As the days and nights grow chilly, you may find yourself spending more time indoors. While some people love the temperature changes that come with the change of seasons, others find themselves staring out their window and wishing that they could sit on their beloved porch or patio.
However, if the idea of packing up your outdoor furniture for the winter makes you feel depressed, there are a few ways to continue to utilize your outdoor spaces despite the chilly temperatures. While you still might have to pack up your outdoor belongings before it snows, one of the following tips may allow you to extend the use of your porch.
Bring out blankets
Depending on your budget, one of the most cost-efficient options is bringing blankets and pillows outside with you. This option works best when you have a cushioned, all-season outdoor furniture set. When the days start to get chilly, just bring curl up outside with your blankets and pillows and enjoy watching the leaves fall. This obviously isn’t a solution you’ll be able to use all winter and you’ll need to bring your blankets and pillows in each night, but it is a simple way to extend the use of your outdoor space. To make things even cozier, bring some hot chocolate or hot tea out with you!
Add a heat source
One of the most popular options to continue using your porch on chilly nights is to invest in some sort of outdoor heat source, such as a fire pit, patio heater, or chiminea. All of these options range in price and style, making it easy to find a heat source that will meet the needs of your family.
For individuals that like hosting parties or spending time outdoors as a family, a fire pit can be a nice way to create a warm and cozy atmosphere. Fire pits usually require coal, gas, or wood to burn. Fire pits are designed to help contain the fire, which makes them perfectly safe to keep on your porch. If you like the ambiance of a crackling fire, but want something decorative, consider purchasing a chiminea. Chimineas are very similar to firepits, but they look more like a traditional fireplace and chimney to help contain smoke.
If you’re not worried about a fire and just want a way to keep your porch warm, you’ll want to invest in a patio heater. Patio heaters either use gas, electric, or solid fuel to help keep your porch toasty. They come in a range of styles, including portable ones that sit on tabletops and ones that permanently mount to the side of your house.
Warm-up in a hot tub
If your goal is to simply get outside and relax in the evenings, a hot tub is a great way to continue using your outdoor space even when temperatures drop below freezing. A quick 20-minute soak in a hot tub can help you warm up on cold nights. To help keep yourself warm after getting out of the hot tub, invest in a pair of warm slider shoes and a robe. Keep in mind that hot tubs do require maintenance. For example, you have to regularly change the water and keep the tub covered when you’re not using it.
Invest in a pergola
Many dream of enclosing their deck or porch to create a sunroom, so that they can use it all-year long. If that isn’t in your budget, an alternative is purchasing a pergola. Many think that pergolas are only meant to provide shade in the summertime, but they can also keep you warm in cooler weather. Thick outdoor curtains around your pergola can help block the cool air. To further winterize your pergola, you can also place clear, thick plastic on three sides of your pergola, place the curtains on the outside of plastic, and then enjoy the views.
A covered pergola is perfect for storing your patio furniture and your grill. Winterizing your pergola with a cover also helps protect the frame of the pergola from the harsh winter elements. Once it is covered, you can further increase the warmth of the structure by bringing a patio heater inside with you.
Conclusion
Don’t let the cool weather get you down! There are several different ways that you can warm up your porch so that you can enjoy your backyard all year long. Blankets and heat sources can allow you to continue using your porch in chilly weather, but if you want to continue to use your outdoor space when it snows, you’ll need a hot tub or a pergola.
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