Outdoor Living Ideas

Looking for ways to stay cool this summer while still enjoying your backyard? This patio umbrella has a twist that lets it offer more than simple shade. It features three built-in nozzles (located on the umbrella’s support ribs) that spray a gentle mist down to cool off anyone underneath.

A flexible conduit runs from each nozzle down the rust-resistant nine-foot aluminum pole to a hose connector, where you can plug in any standard garden hose. In addition, the 11-foot canopy provides 95 square feet of shade, so you can hide from the sun on those hot days. The canopy is made from weather-resistant polyester that should give you years of use.

The price is $199 from Hammacher Schlemmer:

Cool Mist Patio Umbrella

Looking for some outdoor seating that’s a little more interesting than plain and straight benches? These benches and settees from Weatherend Estate’s Fox Island Grouping can be configured and arranged in different ways to create lots of different seating options.

The curves of the benches gives them a unique style, and the set looks fairly comfortable to sit on, for wooden furniture anyway. It wouldn’t take too many pieces to create a seating area that could accommodate lots of guests during your backyard barbeque parties.

http://www.weatherend.com

Looking for some outdoor furniture that is environmentally friendly? Maybe something made from reclaimed wood or something… recycled? Well, if you’re a ski enthusiast (or just like the idea of having furniture made from recycled sports gear), check out this picnic table.

Made from reused but top-quality skis, the table is supposed to last for years. Since skis are made to withstand being damp, you won’t have to worry about rot or mildew with this piece. The table will cost you $485 from the Snow Shack. It’s not cheap, but just think of all the trees you’ll be saving (and, okay, it’s just cool to have something a little different when it comes to outdoor furniture).

Snow Shack

A backyard swimming pool is a nice way to relax, but it’s probably not reminiscent of the tropics (unless you actually live in Hawaii or some tropical climate!), not on its own anyway. However, there’s no reason you can’t add a theme that makes you feel like you’re on the islands. Maybe start with a tiki bar and add a few bamboo lounge chairs around the pool.

This bamboo chair is one of several pieces available (other chairs also in bamboo) over at the Asian Ego, a store with lots of eastern-influenced outdoor living accessories and pieces of furniture. If lounging on wood or bamboo doesn’t sound that appealing, you can grab some cushions to make things a little softer. The chairs start at $125.

http://www.asianego.com

With our increasingly clutter-filled lives, it’s no surprise that we’re seeing more and more furniture with the dual purpose of providing hidden storage as well as seating. That trend has come to the outdoor living space too. Just take a look at this handsome wooden bench. Not only is it a place where guests can sit their rumps when they’re munching your latest barbeque entrée, but it’s also a place to hide extra cushions, hose reels, garden pots, or anything else you can think of.

The wooden storage bench is specifically designed for outdoor use and comes with a finish that will hold up against the weather. According to the product description, it’s rot-, mildew-, and insect-resistant. You can also get an optional cushion, if you’d prefer to sit on something softer than wood.

The bench is available from Brookstone for $250:

Hardwood Storage Bench

This piece is toted as an “outdoor sofa” over at Country Gear, but I think I’d just call it a nice looking bench. Manufactured by Dante Negro, it’s part of the Griglia collection. The wooden seat contrasts nicely with the green metal frame. There’s not much information up on the product page, so that’s about all I can tell you about it. You can browse more furniture in the line or other styles at the retailer’s web site: http://www.countrygearltd.com

I’ve always been a fan of Adirondack chairs. I guess they just look a little classier than your typical plastic pool furniture (okay, they look a lot classier than your typical plastic furniture).

The chairs pictured here are made from handsome white oak, which is a sturdy durable wood that can last for many years with the proper care. (All types of wooden furniture need to be re-sealed regularly if they’re going to live outside.)

The Adirondack chairs cost $225 from Bench Smith.