Bright Ideas for a Gazebo With Netting

Evening Ambiance

• Add ambiance with lighting. Place battery operated candles in colorful glass lanterns hung from the corners of the gazebo. Another option is to string white Christmas lights around the entire canopy and around the posts. When the netting is pulled to the sides the white lights will shimmer through the sheer fabric.

Romantic Lounging

• Place a four-poster day bed at the back of the gazebo as the focal point of this outdoor space. Flank it with two comfortable chairs and place a wicker coffee table in front of it. Overstuffed pillows in rich colors add comfortable touches. Place a full size platform bed in the center of the gazebo for a romantic lounging area in the shade.

Year-Round Use

• Turn your gazebo into a year-round retreat by placing a hot tub in the middle. The canopy and netting prevent bugs, leaves and other debris from blowing into the water. Hang lightweight towel hooks on the corner posts and enjoy.

S'mores and More

• Place a small table-top fire pit in the middle of your gazebo. Arrange padded bench seating around the pit. The space is transformed into the perfect spot to roast marshmallows and make s'mores while engaging in late night summer conversations and stories.

Secret Getaway

• Construct a place of serenity inside the perimeters of your gazebo. Fill the area with comfort pieces and aesthetically soothing decor. Place a side table with built-in bookshelves next to an over-stuffed lounge chair. Hang flowers and other live greenery from the canopy trusses. Position tall vases with cattails, bamboo and herbs along the edges to create a sense of privacy. A small electric water fountain in the corner will provide soothing sounds while you curl up in a chair to read your favorite novel.

Entertainment Junction

• Pull out the electronics and refreshments as you design an open-air man cave. Hang a small flat screen television from a corner in the gazebo. Set a music player docking station on a small corner shelf. Line an old trunk with plastic and fill it with ice. This imaginative furniture piece doubles as a coffee table and cooler. Half a dozen chairs and portable footstools offer seating for your favorite men, while keeping your indoor space quiet.