace but are great for smaller, sheltered spots.
Lastly, if you don’t have either an outdoor fireplace or a fire pit, you may want to invest in one or more patio heaters. And if you have a deck rather than a patio, these portable heaters are a great solution for you as well. They most commonly run on propane gas and can put out a good amount of heat. You’ll need to do some comparison shopping to get the heater that’s right for you.
Related Reading: How to Choose the Best Patio Heater for Your SpaceÂ
Winter days are short, so if you want to spend any time outdoors after 4 o’clock, you need to have some good outdoor lighting. In addition to whatever landscape lighting and exterior lighting you have on your house, add some fun string lights and table lanterns as well to cast a warm and cheery glow.
Related Reading: Top Outdoor Lighting Ideas
In addition to dressing for the weather, you can also add some creature comforts to your patio to help you enjoy the crisp winter air. Some ideas include:
We hope some of these ideas inspire you to rethink how you use (or don’t) your patio or deck in the winter. And remember, the days start getting longer soon!
If you’d like to add an outdoor fireplace or built-in fire pit to your patio area, we can help. We turn your outdoor living dreams into reality. We are now setting design consultation appointments for 2023. Check out our Portfolio for examples of our work, and to gain inspiration.
We work with homeowners throughout the Capital Region, including Northern Virginia, Maryland, and Washington D.C.Â
