"Five Essentials for Outdoor Living"

Hello there strangers! Hope you all are enjoying your summer. It's just about that time of year when I start to get over the warm weather.  It certainly doesn't help that it's been scorching (95+)  here lately. 

I've just put the finishing touches on my key messages for a local news appearance on Monday.  I'm heading over to Fox 46's Good Day Charlotte to talk outdoor decorating.  Actually, I'll be doing a live patio makeover at the studio.  Fun!! As I was thinking through my messaging, I realized that it might be good info to share here as well.  I'm often asked on social media about my outdoor space. 

 

People seem to comment on how inviting it is and that got me thinking.  Most outdoor furniture groups come with the essentials; seating, basic cushions, table(s).  But what do you do after that?  There really are only a few key pieces you need to add to create an inviting outdoor space of your own. 

Here are my top five essentials for outdoor living...

1.      Rugs – Rugs define the seating area.  They also add an elevated level of comfort underfoot. 

2.      Colorful pillows – Pillows adds visual interest, style and comfort. There are tons of options available too.

3.      Shade- If you don’t have the luxury of a covered outdoor space, shade is essential. Patio umbrellas can be found in a multitude of colors and styles.  Like pillows, they provide the opportunity to add color and personal style to the space.

4.      Lighting – String lights, solar/outdoor lamps and candles add light and ambiance.  Candles can serve a dual purpose by warding off pesky insects if you opt for citronella.  

5.      Plants- Blooming annuals and/or foliage add texture and color and bring life to the space.  If you have a brown thumb, lovely faux options are available.

Bonus:  Adding a water feature can provide that calming "zen" effect to your space.  Fountains come in all shapes, sizes and price points.

These five essentials can be added to your outdoor spaces whether you have a porch, patio, gazebo, lanai, screened porch, deck or balcony.  Remember, the goal is to maximize your home's square footage and love every inch of it. 

Stay cool y'all!

"Screened In"

Well, it's been a minute since I checked in with you guys.  Looks like even the once a week blog post is proving to be a challenge these days. 

I literally just returned from a trip home to Mississippi.  My mother had a knee replacement surgery, so I went home to help out.  It turned out to be a little more intense than I'd expected so my free time was practically nonexistent.   Thankfully, mom is doing a little better now so I thought I'd pop in to share a little about a quick project I spruced up while I was away.

You likely recall me giving my parent's patio a little makeover last year.  It's my mother's FAVORITE place to spend time, so she asked me to hook it up while I was home on vacation last spring. 

You can read about it on my Sprucing Up My Parent's Patio post. 

Well, over the holidays they had a portion of the space screened in.  It's something my mom has talked about forever and they finally made it happen.  I'll be honest, I was a bit skeptical about the space being too small, but it actually turned out pretty well. 

(Sorry, all I had with me was a cell phone.)  

Of course after the construction and winter, things were looking a bit out of sorts. My sister and I got to work bringing it back to its' former glory.   After cleaning away the debris we added a solar/electric lamp from Lowe's.  There's something about lighting in an outdoor space that ups the ante.  I used to own a table lamp version very similar to this one and loved it. 

Lowe's Home Improvement

My mom insisted that we get her one...so we did.  We also knew she'd need a side table near the rocking chair and At Home had a great selection to choose from. 

This wood and wrought iron cutie only set us back 25 bucks!  Additionally, we picked up a tray, outdoor mat and the rocking chair pillow from Ross. 

This time of year, there's not much blooming so we depended on a little green to liven things up.

I think we did pretty well. 

It turns out the space is now the perfect bug-free zone to enjoy day....

and night...

Excuse the space heater.  It was pretty chilly.

All they need now is a water feature and spring blooms and they'll be all set!  Needless to say, now I'm itching to get in my own outdoor spaces to make some magic happen.  Do you have Spring Fever yet?

"Present Over Perfect"

I vowed at the beginning of the year, that I'd worry a lot less about things being perfect and a lot more about enjoying what I have and where I am...right now. A friend of mine put it this way, "Present Over Perfect". With this in mind, after sprucing up my patio, I thought it was appropriate to take some time out to actually enjoy it. 

 

So I invited a few friends over for a casual night out on the patio.

 

 

I mean what's the point of working so hard to create a beautiful space if you never actually use it?

 

I kept things simple by choosing a menu that didn't require a lot of work. Summer salads were the theme and they went over BIG! Thanks to Fresh Market for the help.

 

 

Surprisingly, the weather was perfect and unseasonably cool.

 

 

I wasn't complaining because it gave me the perfect excuse to fire up the outdoor fireplace.

 

 

We had a fantastic time and I'm so glad I got over the fact that it's not perfect (in my mind) and took some time to enjoy it and those closest to me. 

 

 

  I love these ladies.

 

It's always my aim to make my guests feel special and appreciated so I always try to think of one thing that I can do that's a little different.  Since I love fresh cut flower so much, I decided to share some with my guests. 

 

 

A simple sign that read, "Take some blooms and come back soon!", was the perfect parting gift.  I thrifted small vases and picked up a few grocery store blooms.  A super simple way to send you guests away with a reminder of a great time.

 

Do you get stuck trying to make things perfect instead of being present and enjoying the moment?  I'm turning over an new leaf and kicking perfection to the curb.  The older I get, the more I realize that the only person who cares about things being perfect is....me.

 

 

 

Head over to the Habitat ReStore blog to read more about my newest patio addition.

CLICK HERE

 

 

 

"Sprucing Up My Parent's Patio"

Hi there! Sorry for the recent radio silence.  I neglected to share with you all that I was going on vacation last week. I had a wonderful time at home in Mississippi last week with my family.  Funny enough, the trip was not without a design project.  My mother insisted that I help her pull together her outdoor space. 

My parent's have a pretty nice space, complete with a large front and back yard.  My mom spends lots of time on the back patio and really needed it to be much more inviting. (I apologize for the cell phone pics.)

Let's just say the space began as a hot mess.  My mom has quite a green thumb but that's about where it ends.

 

She recently purchased a new patio dining set and needed some help with the layout.

via Home Depot (Discontinued)

 

So with a huge space to deal with we decided to break it into areas. 

 

 

This little nook was perfect for a seating space.  We reoriented the furniture and added a small rug to define the area.  Pillows and accessories and of course (my fav), greenery in basket planters finishes it off.

 

For the dining space we opted for a configuration that would keep most guests out of the scorching sun.  I think it actually works so much better.

There's another area that allowed for a small bistro table and two existing chairs and her new QVC umbrella, complete with lights provides some much needed shade. 

 

We were obsessed with this umbrella.  It has solar lights that provide quite a bit of illumination in the evenings and lots of shade during the day.  You can find more info on it HERE.

 

 

As always, design is in the details and we added a few here and there.

 

There's something alluring about a string of lights in evening, so I couldn't finish this makeover without adding just one strand. 

 

 

They were the perfect finishing touch. 

The best part of the entire patio makeover was the time we spent there every morning and evening.  I love that design has the power to change the way you live and enjoy your home. 



 It may have even inspired me to utilize my outdoor space a little more often.

"Outdoor Living Space Reveal"

Recently, I shared my plans to spruce up my back patio. The truth is, while I LOVE gardening, I don't actually spend a lot of time hanging out on my patio. Well, I'm on a mission to change that. I pleased to report that over the last couple of weeks, I've had a chance to spruce things up a bit and I'm really loving the results.

I think one of the keys to creating a cozy outdoor living space is to think of it as an outdoor living room. The same techniques used to furnish and accessorize a living room, can certainly be utilized on a porch or patio.

Ample and comfortable seating is key. I had my cushions recovered and added a pop of color on the piping to keep the neutral fabric fun. I ended up keeping my outdoor rug that I purchased at Habitat ReStore last year instead of using the new one I purchased at the Catawba Valley ReStore recently. I opted to use the new rug on the front porch. 

I also believe that each seat requires a place to put down a drink, so side tables are a must.

They're also great places for smaller plants and accessories. I items like candles and decorative accessories can get overlooked outdoors, but these days they make so many of them for outdoor use.

In addition to my terracotta planters, this year I added texture with baskets. I'm not sure how they'll hold up in the elements, so most are contained under the covered portion of my patio.

I've also learned over the years that not every plant needs to bloom. Lately, I have a much greater appreciation for greenery, but I do still love my blooms....

Lastly, my favorite new addition to this space was by far the outdoor fireplace I scored on Craigslist for $50!! New in the Box.

This baby has completely changed how (and how often) I use my outdoor space.  And yes, I do have a mirror in my outdoor space. (NOTE: I've seen others also use art outdoors) I told you, treat it like it's a living room and you'll be surprised what you can create.

Until next time....