The sun is out, the warm weather is upon us, so that means patio season is officially here- but is your outdoor area ready? We put together 5 helpful and simple tips to style your outdoor area! From selecting an outdoor area rug to clustering lanterns on a tabletop together for ambience, we have some easy-to-do style tips for you.
1. Make a Sketch
But first – how do you want to use your outdoor area? Is it a place to gather with friends, eat dinner outside, sit in a lounge chair under an umbrella to read a book, work on your green thumb, or do you have children (furry or human) keeping you company? This will help you determine whether you need a seating area, a table with chairs, storage, lighting, and anything else that comes to mind! Think about the space and potential outdoor decor. Draw a quick sketch so you can really lay everything out and visualize it. It is another room in the house, just without walls!
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2. Start from the ground up:
The easiest way to freshen up a space is with new flooring! And it doesn’t have to break the bank. You can make your outdoor area into a summer getaway with just the simple addition of an outdoor area rug and décor. Keep it casual, get checked out, keep it classic or have fun with florals and stripes! What’s your style?
You can view our full assortment of outdoor rugs to find what style works best for you.
Make sure you also think about the rug size. If you’re having a hard time creating a space, the new outdoor area rug can sometimes help you open things up.
Plus, outdoor rugs resist staining, fading and mold/mildew.
To help keep the outdoor dirt outdoors, we recommend a welcome mat to catch anything you don’t want tracked inside your home. Look through our full assortment of our outdoor mats and find the one that fits your aesthetic!
3. Lanterns + Lighting
Outdoor décor is not only about outdoor furniture and outdoor flooring. Don’t forget about lighting! Create magical summer nights with string lights, flameless outdoor candles, lanterns, solar lighting or even a fire pit!
Mix up the sizes with your lanterns, like Pottery Barn did!
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Hang string lighting to add a twinkle to the view above!
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4. Accents:
Time for accessories! Pick up some fun outdoor throw pillows, outdoor plates + stemware, an umbrella or sound, like wind chimes or a water fountain. If you’ve chosen outdoor seating that is more neutral, adding some colorful throw pillows to them will add an instant glow + personalized touch. Make it your happy place!
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5. Stylish Storage:
Ok, so you’ve got the outdoor rug, the lighting, some touches of color, but now need some storage. Do you have any cushions and pillows to store when they aren’t being used? Growing up in my household, my mom always laid them on the kitchen floor, which ultimately took up a lot of space. Look for an outdoor storage bench that can be functional yet stylish and useful as an extra seat or two. Finding multi-functioning outdoor furniture can really make the space you have more valuable, especially if you are limited on the size of your outdoor area. Plus, if you have furniture that fits your needs, you’re more likely to use it, enjoy it, and feel good about the outdoor oasis you have created.
This storage trunk from Pottery Barn is perfect for storing outdoor entertaining essentials!
We love the idea of this side table that also acts as a cooler!
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Happy decorating!
Reba
