When the fair weather comes each spring, we eagerly embrace the opportunity to get back outdoors and enjoy our deck space for personal relaxation and entertaining. However, getting the most out of your Edmonton deck season should consider how you will furnish and equip your space with the right accessories. For atmosphere as well as function, there are a wide range of choices to make to create a unique outdoor oasis, right outside your back door. To get you started, here are some ideas about the essential outdoor items you need for your deck.
The Outdoor Grill
When the temperatures reach short sleeve season for the outdoors, there are few events anticipated more than the outdoor barbecue. The sizzle of the grill and the smell of charred burgers or steaks that fills the neighborhood reminds everyone of what we love best about summer. For many, the outdoor grill is the staple feature for their deck and as such, the variety of options available for the Edmonton deck owner is truly amazing. In portable grills and barbecues, the options that come with various models allow for an increased capacity beyond just grilling up the meat for your feast. With features like separately controlled burners, supplemental cooking surfaces for side dishes and some even with rotisserie capabilities, the outdoor grill is expanding the menu for your next barbecue. Increasingly, the movement to built-in grills with affixed counter space has expanded the opportunities for a full outdoor suite for hosting gatherings and entertaining fully outdoors.
For even further options, self-contained outdoor fryers and smokers are adding even more options for food preparation outdoors to create a taste sensation that is sure to be the talk of your social circle.
Furnishings
From rustic traditional to modern plush comfort, there are more choices than ever before when it comes to how you can furnish your outdoor space. If you want to have the flexibility to host a variety of functions, you may elect to go with more traditional outdoor seating such as folding lawn chairs which can be easily stored and retrieved as needed. However, for a more fixed type of setting, the selection of outdoor seating from plush chairs, sofas and sectional/modular seating expands with each passing season. It’s entirely possible that your outdoor space might even eclipse your living room inside your home for its overall comfort.
Now you have to decide – do you plan to kick back with a few drinks and some good conversation around the coffee table, or do you plan to host regular dinner parties and get togethers where a more formal dining table will suit your needs. For added leisure, you may want to consider a hammock. From the traditional hanging sling that would be secured between two shade trees, a modern evolution of the hammock now includes standing models suitable for catching some sun on the deck as well as hanging rope hammock chairs and heavy duty swings that provide a comfy spot to settle in to a good book our lounge in luxury.
Umbrellas
While we can appreciate the sun during our seemingly short summer season in Alberta, for optimal comfort, you may want to incorporate an umbrella into your deck design. You can go with the traditional pole-mounted umbrella for over a fixed table top or seating area or consider hanging umbrellas which offer the functionality to be adjusted at different angles to adapt to the sun’s position throughout the day and ensure the best comfort possible. Creating both protection from the sun at the height of summer, but also preventing a hasty retreat indoors due to a light sprinkling of rain, an umbrella is a great addition to many decks to increase the enjoyment of your outdoor space.
Covers
The more plush your outdoor furnishings, the more important to ensure that the cushions and accessories are protected from the elements, especially when the deck furniture will remain in place year round. Purchasing weather-resilient covers offers piece of mind and protection of your investment against the elements. Be sure to shop around as there are a variety of products on the market for this purpose. Some covers are designed to protect an individual item, while others are designed to cover the whole of the furnishings as a group. You can even find specialized covers for popular items such as the hanging porch swing and other items to ensure that they can be stored in place.
Storage
In addition to covers to protect your outdoor furnishings and equipment when not in use, it is important to consider storage for items that you may want to keep readily at hand while you’re using your deck. However, you don’t want to sacrifice prime real estate on the deck surface to incorporate storage. The best remedy to consider is seating which includes a storage component to best incorporate additional capacity into your outdoor space. When looking for products in this genre, you may wish to search for "all weather outdoor storage" or "patio bench" to check out some of the options available to Alberta deck owners.
Lighting
The right lighting for your deck not only sets the mood for the occasion but also increases safety and reduces your personal liability as it relates to the movement of your guests while on site. With the expansion of LED lighting options, both hard-wired and battery-powered, lighting is one area where an Edmonton homeowner can best create an environment that is as individual as their tastes and suits the size, shape and layout of their deck and yard space. Some options include hanging torches and lanterns, landscape lighting, perimeter illumination or even umbrella lights which are affixed beneath the canopy to light up a defined area.
Entertainment Systems
Looking to add a little ambience to your next event or even just to enjoy the solitude with your significant other, outdoor sound systems can provide the soundtrack for your next memorable evening enjoying your deck. With a variety of wired and wireless speaker configurations, you’re in control to create the environment and set the tone for your next get together. It’s important to remember though that you are looking for a system that is designed for the outdoors – that can stand up to the elements and is resilient to the effects of weather and humidity levels throughout the year.
While many outdoor decks have been equipped for sound for many years already, owing to the availability of robust outdoor speakers to help set the mood in any situation, your options for entertaining are expanded with the availability of outdoor televisions that are designed to withstand the elements as well as work optimally even in bright sunlight. With a price range from $1,495 to $7,695, you can decide on the right fit for you. If you plan to host parties to catch your favorite sporting event, or relish the idea of a movie night for two under the stars, outdoor entertaining has added a whole new element.
Pools and Hot Tubs
Many Edmonton decks have incorporated a hot tub or pool either on-deck or counter-sunk for easy access from the deck surface. Above ground swimming pools trimmed with a surrounding deck are much more affordable that the in-ground pools of a generation ago and this has made the option of owning your own pool a much more reasonable investment for many homeowners to entertain. A refreshing swim on a hot summer day can help you to get the most out of your summer and provide hours of enjoyment and activity for the whole family to enjoy.
Similarly, outdoor hot tubs and spas have enjoyed the functionality to extend the outdoor season – with some folks even enjoying the contrast of sinking into the relaxing warmth of their outdoor tub even as the air gets a little crisper in the colder months. This product is also seeing an evolution of its own from the traditional form-fitted model to inflatable versions which are on the market at a fraction of the price. In fact, considering an inflatable spa for a season before committing to a larger, permanent fixture may be a great way to measure the anticipated use of that added amenity to your deck or yard before making that significant investment.
Adapting to the Natural Landscape
For many, the escape to the outdoors in the summer allows the opportunity to get up close and personal with a variety of native birds in their region. Incorporating bird houses and bird feeders may entice winged creatures of all varieties to drop in for viewing. There are a number of bird feeders and bird houses on the market which may be suited to your deck and create that closer to nature feeling. Some owners have even added bat houses to their backyards as bats serve as a natural remedy to the mosquito population.
Depending on the type of birds you would like to attract, there are different models of feeders available. Of course, there are many seed and nut varieties of feeders that are popular with many species, but there are also stylish nectar feeders as well which attract hummingbirds and similar varieties of bird life.
Pest control
One element that doesn’t seem to factor into the overall décor of a deck environment but can contribute to the comfort of all parties, especially during Alberta summers is a pest control strategy to repel mosquitoes and other insects away from your leisure area. Pest control is one area that has seen a great deal of innovation over the past decade including electronic bug zappers, plug-in repellants and more. Sure, you can still find mosquito coils on the market, but now the options include some safer, flameless options that don’t occupy valuable table, counter or railing space that produce great results. Some homeowners may even elect to fog their lawn in advance of hosting an event to further prevent annoying insect interactions while hosting. There are a number of products on the market for both preventive and active pest control for you to choose from.
Added Peace of Mind
Once you have equipped your deck with all of the features and amenities to ensure comfort and luxury, you may want to ensure that you include some additional security to keep your outdoor oasis safe. Without having to lock down each item in place, the addition of security cameras on and around your deck can be a great tool to deter and investigate any uninvited guests into your yard. Combined with signage at the perimeter of the yard and at access points, it can serve as a great deterrent for would-be interlopers. Combined with motion-detecting lights in your yard, security cameras can be obvious or discreetly concealed. In fact, some cameras have been incorporated as part of the design of some of the fixtures identified earlier in this list such as bird houses. Security systems, now offering the functionality for record on motion and other interactivity with mobile devices such as your smart phone create an added level of comfort to protect your investment.
It’s Not Too Early to Plan Ahead
As the temperatures start to dip below zero, we may not be thinking too much about getting outdoors on our deck. However, the one great advantage to winter in Alberta is that it allows you a lot of time to shop and compare the products on this list and create the combination of fixtures and features to create your dream deck and be ready to enjoy your outdoor season to the fullest next summer with an atmosphere that reflects both style and function.
Need some additional advice? At Alberta Vinyl Decking & Railing, we have worked with many homeowners to help create their ideal deck space. Visit our website or drop in to see us in person for some handy tips to get the most out of your deck every summer. For the best advice for Edmonton deck development, repair, renovation and decoration, we’re here to help you.