Get Ready For Summer With These Easy Outdoor Updates
Photo: Tessa Neustadt
Outdoor season is upon us, which means it’s time to prepare your space for a time full of fun and festivities. A few small changes can have a big impact on your entertaining and overall enjoyment, so let’s take a look at some easy outdoor updates to help you take advantage of your backyard, patio, deck, or yard (in style) all summer long!
For even more outdoor ideas, be sure to check out:
The Best Queer Eye Outdoor Makeovers (And How To Incorporate Bobby’s Designs In Your Space)
4 Of Our Favorite Outdoor Furniture Brands
5 Ingenious Products To Get You Ready For Outdoor Living
Photo: Sara Ligorria Tramp
easy outdoor updates
SOFTEN UP Your Seating
Adding cushions or pillows to outdoor furniture will bring some much-needed softness (and make you a lot more comfortable while lounging.) Whether it’s a dining chair cushion or a grouping on an armchair, it’s a great way to introduce some color and texture to a patio that’s looking a little plain. Just make sure you’re purchasing pillows in outdoor-friendly fabrics, which will stand up to the elements and resist fading.
Photo: Sara Ligorria Tramp
easy outdoor updates
LIGHT UP Your Exterior
Take advantage of the outdoors anytime by shedding some light on your backyard. Hanging a set of string lights over a dining or seating area is a lovely way to cast a warm glow (just make sure they’re a warm white- no one wants to be blinded while trying relax!) And if you can’t suspend lights overhead, you can always drape them over a railing or line the perimeter of a door or window.
Photo: Tessa Neustadt
easy outdoor updates
WARM UP With A Firepit
Even a warm summer night can get a little chilly when the sun goes down. So keep things feeling nice and toasty with a firepit. While a built-in gas firepit would be a total dream, for a more budget-friendly option, try a freestanding propane or wood-burning model (that you can also store away when not in use). And besides keeping you warm, you can also toast some marshmallows too!
Photo: Tessa Neustadt
easy outdoor updates
SPRUCE UP Your Dining Area
If you’re using a plastic patio table or simply don’t have a proper outdoor dining area at all, now’s the time to change that. A more substantial outdoor dining set (made of powder-coated metal or durable teak) is a great investment in your outdoor entertaining for years and years to come. You can also find tables that will expand to fit up to 12 people, or intimate bistro sets made for a cozy dinner for two.
