The warm summer nights of summer are not far off. Now is the time to add some decorative touches to your outdoor living areas so you can enjoy the lazy, crazy, hazy days of summer in a beautiful and comfortable environment.
Fabric
We have talked about outdoor fabrics but it bears repeating. Gone are the days when you were limited to solid colors, an old fashioned floral or a wide stripe in outdoor fabrics. Today’s line includes botanicals, checks, polka dots, geometrics and every solid color imaginable, making it possible to coordinate your outdoor furniture with your interior. These fabrics are durable, mold and mildew resistant, moisture proof and resist fading. Add cushions to outdoor benches, recover your chaise and customize your umbrellas. You can even make tablecloths and placemats for a fully coordinated look.
Furniture
Depending on the size of your outdoor living space, furniture may be limited to a dining table and chairs or you may have space for a full size sofa and coffee table. Choose from beautiful metals, airy wicker and rattan or molded plastic. The key is to make it comfortable. You can even purchase table and floor lamps designed for use outdoors. These lights provide a wonderful ambience.
Accessories
This is the fun part of decorating. Accessories may include outdoor rugs, a ceiling fan to cool the area, beautiful metal artwork meant for hanging outdoors, and lots and lots of candles and candle holders. Be sure to add a touch of whimsy and surpise. How about tucking a little frog statue into the ground cover? Ceramic mushrooms will add some color to a garden, or hang some unique birdhouses from the tree limbs.
Don’t forget the dishes. Today’s line of acrylic dishware is beautiful and affordable. There are patterns and colors that mimic real china and crystal. One added benefit to using these beautiful dishes—they are considered “green” since you will not be throwing away paper plates and cups and plastic cutlery.
Last one in the pool is a rotten egg!!!
The quality of outdoor furniture and accessories has risen dramatically over the last few years. It’s nice to be able to choose from a wide variety of styles, colors, and designs, and know that they will do fine in the weather outside.
Stan Horst
Publisher: BetterBenches.com
I love these outdoor decorating ideas. I especially like the idea of adding a weather-proof floor lamp to help increase the lighting ambiance.
Hi Emily,
So glad you enjoyed the decorating ideas. Outdoor floor and table lamps can be found at home improvement stores like Lowes and Home Depot as well as from catalogs such as Frontgate. Enjoy your summer entertaining.
Diane
i need guidance as i attempt to order and make my own cushions for a three cushion outdoor couch and a one cushion chair of metal extraction. is there a ‘how to’ order/sew/etc. to help me do this? appreciate
Hi Nancy
You may want to check out my fellow blogger, Elizabeth’s, posts on slipcovers that appear on this blog. Making cushions slipcovers is a relatively easy process, especially if the style is a simple, one seam cushion. You might also want to check out Danny Lipford’s site at http://www.dannylipford.com for help. The process of reupholstering outdoor furniture is the same as with indoor furniture but you will want to choose your fabric, foam and trim wisely. Be sure to select products that can withstand the elements and are resistant to moisture, mildew and fading. One piece of advice–try to coordinate your outdoor upholstery with your color scheme from indoors for an easy flow.
Enjoy the rest of the summer in your newly decorated outdoor space and thanks for visiting our blog.
Diane