Articles Index
How to Reupholster Outdoor Patio Chair Pads & Cushions
When the cushions and upholstery of your patio furniture wear out, your first impulse might be to replace them or have them professionally reupholstered. No sewing skills are needed for something simple like replacing the padded seat of a wrought iron patio chair. Outdoor fabrics come in assorted brands, colors, prints and solids, and are available from online and local fabric retailers. Follow these easy instructions.
Best Hot Tub Spa 2013: About.com Readers' Choice Awards
anufacturers, as nominated and chosen by you, our readers. Voting ends March 19th and the winner in each category will be announced on March 27. 2013.
Olympic Style and Design for Your Home Outside
Look and live like a true Olympian by decorating your home and yard with official Olympic merchandise, souvenirs, and designs inspired by the 2012 Olympic Games in London. Swimwear, towels, torches, outdoor furnishings and accessories will help you celebrate the spirit of the Games long after the last medal has been awarded.
Best Decking Finalists 2013: About.com Readers' Choice Awards
Composite decking has been the popular choice for several years because of its durability. Pool & Patio readers can vote for one of three finalists for Best Decking in the 2013 About.com Readers' Choice Awards. Learn more about the three companies that are vying for the award.
How to Dig Post Holes & Install Posts
Follow these steps to dig post holes and install posts. While this is for a pre-fabricated arbor, you can use this tutorial for decks, fences, gazebos and other outdoor structures. The arbor's four posts don't provide extra space to sink posts into the ground with concrete. You'll need to dig holes about 1 foot deep, mix concrete, and pour it into the holes. This arbor can be used as a transitional structure linking outdoor spaces, as a privacy screen, or could be installed against a wall.
2012 Best Hot Tub / Spa: About.com Readers' Choice Awards
The About.com Reader's Choice Awards 2011 honors the year's top hot tubs and spas, as nominated and chosen by our readers. This is the first year that the Pool and Patio category has joined the Readers' Choice Awards. This year's Best Pool and Patio category seeks to honor the Best Outdoor Patio Furniture, Best Pool Cleaner/Vacuum, Best Pool Test Kit, Best Hot Tub/Spa, and Best Decking. Voting is Feb. 22 to March 8, 2011.
2013 Best Pool Cleaner / Vacuum: About.com Readers' Choice Awards
There are three finalists for Best Pool Cleaner/Vacuum in the 2013 About.com Readers' Choice Awards. Pool & Patio readers have until March 19th to vote for their favorite in the site-wide contest. Meet the finalists.
2013 Best Patio Furniture Finalists: About.com Readers' Choice Awards
Our three finalists for 2013 Best Patio Furniture, as chosen and nominated by our Pool & Patio readers, represent a diverse range of styles and materials. All are excellent brands and worthy of consideration, so take time to read about each one and made a careful consideration before casting your vote.
Luxury Homes: Top 12 Luxurious Homes With Pools for 2012
Canadian hip-hop artist/songwriter/actor Drake reportedly paid about $2.8 million for a sprawling compound in Hidden Hills, California. The star attraction of his new home is the elaborate pool, complete with a torch-lit grotto.
2012 About.com Readers' Choice Awards: Best Decking
The About.com Reader's Choice Awards 2011 Best Pool and Patio category honors the year's top pool and patio products, brands and manufacturers, as nominated and chosen by our readers. This is the first year that the Pool and Patio category has joined the Readers' Choice Awards. This year's Best Pool and Patio category seeks to honor the Best Outdoor Patio Furniture, Best Pool Cleaner/Vacuum, Best Pool Test Kit, Best Hot Tub/Spa, and Best Decking. Voting is Feb. 22 to March 8, 2011.
Where is the World's Largest Swimming Pool?
Your boastful neighbor who never fails to remind everyone he owns a really big swimming pool has been upstaged. The world's largest swimming pool is the San Alfonso del Mar seawater pool in Algarrobo, Chile. It is 3,324 feet long (1,013 meters) and spans 19.77 acres. The resort swimming pool was completed in December 2006.
Best Patio Fire Pits
A fire pit is the perfect reason to warm up a chilly winter evening or create a reason to stay outside later during the summer. With a variety of designs, shapes, sizes, materials and price ranges, there's a fire pit that will suit your outdoor living space.
How to Decorate Cactus and Succulents with Lights
How do you string lights on a cactus or spiny succulent? Very carefully, for starters.
Tree Lights: How to Wrap Trees With Outdoor Lights
Outdoor and holiday designers and decorators have seen the light and they aren't returning to the dark side anytime soon. One is not enough--soon every trunk, branch and limb that resembles a tree gets wrapped and lighted for the annual outdoor holiday lighting display. Learn how to wrap your tree with light strands and decorate it for Christmas or any occasion in this step-by-step tutorial.
Tomato Cage Christmas Tree: Repurposing Project is Clever, Fun & Inexpensive
A faux Christmas tree made from a tomato cage? Seriously. If you view ordinary objects through a creative eye, you can repurpose all kinds of things. I was rummaging through old pots and "stuff" in my side yard, looking for some kind of inspiration for a holiday project. The tomato cage, turned upside down, was an obvious - the perfect form upon which to build some sort of holiday porch tree. With white garland a glue gun, strings of beads and a few hours, I had my tomato cage Christmas tree.
The Best Christmas Inflatables for 2012
Inflatables have become many people's favorite holiday decorations. So, what's new for 2012 in the world of inflatable, airblown Christmas characters? Discover the trends and find out who -- or what -- made this year's list!
How to Hang Outdoor Christmas Lights
You are going to hang holiday lights. Unlike Christmas lighters decorators before you, you will resist the urge to be impulsive and buy too many lights, not read instructions, install lights during a storm, stand on the top of a ladder or lean over and look at the lights while standing on your sloping roof. If this is your first time, keep it simple. You can always add to your holiday light collection. That way, you get a feel for what works, what doesn't, what you like and what you don't.
Pool Types, Designs and Styles
Types of swimming pools include
Decorating With Pumpkins
Bright orange or ghostly white, pumpkins add an instant splash of color, form and texture when decorating outdoors.
Best Outdoor Lighting: About.com 2012 Readers' Choice Awards
Ready to vote for the company that designs and manufactures what you consider to be the Best Outdoor Lighting? The About.com Reader's Choice Awards 2012 Best Pool and Patio category honors the year's top pool and patio products, brands and manufacturers, as nominated and chosen by our readers. This is the second year that the Pool and Patio category has participated in the site-wide About.com Readers' Choice Awards.
Inspired Halloween Ideas to Make Your Castle Everyone's Favorite Haunt
Get your Halloween spirit on! Big or small, your outdoor space needs to be transformed into something festive for Halloween. Spooky, terrifying or family-friendly Halloween decorations adorn people's front and backyards, porches, entryways, doors, windows, patios, balconies and wherever else they can find to decorate. Halloween is second only to Christmas in consumer dollars spent on outdoor decorations. Find out how to unleash those creative spirits for the perfect Halloween display or party.
About.com Readers' Choice Awards 2012: Favorite Outdoor Toy
The finalists have been chosen in the Favorite Outdoor Toy category for the 2012 About.com Readers' Choice Awards. To help you make an informed choice, About.com Pool and Patio has researched each nominee so our readers / voters can become better acquainted with each product and finalist.
A Brief History of Portable Kiddie Pools
>While wading pools date back to ancient civilizations, private kiddie pools were most likely launched sometime after the inflatable beach ball made its debut in 1938. Learn more about the history of a summer backyard classic -- the kiddie pool.
A Fall Wreath for Every Door
An easy way to transition from summer to fall is to hang a wreath on your front door or porch. Autumn wreaths can reflect the natural landscape, design and architecture of a house or personal decorating style. Take a look at wreaths that make decorating for fall fast and fun.
How to Make a Wreath - Festive Wreaths With Fall Leaves, Foliage and Crows
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