In Canada the warmer months of the year are a delight! Countless nights are spent in the yard chatting with family and friends over drinks and a BBQ. This time of year is one of our favourites here at The Shopping Channel; we put together some great items that will help you turn your yard into an inviting living space.

Illuminate your walkway or seating area with a classic lantern like this one from Luminara. It will add warmth and ambiance to your outdoor living area and will give you peace of mind with an LED flameless candle. For added convenience, this lantern comes with a built-in auto timer and will turn on and off at the same time every day.

There’s no better way to enjoy the tranquility of your backyard than swaying back and forth in a hammock. This Vivere Polyester Rope Hammock is woven with soft spun polyester for added comfort and will resist mildew, rot, and decay. Secure this hammock between two trees then grab a book and spend the afternoon reading or sleeping.

Add some fun to your backyard with a fire pit, like this 35″ Square Fire Pit exclusively designed for The Shopping Channel. Not only will this piece fit perfectly with any outdoor look, it will also keep you warm during cooler nights. Secure the fire pit with the grill top and you’ll be serving some yummy treats in no time!

I love where I live. It’s downtown, I’m surrounded by shops and pretty urban parks. But, of course, there’s a downside too: I live in a cute apartment, but there’s no balcony. Apart from a window box and the local park, my access to outdoor living is limited. Of course, I feel this most poignantly in the summer months, especially when I discern the faint aroma of a BBQ from one of the neighbouring homes.

But there’s no longer any need to feel left out. I was over the moon when I received the Sanyo Indoor BBQ Grill to test out. It’s salvation for those of us who crave that impossible-to-replicate BBQ flavour but lack the deck, patio or garden.

And while it’s perfect for apartment-dwellers like myself, it’s use is by no means limited to us. This is Canada after all, and despite global warming it still gets too cold to cook outdoors in the winter. So, long after those neighbouring homes have packed up their tool set, I’ll still be whipping up glazed baby back ribs on this little winner!