{"id":97961,"date":"2019-08-29T09:00:03","date_gmt":"2019-08-29T13:00:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bhgre.com\/bhgrelife\/?p=97961"},"modified":"2019-09-13T17:45:48","modified_gmt":"2019-09-13T21:45:48","slug":"outdoor-home-decor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bhgre.com\/bhgrelife\/outdoor-home-decor\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Outfit your Outdoor Living Area for Summer"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Whether you\u2019re lucky enough to live in a\nhome with a wraparound porch and a huge backyard that backs on a bird sanctuary\nor you live in a modern condo with a small but lovely patio, outfitting your\noutdoor living area for summer is a fun challenge. Decorating a patio is sure\nto make you appreciate your home more, regardless of its size.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Principles\nof Outdoor Home Decor<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There aren\u2019t really many rules about outdoor home decor<\/a> other\nthan those imposed by HOAs and condo associations. Within those bounds though,\nthe first principle of outdoor home decor is to define how you want to use the\nspace. If it\u2019s your escape from the chaos that reigns within, your design\nchoices should reflect that secret garden approach to make it your own personal\nsanctuary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If, however, you want your outdoor space\nto be the place you do all your summer entertaining, you\u2019ll want to emphasize\nthe openness of the space and create gathering points<\/a> within it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Remember not to try to make a small space\nserve too many purposes at once. Your small patio can\u2019t be a children\u2019s play\narea and a quiet reading space simultaneously. If you want to use the patio\nprimarily for entertaining, decide whether you want the space to be formal,\nwith a sit-down table, or informal, with guests eating on their laps or small\nside tables.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are some other tips for outfitting\nyour outdoor living area for the summer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Backyard<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Scale\nYour Furnishings<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

No matter how comfortable an overstuffed\nchair is, if you\u2019ve got a small patio, you\u2019ll want to make sure it isn\u2019t\noverwhelmed by d\u00e9cor. Try choosing chairs without arms and, if possible, use\nstackable chairs so they take up less space when not in use. Consider using\nbenches as seating, since their backless nature means they take up less room\nvisually and allow unobstructed views when not occupied.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019ve got a huge backyard, consider\ncreating several different outdoor spaces: one for entertaining, one for\ngetting away from it all, and one for making mud pies or playing tag.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Pillows<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Take\nLounging Seriously<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Whether you want to sit outside for 10\nminutes every morning with a cup of coffee or retreat to your backyard\nsanctuary after a hard day at the office, don\u2019t forget that the whole point of\nthis outdoor space is to help you relax while you feel the breeze and can\nadmire the trees and flowers comfortably.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Invest in a hammock, a really comfortable\nlounge chair, or a swing. It\u2019s up to you whether you want to control the sounds\nyou hear while enjoying your outdoor space, but if you find water features or\nwind chimes soothing, indulge yourself. Both items lend themselves to\nindividualization, and there are lots of DIY water feature and wind chime\nprojects you can create that won\u2019t break the bank and will give you a sense of\nsatisfaction every time you see and hear them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Beautiful<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Create\nSome Shade<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Whether you\u2019re a sun worshipper or not,\nyou and your guests are going to want some shelter on hot days. There are so\nmany ways to achieve this, whether it\u2019s buying a patio umbrella, building an\nopen-air gazebo, or just placing large potted plants at strategic intervals\noutside. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can also attach a sun-resistant\nfabric canopy to your deck railings to keep the sun from beating down. If you\nstart early enough in the season, add posts to your deck and create a pergola\nor lattice canopy by building an overhead frame with chicken wire and growing\nscarlet runner beans to provide shade (and color, since they have beautiful\nscarlet blooms). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A sail shade is also a quick, cheap and\neasy sun deflector. Cut a piece of fade-resistant fabric into a triangle, punch\neyelets in the corners, and attach the shade to nearby trees, poles, or the\nside of the house. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alternatively, you can enclose your\nentire deck in canvas shades for shelter from the sun and enhanced privacy\n(sort of like being inside a four-poster bed with the curtains closed).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However you decide to decorate your\noutdoor living area for the summer, make sure you create a space you and your\nguests will be able to use comfortably. You\u2019ll probably need more small tables\nthan you realize so guests have somewhere to put their drinks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additionally, you\u2019ll want to pace out the\nfurniture placement so the traffic flow makes sense\u2014if you\u2019ve decided on a\nformal dining area, track the way you move from kitchen to barbeque area and\nfrom barbeque area to table to make sure you\u2019re not going to trip over either\nguests or furniture. But most importantly, make your outdoor space comfortable\nso you can enjoy the lazy, hazy days of summer while they\u2019re here.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"