Adding Value To Your Home With Backyard Improvements

Since the housing market is in a slump, homeowners are finding new ways to add value to their homes while dressing up their own backyard. According to Barbara Corcoran, TODAYShow.com contributor, “People are investing more in the back of their property, and the home-improvement boom is driving that engine. A study by the University of Michigan found that consumers value a landscaped home 11.3 percent higher than the same home without good landscaping.”

Barbara says that less lawn, more trees, outdoor rooms and backyard sanctuaries are important aspects to adding value to your current real estate. “A dining area, dry laid patio, a patch of gravel, a covered patio or an above-grade deck: According to SmartMoney.com, a landscaped patio raises the value of your home by 12.4 percent. Today’s best-selling improvement is a backyard terrace that abuts the family room.“
This is a perfect selling point to dealers who could utilize these statistics when closing a patio furniture or accessory sale. It is important information for sales staff and homeowners alike. Who doesn’t want to be proactive in adding value to their homes, during a time when values are slipping away?

However, it is not enough to simply lay the foundation of a backyard patio, you must also consider placing quality furniture and accessories to create the outdoor living room. Mirror the inside of your home on the outside. Strategically hang drapes around the patio, add the touch of color by placing throw pillows on the furniture and accessorize the tables with appropriate outdoor candles, trays and focal pieces.

There is nothing that you cannot replicate outdoors that you have inside. The beautiful fabrics that are being used to create outdoor drapes are all weather resistant with a soft hand that softens the exterior setting.

Help your customers place the finishing touch on their backyard and they will gain much more than added value, they will have a new comfortable environment that they can live in during the year.

These are my outside views, write a comment and tell me yours.

Showplace, Showcase or Showroom?

Showplace, Showcase, or Showrooms all require attention to Detail & Design. Focusing on revolutionizing the performance, creativity and execution of design is the key to successfully grabbing the attention of buyers, whether they be purchasing product to sell or the actual consumer. The latest development in display is creating buzz in our industry. Some manufacturers have begun to appeal to buyers by offering an all inclusive package for the dealers, a merchandise
concept that not only showcases both casual furniture but adds a touch of romance with an
extensive collection of design oriented accessories.

Utilize these creations to transform an ordinary showplace, showcase or showroom into a Spanish Baroque or a French Renaissance setting to inspire your customers. Customized accessories enrich and define outdoor living spaces. Buyers are seeking an emotional connection to the display, as well as an impassioned connection to the color collections. Creating an environment that reflects the consumer’s indoor rooms is essential for a smooth transition from the inside to the outside. Color will be fresh and tranquil utilizing blue, green with a hint of turquoise, warm and enveloping in the blood orange and brown colors of Tuscany, and contrasting with black and white. Create eye appealing displays using color and accessories while romancing the furniture. Tell a story and you will capture your audience’s attention long enough to close the sale.

Increasing sales and profits is essential to our growing businesses so step out of the box, create interest, romance your customers and offer them everything that encompasses the ideal outdoor living experience.

These are my outside views.

How to Achieve Indoor Style Outside

How do you bring the inside style out? Create an outdoor retreat that allows you and your guests to spill outside from the interior great room. Don’t be afraid to mix chandeliers and old antiques outdoors especially in the outdoor dining areas. Utilize a touch of indoor style and unify the space by adding outdoor drapes, pillows and rugs to complete the look. Don’t be afraid to select fabric for the patio cushions that reflect the indoor appearance, the use of color, pattern and texture in fabrics is an excellent way to reflect the indoor space.

Accessorize the exterior in many different ways. One way is to create a focal point, use an outdoor fountain, fireplace or fire pit. Create a great place to entertain by encouraging guests to stay awhile: strategically place comfortable deep seating around the focal point. Add colorful elements by choosing flowering plants to accent containers scattered throughout the outdoor living space. These containers can sit on the dining table, coffee table, next to a club chair, lounge chair or sofa. Relaxing and communing with nature is as easy as creating a piece of art out of plants and flowers.

Take an existing pot or container, add a couple of colorful flowering plants, some green plants, potting soil and voila! You have created a masterpiece.


Purposefully place these pots around your patio furniture, along an existing wall or table, see the difference that you can make. You don’t have to be an artist, nor do you have to love gardening, but I can assure you that creating a living piece of art will make you feel good and the people who see the finished product will receive a lot of joy. Next select a unique outdoor rug to lie under the table and chairs; round, rectangular and square rugs in a variety of colors and patterns allow you to design a space of your own.

Another example of bringing the inside out is in the use of multiple coordinating fabrics and trims on the drapes that hang from the pavilion or separate the living and dining spaces. Don’t be afraid to use color and texture outside, choose fabrics that make you feel good and reflect the inside décor. Line the drapes with sheers so they look wonderful from both views. Create custom pillows with the use of trims and coordinating fabrics and sprinkle them around the seating area. Lanterns with candles illuminate these outdoor living spaces along with the chandeliers and fire features. Mix and match materials in these outdoor settings, juxtapose wrought iron with glass, steel with terra cotta, wood against woven components, soft chenille textures and linear lines to get a new twist on an old world style.



Outdoor Living is at its best when nature dazzles the eye and nurtures the soul. Create your perfect casual environment inside and out. These are my outside views write a comment and tell me yours?