Craft & Cork >> General Interest

With summer almost half way through, we all want to spend as much time as possible outdoors while we can. If you’re like us, you’ll want to take every opportunity to have friends and family over to share your own wine and enjoy the warmth of summer. Whether you enjoy an afternoon glass of Pinot Grigio, a small dinner party, or host a big summer bash, consider building an outdoor patio to take better advantage of your home’s outdoor space.

The ideal patio should be much more than just a bare wood deck or slab of concrete outside of your house. A patio should encourage you to use it as much as possible: it should be comfortable, inviting, relaxing and set up so that you and your guests can kick back and relax. The following are a few tips to create the perfect home patio:

The patio as a place for relaxation – If you want a space where you can enjoy a cup of coffee in the mornings on your own or a glass of Merlot in the evening, then create a patio that feels
cozy and comfortable. To do this, we recommend using some elements normally found indoors. For example, use comfortable and colorful throw pillows for your patio seating. For an even cozier atmosphere, we also recommend adding an outdoor area rug to help add color and pattern.

The patio as an extension of your garden – The look of your patio should fall between an indoor living space and your home’s outdoor space – a transition from one to the other. In addition to using indoor elements, we suggest decorating the patio with plant life. A few potted plants will go a long way in making the patio feel at home within the natural surroundings. Picking the right flowers can be a tough task, but adding bright colors and beautiful aromas will never lead you wrong.

 Lighting your patio – Lighting is very important for safety if you plan on using your patio during the evenings. If you have a garden table that has an umbrella, then a hanging lamp under the umbrella will provide the perfect lighting for a post-dinner drink. If you have enough patio space for larger social gatherings, we recommend using string lights around your patio or in trees to create a beautiful, atmospheric setting.

These are just a few ideas as inspiration when designing your outdoor home patio. But, as our many craft wine makers know, nothing is complete until the perfect bottle of wine is uncorked and enjoyed by all. If you’re looking for a wine that tastes great on every patio, try a craft wine from our Orchard Breezin’ series!