Summer is the perfect time to enjoy your outdoor living space, but winter and spring are the best times to start planning it.
If you are thinking about redesigning your outdoor area, you will quickly come to find that your dreams and expectations may not be in line with your realistic budget. Thankfully, there are some easy ways that you can cut expenses and save money while still creating the outdoor patio area of your dreams.
Do-it-yourself outdoor spaces
One of the biggest expenses of any home improvement project is the cost of a contractor. In some towns and cities, a contractor must be retained in order to obtain necessary permits and approvals. If your town allows the average homeowner to create an outdoor space free of a contractor’s eye and price tag, consider completing the project yourself.
If you have little experience doing such a job, you will need to do plenty of research and talk with friends and family members who have done similar work on their own yards. Doing the project yourself can save you thousands of dollars if you do it correctly. If you make a lot of mistakes and need to make repairs or purchase more materials than you otherwise might, it can end up costing you more than the fee a contractor would charge. Choose your route carefully based on your expertise and willingness to learn.
Recycled outdoor living space materials
Another source of potential money saving can come from recycled materials. Some junkyards will store old bricks and building materials from buildings that have been demolished. This is a good source for recycled materials and can save you from having to buy new.
If you want unique designs or mosaics, you can also use broken and tumbled glass from old jars and glasses that you have around the house. Just be sure that you tumble the glass long enough in a tumbler that all of the sharp edges are gone. Use caution if you want to use recycled lumber, as termites, powder post beetles, and ants can all be unwelcome visitors in your new purchase.
Freecycle for patio furniture
Freecycle is an Internet-based group that is set-up around the country and offers people a chance to giveaway the things they no longer want or need and request the items they would like to have. While patio furniture is a frequent request during the spring and summer months, you may get lucky and find the perfect patio furniture for free. You can also accessorize your outdoor living space by requesting outdoor metal decorations and fire pits. It is not a guarantee that you will find the things you really want, it does not hurt to ask.
Saving money on the construction of your outdoor living space will make the area even more enjoyable. You will not only relish the peaceful, calm of the area, but you will enjoy the fact that you saved money creating it. Think outside the box and do not be afraid to try something new in order to create the outdoor living space you have always dreamed of having.
Metal-Wall-Art.com regularly features articles by Alyssa Davis on decorating with bathroom metal artwork and coastal metal wall decor.