Live your best life outdoors!

Outdoor living space is becoming a highly valued item on wish lists when buyers are looking at purchasing their next home. Great outdoor spaces often remind us of vacation homes, so why not bring some of that feeling to your forever home?

Sometimes, after looking at something new for so long, it can lose its appeal. The same applies for outdoor living space. If you’ve lived in your home for a while and are feeling like the patio or deck has just lost it’s oomph – Don’t fret! You can easily take give your outdoor space a fresh new look without doing an entire landscape renovation.  Best of all, this small projects won’t take long – you’ll be ready to enjoy your refreshed patio or deck in no time!

First Things First: Be Sure To Give Your Space A Good Cleaning

The effect of pressure washing your outdoor space can sometimes be wildly underestimated. Whether you hire someone, rent the equipment or own the equipment already, it’s a must do when trying to freshen up your space. It will make it look like new! If you’ve got a deck, this might reveal that you may need a fresh coat of paint or sealant (another great way to switch up the look and feel- go for a new color & don’t be afraid to go bold!).

Cleaning isn’t just for concrete & decking, don’t forget about any windows, umbrellas or furniture, too! Washing any cushions, wiping down windows or furniture – this will all help the space feel renewed and will give you a nice starting place new ideas!

Now: Onto Furniture

If you’ve already got furniture in your space, try rearranging it for a simple and quick fresh look! Aim for a new view from each seat. If you’ve got the budget, try adding some different furniture pieces to better fit the use of your space.  You might also uncover some great finds that just need a little extra TLC from places like Habitat for Humanity, GoodWill, or Facebook Marketplace.

Indoor/outdoor floor poufs (like these from Overstock) can be affordable, compared to most outdoor furniture, are easy to move and add extra seating without making the space feel cramped. Benches are another way to add a lot of seating, without compromising space. They’re also easy to move from an eating area, to a lounging area, or even into the lawn for a fire pit or play area.

Don’t Forget To Decorate

As I’m sure you know, decor and decorations can come in all shapes, sizes, colors and themes.

Grab new pillows or cushions that align with the season (bright floral prints for spring/summer, deep burgundy, orange, and yellows for fall, and metallic gold, silver, white and plaids for holiday). Home Goods and Tuesday Morning usually have great deals on outdoor cushions – all sizes, shapes & colors!

Outdoor signs are a fun way to personalize your space. These can involve family names, inspiring quotes or reminders, and can change seasonally.

Adding lights aren’t just for the holidays anymore! String lights around the upper perimeter of your space, or up and round any vertical poles or umbrellas. Lanterns and candles are a great way to bring more decor and soft light outdoors – just be sure to blow out any active flames before retiring for the night! Better yet – grab a solar powered lantern like this one & never worry about the flame! You can also try your hand at one of these DIY Mason Jar Light Projects .

Incorporate potted plants of all sizes. Potted plants are so versatile, allowing you to section off areas, or embellish others. You can use a row of taller plants to separate the eating space from the lounging space. Or opt for multiple small pots to line the edge of your patio/deck space to embellish and distinguish this space from the rest of the yard.  With so many colors and varieties, it’s easy to make the space look and feel differently, especially as the seasons change. Plants are like the art of the outdoor world.

If you’ve already got a great spread of plants, try switching up the pots or containers they are housed in. Spray painting existing plant pots is an easy and fast way to change the look of the plants to align with your new decor and/or theme. You can also use painters tape to create simple designs on the plant pots, for even more unique look.

If you’re looking for a lower maintenance patio refresh, you can still incorporate plants – just with artificial ones anyway. This way you’ll get the lush look you’re going for without the worrying about watering, trimming, repotting or about those pesky squirrels getting into your plants and throwing dirt all over the place. There is a wide range of available artificial outdoor plants, like this small grouping from Amazon, this cedar from Wayfair, or this set of hanging ferns from Nearly Natural to fit any style or budget.  You can also purchase squares of artificial hedges that you can attach to existing structures (or buy one with a structure) to create privacy walls or for use in dividing your space. A variety of artificial hedge products can be found here.

For those of you with an existing patio covering, like a pergola or a simple roof, try adding curtains along the sides. This will add height to the space, create privacy, and splash in some color without utilizing space.

You can also get creative with your space without losing any practical aspects. There are a number of outdoor storage benches and cabinets that can be incorporated into your design, to allow for yard tools, lawn games, kids toys and gardening tools to be stored out of sight, but not far from reach. Like these wooden ones from Ikea or these from Wayfair.

For Small Spaces:

Don’t worry! You can still host great outdoor events! Just be sure to optimize the space well with both layout and design. You can easily double your space (without pouring more concrete) by creating a seating area on the lawn, centered around a fire pit or positioned toward a beautiful backyard view, and have the space on the patio/deck for solely for dining. Fire pits come in many shapes and sizes, as well as functions. This steel fire pit from Home Depot can serves as both a heat source and grilling source. It would be great for roasting marshmallows during the Summer or for cozying up during that first chilly evening of Autumn.

Additionally, minimalist or simple furniture can really transform a small space and make it feel more spacious.

For instance, these clear chairs you can see through allow your eyes to take in the space as a whole, without getting stuck on the furniture blocking the view.  Or you can always go with chairs that have low backs and can also stack, to make room, when you need it, or to seat more, when you need it. Check these out!

For more inspiration and ideas, be sure to check out Pinterest or search hashtags on Instagram like #diypatio, #backyardtransformation, #outdoorlivingspace or many others like it!