Transform your outdoor space into a cozy winter

If you live in a temperate climate, here are a few tips to help you stay warm and comfortable and enjoy the days and evenings on your front porch or patio.

While it’s certainly true that sitting on a patio in the middle of winter isn’t realistic in some parts of the world, for those of us who live in temperate climates, there’s no reason to leave your outdoor space unused for months on end. If you want to be out on your front porch or patio even when the wind is blowing, add a winter touch that will add warmth and coziness to your outdoor space.

Insulation using rugs and curtains

Adding an indoor-outdoor rug and thick outdoor curtains to your covered porch can provide a base layer that blocks drafts and invites outdoor activities. Neutral colors for more permanent pieces look appropriate all year round, and you can dress them up with new pillows come spring.

Pile on pillow

The more, the warmer it gets. Not only do the pillows look cozy. It makes your outdoor bench more comfortable and provides a cozy hug to keep you warm while you sit on it. For colder months, choose pillows with different textures and warm colors. If your seating area is exposed to the elements, place a storage bench nearby and store pillows there whenever it’s not in use.

 Warm the seat

If you want to make your outdoor dining or lounge area more inviting in cool weather, pile some soft, plush faux sheepskin indoors and place them on top of the seats when you’re ready to sit down. If your chair has cushions even if your outdoor space is covered, it’s a good idea to keep them indoors to keep them warm until you’re ready to use them.

Lean against the wall

If you want to use your patio more often in the winter, it may be helpful to use the walls as a windbreak. Pull the sheet over the side of your house or place it next to a garden wall to protect it from the wind.

Light a fire

Consider adding an outdoor fire feature. The appeal of gathering around a warm fire on a winter evening is undeniable. And it doesn’t even have to be built-in. A simple furnace can also work well.

Bring extra blankets

There is a neatly folded throw behind each chair to make it feel welcoming and easy to cover when it gets cold. Roll up extra blankets and place them in a basket near the door so your warm blanket isn’t too far away.

Raise the windbreaker

It’s not something that can be accomplished in one season, but if you’re willing to wait, growing a windbreak is effective and environmentally friendly. Ask a landscape designer or someone at your local nursery to find out which vines or shrubs are suitable for your area and will stay green all winter.

Cast a shade

Adding a simple shade that can be pulled up to a covered porch can provide some cushioning from the wind. Tie it to the floor. Otherwise, it will flutter in all directions with the first wind.

Make your lights magical

More light is always welcome during the short days of winter, and a well-lit patio or porch is much more inviting. If you have a pergola or other overhead structure, weaving white lights into it is a great way to bring your outdoor space to life at night.

Find outdoor string lights

Just one or two string lights hanging from a railing or climbing a tree can create a mystical atmosphere. And you don’t have to wait for it to power on. Even on cloudy days, the soft glow of the patio lighting is beautiful.