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Create A Summer Sanctuary--On A Budget

Posted: 8/5/2010

Think of your outdoor space as an extension of your home.

(NAPSI) -You can create a relaxing outdoor retreat on any budget. Target Style Expert for Home, Sabrina Soto, offers these smart, affordable tips:

Have A Seat

Think of your outdoor space as an extension of your home. Color and comfort are two key factors. If you have a lot of space and entertain often, opt for a larger table. Folding chairs and cushions can add extra seating.

Add colorful, outdoor, water-resistant pillows for extra comfort. Soto advises that not all furniture has to match, but cushions and pillows should coordinate.

If you have room for a separate lounging or dining area, use outdoor area rugs and furniture made from different materials to define the spaces. The dining area could include wrought iron or wood furniture and your seating area could be wicker or fabric based. Set an outdoor recliner or hammock in a shady spot for "solo" time.

For smaller spaces such as an apartment balcony, add privacy with a divider screen or trellis. Then, dress up your space with window boxes or small planters for a personal garden.

Kids' Corner

Designate a separate area for the kids. Add a child-sized picnic table that can be used for crafts as well as meals. An inflatable pool or dual-racing water slide can provide cool relief and hours of family-friendly entertainment.

To beat the heat with a cool treat, consider a snow cone station. The Snow Cone Maker from Target lets kids choose from delicious flavors such as cherry, blue raspberry and watermelon. At just $2.49 per packet, you'll be keeping the kids busy and cool all summer long.

Let There Be Light--And Shade

"There are many different ways to utilize lighting in your outdoor space," says Soto. "String lights are a fun and affordable option, while solar-powered lighting is one of my favorites. I love the warm glow they add to an outdoor setting." Sabrina suggests hooking up outdoor lights to a timer so that they turn on automatically at night.

Candles work for any environment. Whether you want flameless candles for kids' safety or votives for a romantic touch, there are endless scents and colors to match your decor. Soto advises using citronella candles to ward off flies and mosquitoes.

Set up seating areas to take advantage of shade or opt for a table with a built-in umbrella. You can also get portable shade canopies to create shade anywhere.

Outdoor Dining

Have fun with your table setting. Spice things up without spending a fortune by mixing and matching dinnerware, pitchers, platters and place mats. Available in many different shades and patterns, melamine dinnerware can help create a colorful dining experience and starts at prices as low as $1.49.

Bringing everything outside to the grill can be cumbersome unless you have the proper transporters. Picnic baskets, which start at just $14.99, are great for carrying the essential burger buns and condiments and then can be used to hold extra items to make room on the table.

For more low-priced products and fun summer ideas, visit www.Target.com.

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