Colin and Justin: The great outdoors made even greater

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Transform your lacklustre patio into an exciting outdoor haven with these simple tips

We certainly don’t wish to jinx the currently temperate barometric gauge, but have you looked outside lately? Blue skies? Sunshine? It’s little short of bliss, if somewhat unseasonal.

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Yes indeed, across Canada, patio season has begun in earnest. And for that al fresco opportunity, we’re wildly grateful. Long may it continue…

Sunshine in mind, we’re turning our attentions to the great outdoors. Without further ado, herewith a roster of patio pointers and back yard tips. Follow along, and you’ll soon be spending relaxing afternoons and casual evenings in (what we hope will continue to be) summery bliss.

After the harsh winter endured by many Canucks, there’s work to be done to ready your deck for a new season. And preparation is key: a power washer will remove grit and grime, but, if you have real wood surfaces, don’t set the jet too high or you’ll damage the grain.

Power washing doesn’t simply clean, it reveals the original tones and patina of your wood or paving. If your deck is composite, however, it’ll clean even better with a faster water jet.

Post clean up, apply wood preservative to deck boards (and railings) to inhibit moisture and sun damage. Home Hardware carry a stellar selection of protectants.

Slow down: if you slap paint or varnish quickly across surfaces (especially in outside application) it’ll flake off quickly. Better to sand carefully, then reapply layer by layer, so your efforts endure.

This counsel applies to both vertical and horizontal surfaces. Remember, too, that lighter colours reflect light, so choose brighter tones to remain cool.

Be sure-footed and avoid glossy or shiny surfaces underfoot. We often add sand to exterior floor paint (around a cup per gallon) to provide extra grip.

For tiled and slabbed areas, clean between each stone and apply weed killer to inhibit further problems.

Brightly potted horticulture adds drama, but you needn’t be Frankie Flowers to achieve great results – big box stores merchant flowering plants and bushes that are specially bred to challenge benign neglect.

Hanging baskets are another great way to suffuse drama but be on hand with a watering can as they can dry out in less than an hour on hot days.

Permanent botanicals is the new name for faux foliage. With no trimming required, and no overgrown forms to contend with further down the line, they make sense.

At the more affordable end of the market, IKEA have some great options, but if you’d like to shell out on more exotic or larger specimens, try Decors Veronneau (www.veronneau.com) who, as we see it, carry Canada’s best everlasting inventory, and ship country wide.

Jaunty cushions will pop understated furniture, and decorative melamine crockery will enliven even the most lack lustre table setting. Find a great selection of weatherproof furniture at Rona, bold pillows in Chapters Indigo and highly coloured unbreakable crockery at Walmart.

Fill storm jars with tealights and position citronella candles to deter entomological invasion. Nobody, after all, want a plague of killer hornets feasting on their balsamic reduction as they tuck into their walnut and arugula salad. Hmm: suppose that’s one way to get the bee stung lip look…

We love genuine wicker, but the thought of heaving everything in and out between showers means we typically opt for look-alike resin ‘wicker’ to better cope when storm clouds loom.

Try Cabana Coast (www.cabanacoast.com) or Rove Concepts (www.roveconcepts.com) both of whom deliver cross Canada, for a range of weather baffling options.

Facing off against precipitation, well-constructed outdoor rugs (such as those by Dash and Albert (from www.annieselke.com) will remain comfy underfoot and impervious to mould and fibre collapse.

Most outdoor rugs tend to be one colour, but those by D&A are typically striped, geometric or inspired by nature.

In essence – and with careful planning – it’s easy to transform your lacklustre patio into an exciting outdoor haven.

Let’s just hope, after all that effort, the weather holds for the foreseeable future. Otherwise, you’ll need a stout garden brolly.

Wait – did we miss those in our roundup? Worry not: the selection at Midtown (www.midtownumbrellas.ca) will pretty up your backyard, and help beat the most determined deluge…

Watch for Colin and Justin on City-tv’s Breakfast Television and Colin and Justin’s Sub- Zero Reno on Paramount Plus TV. Find the Colin and Justin Home Collection in stores across Canada. Visit www.colinandjustin.tv.