Tuscan Décor Offers Beauty and Function for Outdoor Dining
Posted By Mary Freeland on August 28, 2010
Remember, not every Tuscan dining room has to be indoors. What better way is there to integrate nature into your décor than to take your dining room al fresco! Tuscan style is perfect for creating the ideal outdoor dining area, so why not create a beautiful space where you can enjoy great design, nature’s simple charm, and fabulous food all at once.
Outdoor Tuscan dining rooms are perfect for all climates. Obviously, you’ll get the most use out of an al fresco eating area in a temperate climate, but you can also create a Tuscan dining space on a covered patio or screened in porch for comfortable dining in hotter or cooler parts of the country. One way to make sure you get maximum usage out of your outdoor Tuscan dining room is to install a fire pit or fireplace. These features offer rustic style, old-fashioned appeal, and a traditionally Tuscan architectural look in addition to putting out heat. However, even a portable fire pit can help add charm and heat to your Tuscan dining area, so don’t despair if the budget doesn’t include building a new fireplace in your backyard!
Other must-haves for your Mediterranean-inspired outdoor dining experience include:
Table and chairs: Wrought iron is perfect for Tuscan outdoor spaces, and there are hundreds of styles of durable wrought iron tables and chairs available. For a more rustic look, you can also choose wooden tables and benches or cast stone. Tuscan tables also look great in tile or even marble and granite, all of which are suited to the rigors of the outdoor environment.
Plants: To emphasize the natural aspect of your exterior dining space, make sure that plants abound. One of my favorite tricks is to plant vegetables and kitchen herbs in pots around the patio or porch to bring in that particularly Tuscan feeling. Italian favorites like basil, peppers, and tomatoes are especially good choices, and these plants grow well in just about any climate. For hotter areas, you might want to consider a lemon or olive tree.
Lighting: If you’re planning on dining outside in the evening, make sure you add plenty of Tuscan lighting to your outdoor dining room. Candles are always a beautiful choice for great ambience, and with citronella candles, you can also help keep the pesky mosquitoes away. There are also an increasing variety of outdoor lights available in attractive styles, so if your dining area is alongside the house or on a screened in porch, an outdoor Tuscan chandelier, a pair of sconces, or another light fixture is just the thing.
Tuscan design is all about harmony with nature, so don’t feel like you have to keep your Tuscan design on the inside of your home—enjoy great food and fellowship right in nature itself with a brand-new Tuscan-inspired outdoor dining room!
Tuscan Home Décor & Design is your online source for the best in Tuscan accents, accessories, and furnishings. Check us out for the finishing touches for your Tuscan dining room, indoors or out.
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