Making the most out of your outdoor areas is one of the best ways to extend your home's living space. With the right furniture and accessories, it’s easy to transform your patio into a relaxing retreat that will soon become one of your home's best features.
Not sure where to start? No worries! The following patio decorating ideas will help you create a comfortable outdoor space where you can dine al fresco, entertain guests, or kick back and relax with your favorite book after a long day at work.
1. Put Comfort First
If you want to create a space where people will enjoy spending their time, simply decorating isn't enough. First and foremost, you have to make it comfortable. Start with an attractive outdoor rug that will soften the space and feel good under your feet. This is also a great way to add a pop of color and some texture to the space.
Next, add enough quality outdoor furniture, so there’s plenty of seating for you and your guests. Nobody wants to sit on rock-hard furniture, so make sure you also have enough cushions and pillows. You can make the space even cozier by bringing out some throw blankets during the cooler months. Floor pillows are another great addition. They're easy to pull out when extra guests arrive and can add another splash of color.
If you have enough room, make sure you also provide one or two places to lounge. This may be a daybed, lounge chair...
Every year, when Thanksgiving comes around, most of us spend a lot of time in the kitchen getting ready all the dishes that will leave us needing individual wheelbarrows to get us back to our beds at the end of the day. The main draw of the Thanksgiving meal is undoubtedly the turkey. That alone takes plenty of time, starting with picking it out, cooking it, and then stuffing and carving it.
Almost everyone knows what an excellent roasted turkey should taste like. However, there's no reason that you have to repeat the same method of preparation each year.
Do you want to try something different this Thanksgiving? Don't worry—we aren't talking about Tofurkey. Instead, how about a fried or smoked turkey versus the classic roasted turkey? In this article, we dig into the turkey and the various ways you can safely prepare it for your family.
Ways to Cook a Turkey and How They Differ
Roasting a turkey is the typical way to prepare them for the Thanksgiving season. Roasting is a pretty drawn-out process, particularly if you want to stuff the turkey. You will need to have a stuffed turkey in the oven at 350°F for 15 minutes per pound of turkey. For example, when preparing a 12-pound turkey, you need to keep it in the oven for about three hours.
Fried Turkey
However, there are other options when it comes to turkey preparation. For instance, you can fry the turkey. A deep-fried turkey will likely appeal to the younger generation of Thanksgiving attendees. However, the succulent skin you get when you have a fried turkey will appeal to almost anyone.
Pros of a Fried Turkey:
Frying a turkey is likely one of the fastest ways you can get this bird cooked. That means if you wake up late on the fateful morning, you can still have the turkey deliciously cooked through in no time. Compared to the 15 minutes per pound for a roasted turkey, the cooking time of fried turkey is about three...