How To Care For Your Outdoor Space in the Winter
As those of us in the Midwest are well aware, no matter how warm fall is, winter always comes with a vengeance and stays much longer than we’d like. While we couldn’t be more excited for snowy adventures and cozy days curled up inside, winter comes with a lot of maintenance for homeowners. We love creating incredible outdoor spaces for our clients– whether it’s a lakeside hangout, a pool bungalow, or a deck fit for hosting. While we’re designing it’s essential to keep in mind how the space will function in all four seasons.
To kick off December, we’re sharing with you our insider tips for caring for your outdoor space and outdoor furniture during the winter season.
#1: PLAN AHEAD WHILE DESIGNING YOUR OUTDOOR SPACE
The key to beautiful, long-lasting outdoor spaces is to plan ahead for every season of the year. When we’re designing an outdoor space for a client, even if the space will mainly be used in the warm months, we always choose outdoor performance fabrics for all of our furniture, pillows, and throws, as well as outdoor fills or inserts for pillows (and, yes, there is a difference between indoor and outdoor pillow fills!). This will guard against damage from the weather year-round, and will prevent your pillows from getting moldy due to humidity and moisture.
Of course, when winter rolls around its best to bring in all of your outdoor cushions, pillows, and throws for safekeeping inside. We also recommend using the winter season as the perfect time to deep-clean all of your outdoor items to make sure they’re in the best shape possible for next summer.
#2: CONSIDER A CLEANING & STORAGE SERVICE
A great option to consider if you’re low on extra storage space or just want to make your life a little bit easier in the winter is to consider hiring a cleaning and storage service. There are many reliable, professional services that will come pick up all of your outdoor cushions, clean them, and then store through the winter for a flat fee.
At North Shore Nest, we’re always happy to recommend dependable cleaning and storage services to our clients to assure their items are in the best care possible.
#3: CARE FOR YOUR RUGS
Even though most outdoor rugs are designed to withstand rain, wind, and weather, we always recommend that our clients bring their rugs indoors through the winter to prolong their use and keep them looking new and clean.
When it comes time to bring your rugs in for the season, start out by giving them a thorough shake to remove the dust and debris. The cold season is also a great opportunity to vacuum your rugs and give them a deep clean if they’re in need of one. Just make sure they are completely dry before you roll them up and store them away.
#4: TAKE PRECAUTIONS AGAINST CRACKED FURNITURE
We love curating a variety of different textures, metals, and materials to add depth to an outdoor space, but many of our favorite materials like stone or glass are prone to cracking when the weather drops below freezing. This means that winter is also the time to bring in any of your stone or glass furniture, while aluminum and titanium-based furniture can stay. You should also plan to bring in any stools, planters, or decor that could crack to store safely inside during the cold months.
And if any of your umbrella bases are filled with water, be sure to drain the bases before the water freezes and cracks. You’ll only make that mistake once!
#5: INVEST IN HIGH-QUALITY OUTDOOR COVERS
Outdoor furniture covers are a game changer, and investing in high-quality outdoor furniture is critical no matter where you live. Outdoor furniture covers will protect your furniture year-round and prolong its life. Even if you live in a mild-climate, covers will help protect against rain and prevent the sun’s UV rays from dulling the fabric colors and aging the wood.
At North Shore Nest, we’re huge fans of the Summer Classics brand of furniture covers, which can be purchased through Frontgate, or directly through us to ensure the perfect size, fit, and color. Be sure to find covers that are waterproof, durable, and are made with fade resistant fabric to protect your cherished furniture from the elements.
If you’re dreaming of warmer days already, we’d love to connect about designing your perfect outdoor space. Submit a Project Inquiry today.
