Extend the Use of Your Outdoor Space

September 26, 2018

Can you feel the weather starting to change? The temperature and humidity have dropped. As we get deeper into fall, extend the use of your outdoor space, to capture to serenity, fresh air, and simple joy of the Columbia, SC, area when a little chill rolls in. As a local homebuilder, McGuinn Hybrid Homes knows how to to make the most of your home (and lifestyle) any time of year. Harvest the fall colors Capture the feeling of the season by bringing an autumn color palette to your outdoor living space. Start with fall container gardens with crimson red, burnt orange, golden yellow, deep plum, and evergreen—asters, mums, petunias, pansies, flowering kale, ornamental cabbage, and succulents. Insert ornamental grasses to add greenery and height For a little more fall feeling, place pumpkins and gourds, in various colors and shapes, around your porch and patio. Show your fall colors with other outdoors accents. Change the cushions and pillows on your furniture to a seasonal theme. Toss some throws on the chairs to get cozy. Spark some warmth A crackling fire creates a cozy environment on your fall patio. If you don’t have a fireplace, add a fire feature—like a fire pit, fire bowl, or chiminea. Plan your sitting area near or around the fire. Keep your marshmallow-roasting tools and supplies close by so you can make s’more fun outside. Fill large jars with ingredients to make it easy to toast, roast, stack, and munch. From a flame to flickers, spread candles around your outdoor living area. Set luminarias along the perimeter to shine soft light. Place candles of varying sizes in safe areas to infuse a cozy touch. LED candles give the same glow, and with a remote control, you can spark the flames without getting out of your chair. Pump up your pumpkin pairing Nothing says “fall” like pumpkins. Carved or not, these gourds represent a healthy harvest season. There are so many choices for pumpkins—colors, sizes, and shapes—as well as fresh and foam (so easy to carve and keep). Here are some ways to use pumpkins for your outdoor decor:

Hollow out a pumpkin and insert a potted plant, like mums. Cluster your pumpkin pots and fill in spots with other pumpkins and gourds.
Craft a topiary of pumpkins, winding a vine or garland of fall leaves around it. You can also paint a message or your house number on the pumpkin topiary.
Use an awl to poke small holes in a hollow pumpkin—either a pattern, a word, or a letter. Place a battery-operated string of mini-lights inside the pumpkin, and push the tiny bulbs through the holes.

Every season in the Columbia area gives you different reasons to get out and enjoy this beautiful area. Whether you are exploring all the fun things to do or relaxing at home, your life takes you indoors and out. If you’re thinking about making a change where you live, look at McGuinn Hybrid Homes—our communities, floor plans for single-family homes and townhomes, new construction homes for sale near Columbia, and the choice to build on your land. Quality, energy efficiency, creativity, and a close personal connection are standard features. Get in touch and let’s get started!