Cozy Nooks: Creating a Secret Outdoor Place
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Article by: Debbie Rodgers Everyone seems to love a secret -- and when the secret is a nook in your outdoor , The Answer Lies In The Soil space, all the better. A nook is defined as a private or secluded quiet inner place. , Cold Weather and Frozen Pipes Any outside , Home Is Where The Heart Is space, from a balcony to an acre estate can benefit from including a nook. Here are points to consider: Purpose It doesn't make any sense to set up a secluded garden , Dealing with Rose Diseases reading bench , Planning Next Year's Garden if you never have the time to pick up a book. But maybe you'd like to spend 15 minutes in the morning over coffee with your partner, or want to have a quiet spot for conversing with a special friend. Or maybe your nook will be an intimate dining space for four. Consider what you really want to do with your outside , How to Grow Red Oak Trees Near Quakertown Pa space and then make your nook available for that. Otherwise, you'll end up with a space that's lovely to look at but seldom used. Mystery Much of the charm of a nook is the secrecy of the space. To achieve this, hide the furnishings at least partially from view. In a garden , Framing--the Backbone of your Log Cabin you might do this with a fence, the wall , 10 Ways to Survive Building or Remodeling Your Home of an outbuilding or a hedge. , Inspecting Your New Home - 17 Areas You Must Inspect Before On a porch , Eight new ways to decorate for the holidays or balcony, consider using fabric panels or drapes, pots , A Guide To Residential Bridges and planters or a decorative screen. Lattice screening is especially appropriate to create a nook area on a deck. , Holiday Decorating Can Cast A Warm Glow All Year If your space is small, consider keeping the height of any dividers under 4 ft. That will allow for a feeling of privacy in the nook, yet not completely cut off the visual flow of the space. Boundaries Hiding the furnishings from view may also help with another design , Thinking about building a Log Cabin? principle that should be applied in your nook -- defining the boundaries of that space. A nook is often closed in on three sides by walls, , Eight new ways to decorate for the holidays plantings, trees, , Inspecting Your New Home - 17 Areas You Must Inspect Before arbors, fences and so on. You can also define the nook's space by changing the flooring , Healthy Soil for a Healthy Garden in that area. This might mean a few flagstones in the grass; a different color , Planting the Sunset Red Maple Tree of stain (or a painted faux rug) on the deck; or a scatter mat on a protected balcony or porch. , Framing--the Backbone of your Log Cabin Consider, too, the ceiling. A leafy bough overhead, a pergola or a ring of mosquito netting can all serve as a roof , The Answer Lies In The Soil for the area. It's not necessary to have three walls, , Dealing with Rose Diseases and a delineated floor , The Answer Lies In The Soil and a roof, , Rose Gardening Challenges but at least some of these elements will help define the nook and create the cozy feel of a hideaway. A well-defined point of entry also adds to the welcoming effect. Comfort What furnishings your nook will hold depends on your use for it. But whether it's a reading chair, , Spting Flower Gardening a conversation bench , How to Grow Red Oak Trees Near Quakertown Pa or a small dining table, be sure the furniture , Lamp Shades Decorate a Room is comfortable to use. Seating should support you properly and tables should be the proper height for relaxing dining. Side tables for coffee or books should be easily accessible. If you'll be reading in the evening, you'll want to consider lighting that is restful to your eyes. And have always have lots of cushions and pillows so you can sink into them! Finishing Touches Try to include some greenery in your nook if it isn't there naturally. It will add color, , More About Butterly Gardening texture and luxury to the space. If you can, include a favorite piece of whimsy that personalizes your nook. Remember that, although the view looking into your nook is half the fun, the view looking out can add immeasurably to the pleasure of the time you spend there. Keep it in mind when you're situating your space. Use these principles and create a secret nook that will give unexpected delight to you and your guests alike. Debbie Rodgers, the haven maven, owns and operates Paradise Porch, , Thinking about building a Log Cabin? and is dedicated to helping people create outdoor , Fall Prep Work Makes for a Green Spring living spaces that nurture and enrich them. Her latest how-to guide "Attracting Butterflies to Your Home , Peace of Mind for Inspections: Choose the Right Inspect and Garden" is now available on her web , Planting Instructions For Trees and Plants site. Visit her at www.paradiseporch.com and get a free report on "Eight easy ways to create privacy in your outdoor , Inspecting Your New Home - 17 Areas You Must Inspect Before space". Mail to debbie@paradiseporch.com |
  
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