Comforting Accents
That Livable Touch
It is a real achievement to have our outdoor living room so homelike in its spirit that upon entering one feels instantly welcome and content to remain. An outdoor room that has that livable touch is one that definitely appears to be lived in and through its arrangement and furnishings seems instantly to make one desire to pause and enjoy the loveliness of it all.
While Nature will go a long way with us in establishing a carefree spirit in our outdoor living room, it is up to us to supply that livable touch. Just like in the indoor living room, the choice and arrangement of the furnishings has everything to do with making the character of the room and determining our response to it.
Comfortable furnishings for the outdoor living room cannot be divorced from shade and shelter. Almost every part of the grounds will be in sunlight during the day, so the furnishings should be chosen with this in mind. Some seats, such as those under a shelter, may be permanent. Others should be portable to allow movement as needed. Also desirable is to have a chair or two in the full sunlight, for both occasional use and decorative purposes.
Seats that invite rest and leisurely admiration of pleasing vistas help make the outdoor living room a place of genuine enjoyment. When properly placed, they also improve the general appearance of the room, help give it definite form and character and lend a hospitable atmosphere.
A seat may be featured in a spot created especially for it by some special background planting or unique setting. Such spots of interest enhance the charm of the landscape scheme and help lift it out of the commonplace.
The combination of seat and shelter is frequently made the center of interest in the small outdoor living room. On the other hand, a seat that has only a wall or fence or clump of shrubbery as a close-up background can make an equally admirable feature. A single seat placed beside a pool, before a fountain or even in the open lawn is often delightfully effective.
We should consider the placement of our seats also from the standpoint of their outlook over the ground. Naturally it is desirable to have this outlook pleasing, intriguing and pictorially attractive. Every well-planned garden room will have several of these possibilities.
Garden seats are available in many styles and many materials. Alternatively, the owner himself may choose to construct his own. The greatest variety of seats, tables and other furniture is found in those made of attractively painted wood. Others are available in artificial stone construction, designed along classic lines and especially suited to the formal garden room. Still other chairs and settees are made of hickory, reed, enameled wood or metal for use with a garden umbrella and table.
Sets of garden furniture consisting of swing seats, chairs, tables and bright colored umbrellas are a source of outdoor enjoyment and bring increased charm and attractiveness. They may be purchased in all color combinations and they are especially effective in developing a colorful flair in the outdoor living room. They also offer the particular advantage of being easy to move to any part of the grounds. Furniture in our outdoor living room gives the look of an abiding place.