Our ‘outdoor living’ time is pretty short in these parts, although it is certain we are now in the thick of the season — with hot afternoons, warm nights and a few vacation days to use up.

Because our summers are fairly brief in Nova Scotia, many of us are hesitant to put much effort (read: money) into our outdoor living spaces. By the time we have all the backyard accouterments dragged out of storage and set up just right, it’s time to go back-to-school shopping and scrape the frost off the car.

So, in light of our short, but oh so wonderful, summer season, it’s appropriate to discuss easy, quick and, well, cheap ways to spruce up the outdoor rooms of our home.

Despite what many of us experience first hand in our own place, home decor doesn’t have to stop at the back door. It also doesn’t mean you need to spend a fortune to extend your home decor outside. A can of paint, a little ingenuity and a vision will transform any backyard into an oasis. Or a spa. Or a nightclub — whatever your fancy.

“When dreaming up an ideal outdoor living space, people tend to automatically think of a beautifully-stained wood deck and upscale furniture, but there’s so much more that can be done quickly and economically to spruce up the exterior living space of a home,” says Alison Goldman, marketing communications manager for CIL paint.

OK. So, say you have a weekend. Like maybe this weekend. And you want to transform your outside space. The easy answer?

Consider painting existing outdoor furniture, walls, fences and planters and then complete the look with accessories and flowers — there are amazing sales on right now at JYSK, Backyard and Veranda and the like.

“Adding colour and interest to exterior decor makes the space noticeably more inviting and relaxing,” says Goldman.

“It doesn’t take much to accomplish a lot.”

Goldman suggests we should begin by “framing” the space.

“With no walls or ceiling, an outdoor area can be made to feel like a room by adding the illusion of boundaries,” explains the CIL rep. “Paint a wooden trellis or lattice supported by posts, and border the space with painted planters to help define the walls. A large umbrella also creates a ceiling over the area, and provides added shade to boot.”

Speaking of umbrellas — check yours out. Is it stained or damaged? Replacing this statement piece alone will go a long way to transforming your patio. Backyard & Veranda has some really funky ones in different shapes, colours and even with minilights embedded.

“Next, scheme about colour,” suggests Goldman.

“Study your home’s surroundings as well as your interior decor and select paints that extend the look and feel into your outdoor living area.

“And take note of the landscaping. Are there trees or water nearby? What colour is the roof, brick, and siding of your house, and those of your neighbours?”

A point of restraint — while you want to add life and interest with colour, be careful not to overdo it. The outdoors should still provide a calm and relaxing haven.

Another way to spiff things up is by using a stain alternative. If you have a raised wooden deck, where air is easily vented, consider giving it a terra cotta look by choosing a combination of earthy paint shades.

“If you are taking on this project, you can “rag” the paints to blend the colours together, and then randomly spatter black paint over the area to create the look of pebbles,” says Goldman.

“Or painting an outdoor floor with a faint colour — such as CIL’s Billowing Clouds (a sky blue), Farm Life (a meadow green) or Bali Sand (a light coral) — also creates a warm living area.”

Perhaps the best tip garnered from Goldman is to improvise with furnishings.

“Why invest in expensive patio furniture when you can use long-lasting exterior paint to make old pieces look new? If you have an indoor table you can do without, transform it into a beautiful patio table. Looking to make better use of old mismatched kitchen chairs? Sand and repaint them for outside use.”

If it’s an outdoor bar you’re after, buy a used cabinet and paint it a stand-out colour. Stock it with plastic bar wear and you’re ready for entertaining — the Dollar Store has a wealth of these items in fun and novel colours and styles. Or paint old wooden Muskoka chairs or bar stools with bright, jewel tones or pastel shades to help bring your area to life.

For real impact on the cheap, don’t forget outdoor art. It can be so much for forgiving and fun than what we use to adorn the inside of our homes. Goldman suggests inexpensive plastic vases, mirrors and colourful accessories such as tea light holders, weather-resistant cushions and planters as finishing touches.

I guess outdoor decorating should reflect the attitudes we exude during these dog days. Easy, low maintenance and fun. Make the most of the summer we have left by imparting some personality to your outdoor space. Then sit back and enjoy it — while you can.