Outdoors is in for home living, especially in environments as appealing as what we have in Greater Prescott.
But given rising land prices and the desire of many to have a lower-maintenance yard, you may not have enough outside square footage to have a full dining or living room set and organic vegetable garden.
People are learning to maximize their side yards, balconies, patio homes and other small-lot gateways to the outdoors with streamlined furniture and other adaptations that can make the outdoors as great as they are on a ranch or estate:
- Bistro sets — The quintessential small-space set, they typically come with two chairs and one smallish table, which can be as low as a coffee table or tall enough for two to enjoy a decent meal together. Many are foldable, and some come with an umbrella or leave room for one to be inserted. They’re made of materials ranging from wicker to iron, so make sure you’re getting one suited for your year-round climate, or have a place to store it during the winter.
- Lounge chairs — It may not look like you have room for one, but you don’t need a chaise lounge to kick back. Many chairs have enough seat room and cushioning to encourage you to lean back and inhale the fresh, pine-scented air you moved here to experience without requiring the space of an Adirondack chair.
- Stools and poufs — These can be the heavy hitters of your small space, functioning as extra seating, side tables, ottomans, footstools, game tables or more, depending on their height. Many barstools are stackable for space and poufs are some of the most adaptable things around for outdoor or indoor use.
- Planters — They bring the greenery even closer to you and come in all sizes and shapes, so there will be something that will work for your space. Concrete, ceramic, terra cotta, plant stands, rail and window boxes all work, and you can even try vertical planters that turn your walls into gardens.
