Outdoor Living Guides
In-depth guides on outdoor furniture, backyard structures, decks and patios, materials, and maintenance.
Indoor FurnitureHow to Evaluate Furniture Quality in Person: A Ten-Minute Inspection
You can judge most of a sofa or dresser in ten minutes on the showroom floor. Here are the lift, rock, and load tests, what the tag does and does not
Outdoor FurnitureOutdoor Furniture Anchoring and Wind: Keeping Chairs Where You Put Them
Wind moves patio furniture at surprisingly modest speeds, and the culprit is usually sail area rather than weight. Here is when common pieces start to
Planning and SustainabilityWhat Backyard Structures Do to Property Value and Insurance
A pergola, deck, or pool changes how your home appraises, what your insurance covers, and possibly your property tax. This is informational only; cons
Planning and SustainabilitySetbacks, Easements, and Lot Coverage: Where You Can Build
Before you order a shed or pour a patio, find out where your lot legally allows building. Setbacks, easements, and lot coverage caps decide the builda
Outdoor Cooking and FireGrill Placement and Ventilation Under Pergolas and Pavilions
Putting a grill under a pergola or pavilion raises two questions codes take seriously: clearance to combustibles and carbon monoxide in a partly enclo
Decks and PatiosDeck Railing Height and Guard Requirements Explained
A guard is required once the deck sits high enough above grade, and its height, opening size, and load rating are all set by code. Here is what trigge
Garden DecorGarden Gates and Fencing Styles That Match the House
Choosing a garden fence style that fits the house and the rules: height and setback limits, pool barrier requirements, gate hardware that prevents sag
Lighting and Water FeaturesMosquitoes and Standing Water: Managing Features Responsibly
Mosquitoes breed in the small pockets of standing water most yards are full of. Here is the container survey that finds them, why weekly dumping break
Planning and SustainabilityBackyard Master Planning: Phasing a Project Over Several Seasons
A backyard master plan lets you build a deck, patio, plantings, and structures across several seasons without redoing work. Here is how to sequence ph
Outdoor FurnitureStoring Patio Furniture Over Winter Without Cracking or Mildew
The single highest-value winter storage step is cleaning and fully drying furniture before it goes away. This guide explains freeze-thaw cracking, con
Backyard StructuresPergola Rafter Spacing and Shade: Geometry That Controls Sunlight
How much shade a pergola casts depends more on the sun's angle and the rafter orientation than on how many slats you add. Here is the geometry, plus t
Lighting and Water FeaturesPathway Lighting Layouts That Improve Nighttime Safety
Even lighting, not maximum brightness, is what keeps people from tripping on a path at night. Here is how uniformity, illuminance targets, glare contr