You all know how much I love outdoor living spaces and today I’m joining a group of blog friends and we are all sharing our ideas on how to make the most of your porch or patio. If you’ve been reading my blog for any length of time, you know how much I enjoy being outside and each house I’ve lived in, I’ve shared big and small ways to make those spaces cozy and liveable, no matter the space I had. I’ve had open deck spaces, a screened porch, and of course screened porches with a roof over head is the best in my opinion, but no matter what you have, there are ways to make them cozy and comfortable with a few ideas that can translate to any space.
I can’t wait to share our new patio/screened porch with you all next weekend, but in the meantime, enjoy this fun outdoor post!
First of all, Use All Weather Furniture
Add furniture that can take the weather so you don’t have to worry about that part. All weather wicker is great and I’ve had some for 10 years that’s still going strong from Big Lots. That brown wicker got my outdoor spaces going in a direction and I’ve got other pieces of brown wicker that all coordinate together just fine.
1. Add Cozy Cushions, Throw pillows, throws, as well as an Outdoor Rug
It does take a bit of work to keep an open outdoor area clean all the time, but so worth it for outdoor relaxing and seating for a group. Cushions and pillows add that soft goods factor that you definitely want when you’re outdoors relaxing. A soft rug underfoot really makes an outdoor space cozy. Yes they get wet but an outdoor rug will dry out pretty fast and it just feels so good to walk on. Anchor your furniture with an outdoor rug for a real room feel. I look for outdoor rugs that are not heavily hooked or have too much fiber going on. The flatter ones work best for drying out fast. You can tell the difference when you’re looking.
Our current deck space.
My previous house had a cute screened porch and I loved adding cozy cushions and throws to the space.
2. Add an Umbrella
If you don’t have a covered space, there’s nothing better to help with sun issues than a big umbrella. Definitely worth the investment to have a place to gather under during the heat of summer. Umbrellas have been a big part of my outdoor living on patios and open decks.
This is my previous patio space at my old house and it was a great space to gather.
3. Add String Lights
String lights are easily found now and they add such an ambience at night when the sun goes down. It’s amazing how they add an instant resort atmosphere to your backyard. We love ours!
4. Add Plants and Planters
I dearly love plants and flowers and summer is the time to pull out all the stops and plant those planters with bursting blooms for summer. I can’t imagine my outdoor spaces without them.
5. Add Lanterns with Remote Control Candles
This is something I’m doing in our new screen porch, adding hanging lanterns and remote control candles. Easy to use and they add so much at night to your outdoor spaces. You could place lanterns on the floor as well with battery powered candles or the real thing if you want.
My old home’s screened in porch which I dearly loved as well.
That’s my top 5 tips for creating a cozy outdoor space. I hope you incorporate some of these into your own outdoor spaces for maximum living this summer. I adore being outdoors during the summer months and it really adds so much extra living space to our home.
My friends are also sharing their best tips for outdoor spaces, so be sure and visit them all!
Porch Decor Tips from On Sutton Place
Use Pillows & Throws
from Ann at On Sutton Place
One of my favorite things to do to cozy up our porch & patio is to add soft furnishings…specifically pillows and throw blankets. Our front porch is covered, so I use pillows year round. For our patio, which is not covered, I keep pillows in our family room, and bring them out when needed. Use colors that coordinate with your home, or use the colors of the season. Adding a throw blanket to chairs and sofas during the cooler months of the year makes your outdoor space comfortable and inviting, and adds some extra color too. I’ve been asked many times what I do if my porch pillows get wet…and the answer is that I don’t do anything! I simply wait for them to dry out…which they eventually do. To get more information about the porch decor pictured above, click {HERE.}
Use One Element to Tie Everything Together
from Lory at Designthusiasm
Summer Peony Wreath from StoneGable
Add a Wreath
from Yvonne at StoneGable
Bring the Inside Out
from Rhoda at Southern Hospitality
Outdoor spaces are my favorite, and I’ve found that it’s easy with just a few tips to make an outdoor space comfortable, cozy with the feel of a real room and extension of your indoor spaces. Adding cozy outdoor rugs, cushions and pillows to a space is a definite must for an outdoor space. Plants also add life and texture, as well as artwork, side tables to place a drink, hanging lanterns for cozy ambient lighting. If you add all those elements to your outdoor rooms, they will instantly feel like home.
Adding Shade to an Outdoor Space from Shabbyfufu
Add Some Shade
from Janet at Shabbyfufu
Summer is a long season here in the south! We often use our outdoor areas as an extension of the home, and strive to ensure that they are comfortable. Not only do we want to keep ourselves and our guests cool, but it’s essential to shield everyone from the sun and provide protection from the rain. One of the most budget friendly ways to add shade is with a patio umbrella. There are so many color and size options available and currently many are on pre-season sale. If you have a yard or small garden space, consider a pop up cabana or canopy. Another great option is a pergola to create the feel of an outdoor room and fill with seating to enjoy. For more ideas on freshening up your patio for the warm months, click HERE.
Outdoor Chandeliers from Maison de Cinq
Outdoor Lighting
from Sheila at Maison de Cinq
One of the things I love about French farmhouse style is how it really captures that romantic feeling – even when those spaces are outdoors! Last year we revamped our outdoor living space, but since we don’t have electricity out there, and I didn’t want to spend money to add it, I decided to go the European route and add romantic outdoor chandeliers. After all, what’s more romantic than eating by candlelight? It’s amazing how different it looks now, and how much cozier it feels! Come on over to Maison de Cinq to see how much ambiance they add, as well as lots more French farmhouse inspiration!
Outdoor Wind Chimes from In My Own Style
Add the Element of Sound
from Diane at In My Own Style
When choosing how to decorate your patio, deck or porch for outdoor living in style this year, don’t forget to add the element of sound in the way of wind chimes. Think all sound alike? Think again. Find out where you can listen to audio samples to choose just the right sound and design that will not only add some pretty, but also add a relaxing effect on the energy and mood of your outdoor living space.
Front Door Decor from Rough Luxe Lifestyle
Achieve a Collected Look
from Cindy at Rough Luxe Lifestyle
Achieving a collected look on your porch or patio is easy if you mix and match styles, finishes, and textures for interest. Add character and charm by combining the old and the new. Mix in your found treasures for personality and fun. Please come over to Rough Luxe Lifestyle to get the rest of my tips, and to see our porch!
Loving all these tips. Hoping that by this time next year we will have finished our covered and screened porch/deck area. So looking forward to sitting on the deck without being eaten alive by mosquitoes or thinking about rain. I am making lots of mental notes when the time comes to furnish it. I DO WANT TO ADD HERE: we have lots of ‘close’ neighbors and on our side of the street everyone can see everyone’s deck/porch. PLEASE if you do hang outside lights around your porch, pergola, deck, etc.. be mindful to douse the lights after 9 pm. during the week. One of our neighbors’ outdoor lights are bright enough to land a small jet. LOL. Remember, not everyone is up late and those lights can be blinding in a bedroom window. Hint. Hint. 🙂
HI, Becky, that’s a good thing to remember. Ours are not that close to our neighbors so I don’t think it would be an issue for either side of us, but that’s a good point to make. Here’s to outdoor living!