There are many different ways to enhance your outdoor living spaces and they all start with the same question; what do you like?  What do you like to do?  Do you have specific hobbies or interests that lean to outdoor living?  If you’re a swimmer you may want to put in a pool.  If you’re a baseball coach or have kids that play baseball, you may want to put in an area to practice pitching.  You get the idea.

After deciding if you want to tailor your yard to a hobby, you will then need to decide what kind of decor you like; natural; rustic; modern; vintage; etc.  Do you want to incorporate a deck or fencing or just leave your yard wide open.  Do you need to think about pets, kids or other special situations like having a parent eventually move into your home?  All these things will impact what you want out of your outside living areas.  It may be hard to answer all the questions now but you will be glad you did once your space is completed.

If you like the charm and natural look of cedar, you’re sure to love it as a part of your outdoor landscape. Adding cedar planters, window boxes, Adirondack chairs and even bridges, can really spice up your environment. Look for these at your home improvement store or online and you’re sure to find a variation of each one along with other enjoyable designs.

Cedar doesn’t require a lot of upkeep or maintenance and will stay beautiful for years of pleasure on your deck, porch or patio. Decorate around your pool using planters. Hanging cedar pots are usually available, some already filled with luscious and fragrant blooming plants. If you have a large yard, an ornamental well made of cedar can make a lovely focal point for your flowering garden area.

Wood and vinyl fencing are both desirable, but for different reasons. Wood fencing is attractive, blends well with landscaping, weathers beautifully, can be customized in infinite ways or built to match a historic or distinctive structure, and can be painted or stained to change its look during its useful life. Its downside is that it has a limited lifetime and requires regular cleaning and maintenance, and it is subject to pests. Also, some people dislike the look of weathered wood.

Vinyl fencing is attractive, comes in several styles and colors, is also easily customized using components, never needs painting, is resistant to pests, and better quality models can last for decades with little maintenance. Its downside is that it is not paintable if you want to change the color, and some people dislike the look of vinyl fences.

You may not be able to afford a new deck or patio, but you would like to enjoy sitting outside in a great thought out outdoor space, to either just watch the world go by or to entertain guests. If this is your current situation, there is great news for you.  Consider setting aside a portion of your carport, or purchasing a simple carport to use as an outside patio living area. You can use portable chairs and tables that can be removed and stored when your car needs the protection form the weather, or just set it up and leave it for anytime enjoyment. 

The greatest thing about using a carport is you have cover and shade, it can be installed almost anywhere and it comes in some great colors that will either match or compliment your home.  It can also be permanent or you can use it for other activities like housing a boat, ping pong tournaments and barbeques. 

To make it a friendly, relaxed area, arrange your furniture in a way that is comfortable and promotes conversation. You can also add some planters or pots of tomatoes, herbs or your favorite blooming flowers to add a garden flare and fragrance.  Spruce it up even more with some hanging baskets, wind chimes or ornamental flags that tell your neighbors about you.  You have created a charming space for relaxing and entertaining at a fraction of the cost of installing a deck or porch.  What are you waiting for?

When you first start building a storage shed you will need to consider the size and type of foundation.  You will find you can build some are simple and others can be, if not complex, more work and time.  The cost varies almost as much so you will need to pay attention to that as well.   

You may want to consider placing your storage unit on a permanent foundation, be it concrete slab or other choice, if you plan on living in your current home for quite a few more years.  You might choose a different foundation just so you can move it if you do.  If you plan on moving any building down the road, you will need to take in consideration the length, width and height of the shed as the bigger buildings may really take some effort (that also means paying a much higher price).

Do your research on skid foundations, concrete slab foundations, pier, block & beam foundations as each has their good and not so good features.  It will depend on your application and location as to which one of these will be the best type of foundation for your new storage shed.  Take your time because you will be building on it and you will want it to last.

Five years ago when I built the storage building in my backyard, I thought I had built one that we could easily grow into.  I could not have been more wrong.  Our lack of storage space is now overflowing back into our home.

Had I to do it all over again, here are a few things I would have done differently.

• I would have doubled what I thought I would need in the future
• I would have built more built-in shelves
• I would have added a loft and a lot more pegboard
• I would have built a ramp instead of stairs
• I would have added a door so there would be one on each end
• I would have added a window and electricity for at least one light
• I would have hung a series of hooks for ladders, bikes and other items that could be hung off the floor

If I had to choose one (outside of just more space) I would choose the addition of another door.  When you need that one item that your wife said she only uses once in a blue moon so you put it at the back of the shed…  Well, you know what I mean.  It takes a day to unload the shed, find the item and repack the shed.  At least it gets cleaned out. 

Every do-it-yourselfer knows that there are some things you have to do before you ever start a project.  As much as you know that to be true, let’s face it, there are times we just dive in.  However, if you want to build a shed, that is not the type of project that you can always dive in and get away with the results.  With that said, here are seven questions that will need to be answered before building a storage building or shed.

• Find out from your local building or planning department if you need a permit?
• What is your purpose for the new storage shed?
• How big should it be? Think in terms of how big it should be, not how big it could be. 
• Where should I place my storage unit?
• What type of foundation is best for the location and use of the new shed?
• What style and materials should I use to build it?
• How much will it cost or how much can I afford to spend?

Once you have the answers nailed down, then dive in and have a great time building your new storage building.

Recently while visiting relatives in Colorado, a friend of there’s had us all over and they had just covered their patio with a beautiful attached pergola.  While I had seen pictures and walked under the stand alone pergolas before, I had never seen one that was attached and doubled as the roof for a covered porch.  It was simply beautiful.

If you don’t know what a pergola is, it’s a garden feature structured with an open frame that forms a shade roof, normally for a walkway.  The roof can be made of many things from slatted wood, a trellis; or even wrought iron or vinyl and is supported by four posts.  Many pergolas are cover by different varieties of climbing vines from ivy to roses forming an even denser shade area during the late spring through summer.

You can get a builder to design a pergola that can be attached or simply purchase a pergola kit and attach it yourself.  Of course you will want to make sure you get one that will fit over the area you would like to cover.  It’s just a clever idea.

If you are a person who enjoys gardening and would like to garden year-round, it is possible to continue your hobby throughout the cold winter months.  It simply takes a bit of advance preparation and a dose of dedication to ensure success.

You will want to plant your winter crops around September because this is the best time for a winter crop.  Try setting your plot in a southern direction and under a tree.  The southern direction guarantees the most sunlight, while the tree will shield your precious plants from a lot of the winter weather.  Of course you can always invest in a small or medium greenhouse or cold frame as well to help your growing plants.

Some of the positive elements of gardening in December through March include a lack of a blistering heat, an absence of weeds, and a disappearance of damaging bugs.  Plus your winter wonderland’s colors and smells will make you smile on an otherwise dreary day.  All things to actually look forward too!

It’s the time of year to kick back for part of your weekend and enjoy your favorite college or NFL teams.  If you’re having an issue with sharing your space with a spouse, roommate or kids, it might be a great idea to start making plans to build your own space for next season.  (Face it, if you build it now, you will miss the games!)

Where in your house, inside and out, can you squeeze out some space that you can call your own?  It may be in a garage, on a patio, a spare room, basement or covered porch.  It doesn’t really matter where it is; just that there is some place you can call your own.

Start with that space in mind and visualize how you would want to transform the area into your very own TV and entertainment zone.  Start saving a little money every week or month to put toward the renovation for next spring or summer.  Make a few small purchases to keep you motivated and focused on the project and when its right take action and do it!