Mixing solids and prints gives your patio furniture style and helps hide wear and tear.

As the days get longer and the sun shines brighter, we will return to our patios for outdoor living. If you are thinking toward summer like I am, here are some tips for improving your patio space.

Most outdoor furniture lasts a long time because it is made to be durable and withstand weather’s worst. But even if your cushions are covered in outdoor fabric, they take a beating from sun and rain. Fortunately, it’s easy to get your outdoor cushions recovered, and it gives your whole patio a new feel and look. We work with a couple of outstanding area upholsterers who will recreate your cushions using in-stock or special-order fabrics.

Group your patio furniture into "rooms" to give the space purpose and flow.

I like to mix up the patterns a bit on those fabrics. For example, if your outdoor furniture includes a sofa and chairs, you might use a solid fabric on the sofa and stripes or another print on the chairs. Toss in some colorful pillows to add even more interest.

As you choose outdoor fabrics, remember the dirt factor. That light beige might be really pretty on your dark furniture, but it won’t be so great after your kids climb on it. Instead, look to patterns for hiding wear and tear.

If you have a large patio space, consider grouping furniture much like you would inside your home. For example, you might have a sitting area, a dining area and a firepit area. Lay outdoor rugs within each space to provide room “borders,” and add potted plants in various sizes as accents. And don’t forget to block the sun—if you don’t have a patio cover or pergola, an umbrella offers yet another punch of color to your outdoor living room and keeps those rays at bay.

Need new outdoor furniture? Turn to iron first. It lasts better than wood outdoors, and it can be painted. Some coated rattans are also quite durable. We favor Vista-based Sunset West, who offers several patio lines that are really great quality.

Most important: once patio season is over, be sure to cover your furniture and store your cushions. If you do, you’ll find they are fresh and ready for the next season, saving you time and money.

If we can help spruce up your patio for spring, or with any of your design needs, please contact us.

This whimsical table lamp adds light and color to a casual room.

It’s that time of year again—this weekend we turn back our clocks and get ready for darkness. Well, that sounds a little gloomy, but if your family is like mine, the winter months are a bit of a downer because we enjoy being at the beach and doing outdoorsy things, which is difficult to do when it gets dark at 4:30 in the afternoon.

The good news is it’s time to turn on the lights! Yes, the silver lining of those early nights is we get to showcase our lamps, pendants and chandeliers. And if you’ve been to decorator shows or stores like Restoration Hardware lately, you know lighting has taken a fun and crazy turn. I’ve even gone a little wild with the lights I’ve chosen for my own home remodel (more on that in another blog post). They’re funky—and I love them!

Some of the new lighting you might see are fixtures with pulleys and upside-down baskets. Chandeliers have gone from traditional to everything-goes—including pillar candles, orbs and even birdcages (no Tweeties allowed, though!). Kitchens are getting metal pendants with chalkboards on them that you can write on. Meanwhile, table lamps have unusual stands, such as tripods or vintage bottles.

Inspired by the work of 19th-century experimental physicist Léon Foucault, this Twin-Orb Iron Chandelier is reminiscent of a gyroscope.

Now, don’t get so caught up in these cool fixtures that you forget their purpose, and that is to light your rooms so you can see, especially on these darker days. Keep in mind how many watts your circuits can handle as you purchase lighting. It’s best to go as bright as you can and install dimmer switches that allow you to set the mood you want.

Many California tract homes don’t have ceiling lights, so consider adding recessed lighting, especially in your family room and hallways. It can be an unwanted expense to install new lighting but it also might encourage you to use a room more if you have better visibility in it.

Once you have good overall lighting, use table lamps and floor lamps as accents. Also incorporate chandeliers, perhaps in unexpected places such as your powder room or a nursery.

The bottom line is you really can’t have enough lighting. If you layer it by installing ceiling fixtures and then scattering decorative smaller lamps, the effect will enhance your home as well as make it more useful. Until our all-day sunshine returns in a few months! Please contact us at Style on a Shoestring if we can help with lighting or any of your decorating needs.

Pumpkins with a "Boo" message provide a subtle tone for Halloween decor.

It seems like we were just discussing summer barbecues and yet here it is almost Halloween! One of the services we offer at Style on a Shoestring is holiday decorating — even Halloween. We will come in and use your existing decorations or bring along some of our own (or both) to give your home a festive flair.

If you want to spook up your own home for Halloween, here are a few tips on how to make it boo-tiful.

An inexpensive and easy way to dress your house for ghosts and goblins is with “creepy cloth”—that stretchy gauze you can place around furniture, lamps or most anywhere. Be creative and put it on unexpected places such as candlesticks, picture frames and mirrors.

Speaking of candles, swap them out for orange or black versions. Also replace some light bulbs for flicker lights with an orange tint. If you have a filled bowl as an accent—such as a bowl of shells—stow those away and substitute plastic eyeballs or spiders. For a haunting gathering, place a punch bowl filled with dry ice and water in the corner of the room so the fog lilts into the space.

"Creepy cloth" turns any home into a haunted mansion.

The best tip I can give you on decorating for Halloween or any holiday is not to fall short. It’s better to really dress up one room than to try to extend the theme lightly throughout the house. Since Halloween decorations tend toward over-the-top, perhaps limiting it to a main living area and/or powder room is sufficient.

Also, don’t feel you need to always use black and orange for Halloween. As you can see from these pictures, white can also play a major role. And if the ghoulish side of the season isn’t your cup of tea, go for a harvest theme with pumpkins, corn stalks and autumn leaves. The point is to have fun and give your home a change of pace, whatever that might mean for you and your family. Pottery Barn is carrying some really tasteful Halloween/fall accessories right now. For that super-spooky look, check out inexpensive retailers such as Party City or your local dollar store.

And don’t forget to include a few decorations along your front walkway for trick-or-treaters!

Please contact us at Style on a Shoestring if we can help with any of your decorating or remodeling needs.

Many of us in San Diego have pools that take up a good portion of the backyard or patio area. So after the day’s pool fun is over, use your pool area as a focal point for evening relaxation or parties.

Flowers and layered stones repurpose your pool as part of your outdoor decor.

If you’ve ever been to Vegas or an upscale hotel with a pool, you’ve seen the day beds you can rent for lounging. Outdoor day beds are expensive but you can make your own lookalike by buying two chaise lounges that lay completely flat. Put them together (you could connect them underneath with wire or rope) and either use the existing cushions or buy a large cushion that covers both chaises. Voila – you have your own daybed!

Another way to use your chaises is to set some the regular way – separated with the backs up – and then place others flat in an L-shape. This creates optional seating for those who might not want to commit to stretching out on a full chaise.

Since you will be seated around the pool, use your furniture to form conversational areas rather than lining up around the pool. Pick up a few inexpensive tables—some for those who stand and some for those who sit—and place them randomly around the area. Be sure to include a few seats and tables near the barbecue grill or outdoor bar, where people tend to congregate.

This lighted waterfall adds colorful ambience to an evening party around the pool.

Rather than ignoring the pool, use it as party décor. Buy a portable pool fountain at a discount store as a focal point. Or float flowers in the pool. The best flowers for this are those with a wider base, such as gardenias, gerbera daisies or orchids. Snip the stem, leaving about a one-inch length below the bud. Silk flowers are just as pretty and less likely to absorb water and sink away. Intersperse these with floating pool candles (don’t use regular candles – a quick online search will offer you numerous choices for buying these specialty candles).

Even if your gathering is not a designated pool party, be prepared for the rogue who jumps in (or gets pushed in) anyway. A wicker basket filled with soft, colorful beach towels will add splash of color to your pool deck and be a welcome comfort to those who get wet.

Please contact us at Style on a Shoestring if we can help with any of your home design needs.

In San Diego our patios are extensions of our indoor living spaces. When the temperature is right – and it mostly is – we can throw open the doors and often double our room to host family and friends. But a plain slab of cement isn’t particularly inviting, is it? Here are a few tips for making your home’s exterior as your beautiful as its interior:

• First, consider the flow. If your patio extends from your family room, for example, carry through that room’s colors to the outdoor space. This will provide continuity and really enhance that feeling of a larger room rather than two separate areas.

• Add color. All-weather rugs are an inexpensive way to give warmth and continuity to your patio entertainment area.

Durable outdoor furniture creates a second living room for your home.

• Anchor the patio with outdoor furniture. If space allows, create a dining area with an all-weather table and chairs so you can enjoy meals al fresco. Then arrange a conversational area with a sofa, chairs and a coffee table.

• If your patio is more hardscape than landscape, soften it with potted plants. Miniature citrus trees are cute and they smell great. Herbs also provide a nice aroma and are handy for cooking too.

• Summer evenings are perfect for sitting outside. Shine some light on your patio by stringing paper lanterns (available at discount and party stores) from your house to a nearby tree or fence post. If you have a patio cover, attach a candle chandelier to the center for flickering ambience. A fire pit – installed or portable – makes for a fun gathering spot as the cool winds take over the night.

Colorful plants soften your patio's hardscape – and they attract whimsical hummingbirds. (photo by Simon Howden)

• Even though most outdoor cushion manufacturers say the fabric is durable for all kinds of weather, your best bet is to cover them when not in use, especially if they will endure hot sun. Take them inside during the off-season to avoid rain and mold.

• One of my favorite shops for patio design is Chicweed on Cedros Avenue in Solana Beach, where you’ll find all kinds of furniture, rugs, plants and outdoor décor.

Please contact us at Style on a Shoestring if we can help with any of your home design needs.

Summer doesn’t have to happen just outside – give your home a breezy, colorful look that matches your sun-drenched exterior.

Light and bright bedding gives a bedroom some summer sunshine. (Photo by Michelle Meiklejohn)

Start by tucking away everything heavy or dark. Even in San Diego we tend to stockpile throws and bedding in heavier weights for our cool winter nights. Wash and store those, then bring out or buy lighter bedding – sometimes simply changing your duvet cover does the trick.

In your living room and family room, swap out darker colors for lighter, brighter shades. A few throw pillows and candles in summer colors can create fresh accents for celebrating the season.

Flowers and plants can come indoors too. Stop by your favorite garden center or home improvement store and pick up some affordable blooming plants to sprinkle around your house. They will only last a few months, but with summer sun coming through your windows and a little green thumb from you, they will provide a delightful splash of color.

If you don’t have a retractable screen door, you are really missing out. I have one, and as soon as the weather starts changing, my front and back doors are open and the breeze is passing through. I rarely need to run my air conditioning because I get such a nice airflow through my house. Contact Debbie Mason at Mirage Retractable Screen Systems to have yours installed: (760) 419-4641.

Retractable screens provide air flow on warm days.

With so much going on outside – beautiful garden, kids playing, family enjoying the pool – you’ll want clean windows so you can keep an eye on everything. Lovely Windows by the Lads – I know, it’s a funny name – is a wonderful company for window washing. Contact Lisa O’Bara at (858) 212-5050.

Please contact us at Style on a Shoestring if we can help with any of your home design needs.