AcreageLife March 2025 | Page 9

Country Journal Portal to Paradise

Country Journal Portal to Paradise

A Haven of Relaxation on a Budget

The style of outdoor rooms can be wide-ranging. With clever styling and planting, you can create a spring outdoor oasis even on a small budget.

• Surfaces and Screens: Create your own decor. There are all kinds of borders and boundaries you can use to frame your space and divide it into distinct areas. Select authentic and sustainable materials. Pergolas you already have in the garden and plant supports will establish a framework for plants to climb and blur surface edges.

• Lighting and Heating: Light and heat in outdoor spaces create a cozy, magical glow and allow you to linger longer outside. Hanging lanterns, lamps and candles add life and color to an outdoor setting. String lights are a cost-effective choice! Plus, outdoor stoves and fireplaces are inviting when the spring temperatures dip at night.

• All-Weather Fabrics and Textiles: Shading, textiles and linens from a discount store can lend a cozy look to our outdoor“ living room” and have an essential role on your porch. Cushions are perfect for hard seating and benches and rugs also make the ground more comfortable. You can also try making your own pillows for a splash of color.

With these budget-friendly tips, you can create a space that’ s both stylish and functional, perfect for soaking up the beauty of spring. Now, grab a glass of lemonade and relax on your refreshed porch.

Elements of Design for Patios

Five key elements hold the key to crafting a space that’ s bursting with personality. Whether you’ re aiming for bold and lively or soft and serene, these elements will help you create the ultimate retreat where you can unwind and relax.

Color Themes

Spring is all about life and energy, so choose vibrant colors like tulip reds, daffodil yellows and hyacinth purples to reflect the season’ s brilliance. Pair complementary tones for harmony or go bold with contrasting shades to make your pots pop.

Size( Can) Matter

When designing the layout for your spring porch or patio, tall flowering plants like foxgloves or lupines( these bloom in late spring) can create dramatic height, while low-growing ground covers like creeping phlox add a delicate touch. Be mindful of proportion to prevent smaller plants from being overshadowed by larger ones. colors. Try mixing flowering shrubs like forsythia with perennials like hellebores for a layered look. Add ornamental grasses for an extra textural element that complements blooms.

Deco Pots

Decorative pots are a quick way to elevate the charm of your spring oasis. Choose pots in bright, playful colors to match the season’ s theme, or classic terracotta for a timeless look and use them to showcase your favorite flowers, herbs or even small shrubs. Place them strategically on patios, entryways or garden paths to draw the eye.

Furniture

Your patio furniture should be as inviting as your plants. Spring is the perfect time to bring out colorful cushions or repaint wood furniture in bright shades that echo your garden’ s blooms. Aim for pieces that not only suit your porch’ s personality but also harmonize with the overall design.

Plant Combos

Creating the perfect plant combinations is an art— pair tulips with grape hyacinths for a burst of complementary

Every piece should serve a purpose, whether it’ s a cozy bench for reading or a sturdy table for outdoor dining, make sure functionality complements style.