Heated outdoor space for winter?

November 2, 2021 12:41 PM

I'd like some useable outdoor space to sit outside this winter - either on my porch, or in the backyard. Any ideas?

My front porch is narrow and open on 3 sides, with metal railings, like this. It'd be best if any "wall" or curtain added to the porch can come up and down with each use, since that front window is the main source of interior light.
My backyard is just small and flat. Any backyard structure needs to be freestanding.

How can I create an outdoor sitting area?
This is Canada, so it gets super cold and it snows a lot.
I'm interested in some combination of a heater, and maybe cheap "walls" to keep in the heat and cut the wind.
I would like it to not be expensive, not be permanent, not be a fire trap, and not be hideous.
The heaters can't be mounted - need to sit on the ground.
I currently have that plastic fake wicker furniture in both areas, which makes me a bit concerned about melting, too.


Any suggestions? Thanks!

posted by nouvelle-personne to Home & Garden (10 answers total)

PS, that's not my actual house, but isn't Toronto real estate just devastating?
posted by nouvelle-personne at 12:42 PM on November 2, 2021

Some folks around here have front porches with wicker blinds installed that can drop or be rolled back up. I'm not sure if that will hold in the warmth enough for you, but they're attractive and seem to be put away easily enough.
posted by PussKillian at 12:50 PM on November 2, 2021

Standing propane heaters are not too expensive and they work. Some plastic (or blinds - the more attractive solution) would work well enough. You could also get a propane fire table
posted by The_Vegetables at 12:57 PM on November 2, 2021

Ikea has these privacy screens with narrow horizontal strips of wood that are quite reasonable. I would put those along the railing and then on the inside attach a tarp to it to actually stop the wind. You could just do tarp alone but it won't look as nice. Instead of a tarp you could also get thick clear plastic sold from rolls at Canadian Tire although you may have to put grommets into it to tie it to the screens.
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 1:04 PM on November 2, 2021

I'm north of toronto, what most people seem to do around here is leave up a stury gazebo (like with a metal rof, not a cloth roof. And create walls with pallets or plywood as well as tarp (sometimes with curtains on top to make it more "pretty"). Inside is usually a propane or gas heater/fireplace table (like this) and soft seating with lots of blankies. I'm in an area with a lot of homemade ice huts so people are used to making their own jerry-rigged shelter. For myself, I am planning on spending the winter in my hot tub, but my friends are cool with socialising in water.
posted by saucysault at 1:11 PM on November 2, 2021

Be sure you don't seal the space too much if you're using a propane heater, or vent it extremely well, as propane heaters and other burning heaters are a significant cause of carbon monoxide poisoning.
posted by Peach at 4:05 PM on November 2, 2021

Another option, which is a bit different but IMO superior, is electric blankets. Heating the space is going to be incredibly inefficient, and probably expensive, but electric blankets are cheap and heat the body directly. Last winter I used this option on our unheated porch (similar climate, with daytime temperatures around -10C) and we happily spent hours outside drinking tea and talking. Run an outdoor extension cord out the window, put on your winter coat, and wrap a blanket around yourself - very cozy!
posted by epanalepsis at 4:46 PM on November 2, 2021

I also highly recommend electric blankets. I find them more comfortable than outdoor heating sources, they are more environmentally friendly, and if you are staying outside due to Covid concerns they allow for warmth with better airflow.
posted by metasarah at 5:54 PM on November 2, 2021

Depending on the configuration, you could also go the Japanese way of heating your chair - some train station waiting rooms in the mountains are heated like that, just a heater aimed directly at your backside. Very effective, like heated car seats. Easily replicated with a small electric blanket or pillow.
posted by I claim sanctuary at 12:33 AM on November 3, 2021

Insulation between person and chair - we have camping pads like little Thermarests - and insulation under everyone’s feet will help the electric blankets a lot. Hot water bottles for the feet, if the blanket is too short.
posted by clew at 6:43 AM on November 3, 2021