Outdoor Living Year-Round
Enjoying outdoor living shouldn’t be limited to the year’s warmer months. Your backyard is an extension of your home, and as the seasons change you want to continue using every part of your living space to its full potential. There are so many options for making outdoor living during the winter months not only bearable but enjoyable. From the Sapporo Snow Festival in Japan to the Quebec Winter Carnival, people all over the world have been congregating outdoors in the cold for as long as people have been gathering. Today we have so many resources to make time with friends and loved ones more comfortable when temperatures start to drop.
Fire Features
Since the dawn of time, we have been gathered around fire to keep warm, cook food and tell stories. Fire features like Belgard’s Highland Fire Pit create social spaces that tap into an ancient part of the human experience with all the benefits of modern technology. Whether you want the sensory joys of a wood-burning fixture or the convenience of gas, gathering around the warmth of a fire to share quality time and build connections is a perfect way to enjoy the outdoors during winter.
A fire pit is a simple addition to any patio that makes outdoor living in the winter a breeze (a warm breeze), but outdoor fireplaces offer a central grand fixture that can take your cold-weather leisure to the next level. Belgard’s Weston Stone Fireplace is the perfect centerpiece that will add a classic, timeless feeling to any patio.
Outdoor Kitchens
Another excellent way to heat things up outside is to cook your meals in the backyard. With a full outdoor kitchen, whipping up a meal in the open air isn’t just for summer barbeques, and our Elements Collection has everything you need to create a dream outdoor kitchen for all your winter cooking needs. Not only will the range or grill keep you toasty, but with strategically placed heaters, your dinner guests can comfortably breathe the crisp winter air while they enjoy the meal you made.
Good Eating Outside
Speaking of meals, winter is the perfect time to pull out your most comforting recipes and warm your guests up from the inside out. While everyone’s idea of comfort food is different, we pulled a couple of recipes from Southern Living that we think spell out cold-weather coziness for those living in the Mid-Atlantic.
Nothing says childhood comfort like grilled cheese with tomato soup. This roasted tomato soup with cheddar cheese can be paired with a toasty sandwich or be enjoyed on its own for some delicious fireside eating.
If you’re looking for something a bit more hardy, this old-fashioned chicken and dumplings recipe will fill you up and keep your belly warm while you enjoy great company in the open winter air.
Whether you’re gathering around a wood-burning fire to roast marshmallows or sitting under a heated pavilion to enjoy a feast, outdoor living is a year-round affair that doesn’t stop when the cold moves in. Enjoying nature is about appreciating its changes and cycles, and experiencing those seasonal transitions is part of the full experience of living outdoors.
If you need help planning your outdoor winter wonderland, head to our site and find a Certified Belgard Contractor near you to get started today!