Creating an outdoor space that is comfortable and inviting is the goal of many homeowners this summer. Whether you want to utilize the outdoors as an extension of your home to host large parties and gatherings or to build your own personal outdoor sanctuary, there is a simple approach you can employ to begin planning for the design of this space.

Getting Starting
Stop, look, imagine. Many of us begin the design process inside our homes by looking for inspiration in magazines, showrooms and specialty stores. The same strategy should be used when designing for the outdoors. Begin by studying the space. Take an inventory of its current features from several different angles. Which features do you want to retain and which do you want to play up? Remember to view the space from the interior of the house. If the pool is the focal point of the outdoor space, what is the image of that space from the inside? Is it tranquil or inviting or hard and barren? As the seasons change and the outdoor space is not used, you will want to ensure that the year-round view is still pleasant and interesting. 

After you have finished taking inventory, it is time to let your imagination take over. How do you imagine this space being used? Whether or not the space is currently used in that capacity is irrelevant. With the right design and accessories you can influence what the space will become. For example, if you love to cook and enjoy casual entertaining around the pool, then you will want to adapt your design to suit your preference. A built-in grill, comfortable furniture and a gazebo that provides respite from the hot sun will encourage guests to linger, relax and socialize. If your pool functions as the centerpiece for more formal entertaining, such at outdoor soirees, you may consider creating a classical and elegant environment with lushly planted containers, fountains and statues.

All the Comforts of Home
As you begin to feel comfortable about your vision for the space, you're ready for the next step of the process accessorizing! Gone are the days when outdoor accessories consisted of a radio and hibachi. Today, many of the items you feel are essential to indoor entertaining may be just as important outdoors. Music, lighting and climate control, are often overlooked, but can go a long way to make your outdoor room fully functional. Because of the recent surge of interest in decorating outdoors, there are wide ranges of products on the market that are specifically designed for outdoor use. 

Music is by far one of the more popular home accessories to have found its way outdoors. When people socialize, music is key, whether it is in the background or the highlight of the party. Several manufacturers have taken aesthetics into consideration and have designed speaker rocks that can be unobtrusively placed outdoors among your plantings allowing you to channel high quality sound to your back yard. 

Lighting is another key feature of outdoor design. Night lighting can ensure that when the sun sets your party is not brought to a screeching halt. There is an extensive variety of light fixtures available ranging from unobtrusive accent lights to more vibrant lighting. Lighting can be used to accentuate specimen trees, ornaments and sculptures. When considering lighting, it is important to light that special piece from at least two directions in order to bring drama and depth to the space. All day lighting can be an effective design element, especially when used with a water feature to highlight the motion of water or to draw attention to water droplets. During the evening, fountain lighting can showcase the beauty of the feature and create a focal point.

An important, but often-overlooked accessory, is heating. Mexican chimneys are becoming as popular an accessory as the patio table. Beautiful and practical, heaters can extend your outdoor entertaining season. Recently, manufacturers have expanded their line of outdoor heaters, which are not only functional but are attractive enough to be used as architectural elements of objects d'art.

Furnishing the Room
These days, everybody is doing it! Top designers and manufacturers have all gotten in on it -designing garden furniture. The range of price and style is dizzying, and there really is something out there to satisfy the pocketbook and taste of most people. When choosing furniture, ease of maintenance is often an important consideration and homeowners can easily find both quality and durability galore in an unlimited selection of patio tables, chairs, lounges and settees, available in a range of materials such as wrought iron, wood or aluminum. Cushions can add color and comfort. Although you may prefer to choose a style that complements your indoor decorating style, decorating outdoors presents an opportunity to experiment with new styles and let your imagination run wild.

Outdoors, as well as indoors, color is a key component of decorating. Color can set a mood or create atmosphere. No color is taboo outdoors. However, some colors are more effective than others. For example, dark colors absorb heat, therefore, light colors work better for lounge chairs in sunny spots, although pure white may create undesirable glare. In very bright areas, neutral colors stay quiet and are not as sensitive to the sun's bleaching effect. Whites and lighter colors are often recommended for shady areas and yellows in north facing spaces.

The Balancing Act
Just as a dazzling piece of jewelry is the piece de resistance to a fabulous outfit, interesting accessories can energize a beautiful outdoor space. Don 't be afraid to let your personality shine through. If you adore frogs, position a fanciful frog planter on your patio table, or, to really make a statement, there are enormous stone frogs available. These added touches are conversation starters and truly personalize a space. Choosing planters, statues, water features and bird feeders in classical or whimsical styles or from a specific culture or historical period will let your personality shine through and add another level of interest to your space. More and more people with beautiful art indoors are also using original figurative or modern sculptures in the garden. Whatever you select should be in the proper scale. Sizes needed are often underestimated outdoors. If there are large plants surrounding the pool area, then the ornament or artwork should be large enough to fit properly into the setting. If you are designing a personal retreat, a small-scale water feature might be more appropriate. Always choose what you like but make sure it isn't overwhelmed or dwarfed by the surroundings.

The next time you relax by your pool or in your garden ask yourself, "Is this space all it can be?" If the answer is no, sometimes a few simple touches can bring warmth and personality to a space. Keep in mind that during the summer, the amount of time spent outdoors will rival the amount of time spent indoors. Shouldn't your outdoor space be as inviting as the interior of your home?

Elizabeth Schumacher is the owner of West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania-based Garden Accents, a provider of fine garden ornaments, statuary, accessories and furniture. In addition to these items that Schumacher collects on her world travels, she provides personal services for her clients. Whether it is searching for a particular accessory, contracting with an artist to create an original piece of art, or visiting a client's home to determine a fitting architectural element, Schumacher is enthusiastic about helping her clients create a unique, personal outdoor sanctuary.

Garden Accents is located at 4 Union Hill Road, West Conshohocken, PA. For additional information, call 610.825.5525.