My family always groans when the sentence starts with “I think I’m going to paint (fill in the blank piece of furniture)”. The truth is paint IS a really great way to freshen up tired, dated or just less than exciting furniture and accessories. Decorating your out-of-doors is no exception. The same basic rules apply OUTSIDE as they do in. (need a reminder? Click to Pam’s Sneaky Secrets) The first step in ANY design is to have a plan! This includes the out of doors. If you’ve been stuck in the greys of winter, you may be longing for some color. This season it’s all about the sherbet colors: Tangerine, Lemon, Mint, Pale Blue, Lavender. Green is always a safe bet outside, but you could also consider a black and white and tan theme for a little sophistication.
1. Paint your old furniture.
EVEN the plastic stuff. Yes. You can. They make a paint for that. I am NOT going to recreate instructions for you as there are so many online. Here’s a good basic to get you started:
Plastic chairs are cheap, they stack, they’re not too terribly uncomfortable and they clean up well. Have some old white ones cluttering up the side yard? Grab a couple of cans of multi-colored plastic spray paint and go to town! Don’t feel limited to plastic. With a little prep work, you can paint metal furniture, old pieces of iron work. Suit your design plan, home style or the mood of the party.
2. Fresh Flowers/Updated Plantings
Remember the rule of threes? Well this can work in ‘arranging’ your exterior space as well. Purchase and group some plantings that you can group together. Small/Medium/Large. A few pictures for your pleasure:
3. Creative Lighting.
We love to simply BE outside. Not just for entertaining, but just because we enjoy it. We like to sit out just before desk, glass of wine in hand, a little nosh on the table next to us and enjoy the changing light. A little sparkle of candlelight as the light segues into darkness is a MUST. You can always bring your inside candlelight out, find inexpensive votives to scatter about. Some sort of glass protection is a must to keep the evening breezes from blowing out your light. Here are some clever ideas for exterior lighting:
4. Fresh Cushions (Maybe an Umbrella, as well?)
Update the comfort, functionality and durability of your furniture with some cushions. There are all kinds of places to buy these or you can sew them yourself. If you live in a climate that is drier OR if you’re willing to bring things in, you can use regular fabric cushions. If you plan on leaving them outside, however, you will want to use a fabric designed to resist fading in the sun and rotting in the rain, like Sunbrella. Don’t want to sew (me either!). There are all kinds of places to buy these. They are loaded with inventory right now, but remember these are seasonal items in most stores in stock. Check online off season.
- HomeDepot/Lowes
- HomeGoods/TJ Maxx/Marshalls
- CostPlus World Market
- Ballard Design Online
5. A Hose.
Well, by this I mean give your backyard a thorough cleaning. I suppose it goes without saying that you will want to prune your garden, but THAT is an entirely different article.
