Mine be a cot beside the hill;
A bee-hive’s hum shall soothe my ear;
A willowy brook that turns a mill,
With many a fall shall linger near.

Poet’s fantasy, you would say! But honestly, don’t you ever wish to hear the swallow twittering from her clay-built nest or to see ‘the fragrant flower that drinks the dew” springing up from nowhere as soon as the cold spell starts decreasing. Early Spring is the time to enjoy the patio most. However, if you want to enjoy it the whole day long into the nights buy an outdoor patio heater. We the citizens of the twenty first century cannot do without them.

Our earlier generation could. They needed neither the outdoor patio heaters nor the umbrellas. But we do because we are not used to roughing it out anymore. There are different kinds of outdoor patio heaters. Some are designed to be mounted on a fixed place, some are portable, to be taken wherever you choose to sit. Some run on electricity, others on natural gas, yet others on pinion wood. Buy one that suits you, but buy one to stay warm and cozy even when the temperature is decreasing fast.

Now that the winter is almost over, many may want to wait until it is cold again. They may, but outdoor patio heaters are not for winters only. Depending upon where you live, you may need one in early spring and late autumn. The only season that you can do without one is summer, in most places at least. Moreover, if you buy it in advance you can have time to shop around and choose. If you leave it for the last moment, when the chill has already set in, you may have to grab just one and have it installed.

Therefore, take time to surf, take time to choose and take time to buy. In fact, it should be your mantra. You do not need a patio umbrella just now, but if you do not have one start looking for it now. There are so many types of patio umbrellas to choose from that it will simply make your head go round. If you cannot choose, go by themes. Do you like traditional designs or would prefer contemporary? Then you can go region wise too. What would you prefer? European? Oriental? Hawaiian? Or simply contemporary American?

Why not sit down with a paper and pencil and try to draw a rough sketch. Any outdoor space must have plants and if you have soil, start sowing. Otherwise, you will have to depend upon the planters. What kind of plants will you sow? It will mostly depend upon the climate and the soil, though your theme should also matter. It is best to take advice from your local nursery. See, if you can accommodate a small fountain in one corner, some kind of waterfall… with gurgling sound…

Next, comes the furniture with various designs and makes. Did you choose oriental style? Go for resin patio wicker furniture. They look like like natural wicker, but they are made from resin. Resin in itself is a hydrocarbon secretion of coniferous trees. It is a gelatinous liquid capable of hardening and is used in varnishing, glue etc. However, the resin that make wicker like furniture is not natural, but synthetic with the same viscous property. Such furniture is weather resistant and perfect for leaving outdoors twelve months a year, thirty days a month and twenty-four hours a day.

Although resin patio wicker furniture is attractive to look at and comfortable to laze in, if you want something classier try teak patio furniture. Teak grows in the rainforests of South and South East Asia. Unlike most other wood teak is very weather resistant. Therefore, teak furniture can be left out of door twelve months a year… etc. etc. Now buy an Oriental patio umbrella or if you cannot find one, hunt for suitable umbrella cover that will give your patio an Oriental look. Instead of regular heater, you can have fire pits or chimineas to be with the theme.

So, take time to surf, choose and buy. Staying cooped up inside the house is bad for the family’s health. It also promotes irritation, ill temper and frictions. If you decorate your patio nicely, the family will spend more time out under the sun and it will result in:
-    Overall improvement in the family’s heath
-    Increase in productivity and concentration
-    Less irritation and sibling rivalry
-    Less cleaning to do inside the home

Happy browsing!