PATIO Pointers

• Compartmentalize your outdoor living space, with each section serving a different purpose. Brad and Holly separated their backyard patio into a dining area and• Farmhouses, with their old-fashioned features, certainly lend themselves to a cozy atmosphere. So throw down outdoor rugs and fluff outdoor pillows to make your outside area just as homey as inside. Just don’t forget to cover the pillows and cushions or bring them inside when they’re not in use—they’ll last much longer that way, and they won’t become an insect hidey hole.• If your patio is too small to accommodate your outdoor living needs, you may want to consider enlarging the area if you can. After all, the more livable you make it, the more likely you’ll want to get outside and use it. “We took what the builder gave us, a 10’ x 10’ covered patio, tore that down and expanded the living space to 10’x40’,” Holly says. If you don’t have room to expand, make every square inch count so you can still use the outdoor area.• Extend your home’s classic farmhouse style with subtle elements that build upon your indoor aesthetic. “The addition of the chicken foot arch and exposed beams really embraces the American farmhouse style, along with the simple style of the furniture we have out there,” Holly says.