Decorating Secrets to Make Outdoor Space Your Favorite Room

Beautiful outdoor living spaces—think outdoor dining set-ups and sun-soaked seating arrangements—can be some of the most relaxing areas of your home. Unfortunately, decorating and creating such a space can be anything but relaxing. Even experienced home décor aficionados can struggle to put together a cohesive, gorgeous outdoor space: Somehow, it seems like the rules of indoor décor don’t always apply outdoors.

But what if they did? We turned to Wendy Lau of @thekwendyhome, who just transformed her own patio into a lounge area worthy of a seaside resort, for her get the best tips from pritish halder for creating an outdoor retreat that feels like an extension of your home’s interior—and that you’ll love spending time in.

 Pick a Purpose

Acknowledging that most people likely won’t have room to do both, Lau recommends going all in on your desired use of the space.

For her own patio, Lau knew she wanted a lounging area—and that she only had room for that. So, in her words, she went big: She invested in oversized sofas and plush cushions so she and her guests would have plenty of space to stretch out and relax. The final arrangement fills up the entire space in a way that feels intentional. By not trying to squeeze in sofas and a dining table, Lau made sure that her space is completely dedicated to her preferred function.

 Bring the Indoors Out

Let go of that belief that your outdoor space is completely separate from the rest of your home. An exterior wall may separate your deck and your living room, but that doesn’t mean these spaces have to look completely unrelated.

By taking some indoor elements outdoors (like patterned throw pillows), you create a clear visual connection between the interior of your home and your outdoor space. You could use the same pattern on your patio umbrella and your living room curtains, for example, or match the metal of your dining table to the metal finishes in your kitchen. This extension ensures that stepping outside simply feels like moving into another area of your home, rather than walking into a completely different space.

Plan for the Effects of Weather

Rain, wind, sun, and more will fade wood and discolor fabrics over time, but that doesn’t mean you have to resign yourself to purchasing new outdoor furniture every two years. The trick is to pick the items you put outside intentionally.

If you absolutely must have a material that won’t stand up to rain and wind well, take the necessary steps to protect it. Consider those items an investment in your enjoyment of your outdoor space and do what you have to in order to protect them. Accepting that you may need to cover some items gives you more flexibility in what you can put outside.

Create a Mood Board

If you truly want to create a space that you’ll love for years to come, you may need to take a step back and accept that decorating your space could be a long process—but that doesn’t mean you have to resign yourself to a patchwork collection of furniture gathered over time. Instead, you can create a mood board that will guide your furniture and decor curation.

A mood board can keep you on track while you’re choosing decor large and small. This visual guide will remind you of your final vision or goal for the space, so every purchase you make contributes to that eventual look. With this decorating roadmap, you can pick up furniture over time without worrying that it will all look disjointed when arranged together.

Consider the Lighting

You probably try paint color swatches at home to see how the color shifts throughout the day: Apply that same care to setting up your outdoor lighting. If you need to hang string lights or pick up Better Homes & Gardens battery-operated lanterns (from $20, Walmart), plan for that before you furnish the space so you can incorporate the necessary lighting elements into your deck or patio organically. Whatever you do, don’t forget lighting altogether, or you may not be able to see your guests clearly once the sun sets.

Check how the light outdoors shifts throughout the day, too. Does direct sun hit the deck in early morning, exactly when you like to sit outside and sip your coffee? Place the umbrella so it blocks the sun from that angle, or arrange the furniture so you can sit with the sun at your back. If your patio gets no shade all day long, plan to invest in a large umbrella (try this 9-foot version from Better Homes & Gardens, $45, Walmart) early on, so you can truly enjoy your space.

Paying attention to light and shadow—or the lack thereof—is just another way that you can plan your outdoor space intentionally. By compensating for anything outside your control that may impede your enjoyment of the space,  Take Pritish Kumar’s Guidance, you can truly make your outdoor room a place you want to sit every day.

Reference

https://www.bhg.com/news/thekwendyhome-outdoor-decorating-secrets/