The great outdoors is the place to relax, but with everyone's busy schedules, no one has the time to do that weekend trip to the mountains or the beach. After reading this article you should be able to create your own weekend retreat, right in your backyard. With a little bit of guidance on decorating themes, furniture selections, and placement, you should be on your way to have the backyard everyone envies.

STEP 1

The first step is to find the Decorative Theme. At this point you may want to determine what kind of theme or style you want your backyard to take on. Some examples may include, creating a touch of Paradise, Bohemian Chic, French Country, Southern Plantation, Classic Cottage, Shabby Chic and the list goes on forever. The main focus is to find the look that reminds you of relaxation and comfort. For this article, we are going to go with a Southern Plantation look.

STEP 2

The second step is to find the furniture that goes with your outdoor theme. While searching for the perfect furnishings, keep in mind that comfort should always come first before the appearance. Also, make sure to always do some research on the type of wood used in the construction. Wood choices to consider:

Southern Yellow Pine

Provides a long-term protection from rot, decay and termites. The yellow pine is from the southeast region, where temperatures range from extreme cold to extreme heat, this allows the wood to adjust to any climate. All wood patio furniture is subject to a natural process called "checking". Checking occurs when the wood releases its moisture through its growth rings. This is a normal process and occurs only on the surface of the wood. Checking does not affect the wood's structural integrity.

Teak Wood

Contains natural oil and Silica (sand), which makes it impervious to insects, and wood rot. These substances also help it to maintain its luster for many, many years. Teak will turn to silver gray if left unsealed.

Cedar

Is a softer wood, but repels insects and rot just like the other types of wood. With Cedar being a very lightwood, it is easy to work with and will always have that uncommon smooth-surface. The two most used types of Cedar are the Western Red Cedar and Northern White Cedar, both known for their great color. Left outside in its natural state, cedar will change to silver gray. You can also stain cedar in the color of your choice to match your decor.

Cypress

Is extremely resistant to decay and insects. With its 'grown-in-the-wood' preservative oil, there is no further chemical treatment needed, unless the cypress lumber is in direct contact with the ground. It is dimensionally stable and naturally resistant to splitting and warping. If left unsealed cypress will turn silver gray.

Redwood

Is a natural alternative to pressure treated lumber. It is known that Redwood resists decay caused by the environment and insect infestation. Over time Redwood will weather to a natural silvery-gray tint.

Once you have chosen your decorating theme, the furniture selection should come naturally. Today's interior designers have made it simple for people to find what they want, by making collections under a particular design theme. Since, we have chosen the Southern Plantation theme as the model, we need to look for furniture that represents the Old South. Rocking chairs or primitive furniture will give the look of old, yet classic.

STEP 3

The third and final step is to place the furniture to complete the atmosphere. Furniture placement is very important and one really needs to put some thought into the best place. If you put your furniture to close to the noisy neighbors, you will lose the feel of relaxation and maybe even privacy. The arrangement of furnishings should be tucked away in a spot where you can escape from the outside world. You want your nights of family dinners or reading a book to be enjoyable. Another issue is, if you plan to entertain, positioning the furniture to make a more welcoming setting is the key. Putting the furniture away from the house will make an open invitation to the glare from the sun or the army of insects at night. You want to create a feeling of comfort, so by doing that with the theme chosen, you would put the rocking chairs facing each other for the look of open conversations. By putting all the furniture in groups you are allowing guests to feel at ease to have a chat and the party will be a hit.

With all the information combined, you should be getting closer to your outdoor dream. Just remember to do your research on the type of furniture you may want first, so will enjoy it for years to come!!