|
It’s five o’clock somewhere, so fire up that grill, mix that margarita and head out back. Kicking back on your porch or patio with friends and neighbors is the perfect alternative to hitting the bar scene. Get the right furniture and décor, and you might decide to start sleeping next to your garden gnomes.
Begin by scouting out the perfect tables and chairs for your space and taste. Almost every outlet, Web site and store offers a set or individual piece purchase option. Buying a set usually doesn’t mean getting a discount. Most companies tend to present a collection with a hefty price tag, then list each item in the collection for individual sale. Target and Wal-Mart are two exceptions to the rule. These colossal dealers sell their sets as sets and their tables as tables — both complete with low price and “Made in China” stickers.
So if you’re the guy who rides on “empty” for a week and lives out of 33-cent boxes of Kraft Mac & Cheese, Sam Walton once again has your “rolled-back” solution. Wal-Mart’s six-piece Delahey set includes four chairs and a table for only $268. Your 33-cent intuition might be telling you that’s 812.12 cheesy meals (those math classes paid off for something), but with other retailers advertising just one chair for that price, you picked the right one, baby.
Wal-Mart also offers patio-perfect Adirondack chairs for under $60. (Just 3 cents under, but who’s counting?) These colorful creations come in green, yellow, pink and white. Buy a set of two chairs with two ottomans for only $178. While Walton doesn’t offer to Clemson-ize your Adirondacks with that perfect shade of orange quite yet, Unique Patio & Home Décor will. Visit www.uniquepatiohomedecor.com to request your personalized team-spirit rocker.
If you’re the do-it-yourself type, visit your local paint store to customize your patio furniture. Make sure to choose a paint recommended for outdoor use (100 percent acrylic exterior latex paint in stain, semi-gloss or gloss depending on the look you want). Add some polka dots, stripes or other funky designs to spruce up your outdoor space.
For those of you who didn’t snag the Picasso gene but did manage to cajole your way to Daddy’s Visa card, MacKenzie-Child’s pieces are for you. These vibrant, eclectic tables, pots and more add the perfect girly touch. Sorry guys, get a grill.
Pottery Barn, Crate & Barrel and Frontgate are three others to check out for high quality, super chic furniture and patio accessories. Warning: Proceed to these stores only if you have won the lottery or come by a hefty inheritance check recently.
An expensive taste with no deceased relatives can be satiated with some fairly inexpensive touches. Hang a set of colored lantern lights (some are even solar-powered), or add candles, a personalized doormat or wall sculpture for punch without the price.
So trash those fake Bambis and start making your neighbors jealous with real backyard style.
|
