We’ve all had the “oh shit” moment when you have people coming over on a beautiful day early in spring/summer and your outdoor area looks like it’s been through 12 winter storms (because it probably has). I get it…having an outdoor space can be a real emotional rollercoaster. Let me explain: you invest time and money designing and installing the space so that you and your friends and family can actually use it, then each year the space starts to deteriorate little by little. In the winter you might not notice, but when the heat starts picking up and your heart mind and body are telling you to lounge outside, it can be a devastating blow to realize the weather has ripped your beautiful space out of your soon-to-be sweaty little hands. Luckily, we can easily turn that lounge upside down, I promise. Here are 7 small things you can do right now to bring your outdoor space back to life so you can actually enjoy it by the time those friends of yours come over in a few days…or hours.
If you have an outdoor space you know that there is one major problem child: the cushions. Let’s start with where to buy or DIY new cushions if yours are a goner, how to clean existing ones, and how to store them so they last longer…
1. Refresh Your Outdoor Cushions
The easiest way to make your furniture look new again is to make your cushions look new again (and there are a few ways to go about this). If your cushions have been outside for a few years, maybe it’s time to get some new ones (you can call your local upholstery shop to get some or get some premade ones online if they’ll fit). As a lot of you probably already know, this can be incredibly costly and oftentimes can be close to the same price as getting a new piece of furniture which is wild. If you want a quick fix to get you through one or two more summers (or your impromptu family gathering happening at your place tomorrow) add just a few pillows to make your space feel fresh (that’s what I did for this budget lounge I created in 2020 –– we got the furniture set second hand from an awesome reader but the cushions were not in the best shape ever and this really did the trick for 2 seasons).
The last thing you can try to do to freshen up those cushions before summer is powerwash & spot clean them. I love this video to show you how!
Another thing you can do is DIY some cushions (definitely more labor-intensive but it will save you TONS of money). This post from A Beautiful Mess is super clear and easy to follow if you wanna give it a go! If you go this route, we definitely recommend using some Funbrella fabric since it will last the longest and won’t fade as quickly. Speaking of making cushions last, the other thing you should do is invest in a shed or some sort of cushion storage place for when you’re not using the space. It will make your cushions last SO much longer and you won’t have to deal with the expensive nature of replacing them (which is also much better for the environment!!)
Here are some shoppable options:
1. Sunbrella® Replacement Chair Cushion | 2. Mathew Deep Seating Indoor/Outdoor Sunbrella Seat/Back Cushion | 3. Sunbrella® Indoor/Outdoor Toss Pillows | 4. Palm Pillow Cover | 5. Classic Striped Indoor/Outdoor Pillow, 20 x 20″, Chambray | 6. Sunbrella Indoor/ Outdoor Deep Seating Cushion and Pillow Set
2. Resand Furniture
It’s sad but true: wood furniture outside is incredibly high maintenance. My parents bought a bunch of teak furniture years ago (which they still have now and it’s great) and while it’s lasted for forever, that’s only because they have spent SO many summers resanding and taking care of it. Watch this video on how this guy transformed some teak furniture he found in the trash. It’s proof that you can bring wood furniture back to life!
Here are some options if you are starting from scratch:
1. Samwell Teak Brown 4-Piece Wood Patio Conversation Set | 2. Saldano Rectangular Teak 63″ Dining Table | 3. Round 2 – Person 27.5” Long Bistro Set with Cushions | 4. Mesa Teak Chair | 5. Lithonia Acacia Wood Outdoor Club Chairs with Cushions, Set of 2 | 6. Chelsea FSC® Eucalyptus Rectangle Seating Set
3. Zone Out Your Space With A Fresh Rug Or Deck
If outdoor cushions are the problem child, the outdoor rug is the cushion’s problem cousin. It’s QUITE the task to keep them lasting for years and years so to freshen up your space you can either replace the rug (there are lots of affordable options out there since they don’t always last the longest) OR you can rethink the rug and instead invest in zoning your space with a more permanent deck or tile. The floor is always a good place to add some fun pattern or texture, so if you’re looking for an affordable deck/flooring option, you can do something like these IKEA tiles (Jess DIY’d them in her skinny outdoor balcony) or you can really invest in some fun tiles this summer like the ones on the patio at Emily’s last house. Not a quick fix but a worthwhile one:)
Here are Jess’s IKEA tiles in action!
1. Shibori Eco-Friendly Indoor/Outdoor Rug | 2. Mallsten Tiles | 3. Loft Gracie Border Natural Design Indoor/Outdoor Rug | 4. Redondo Rug | 5. Square Interlocking Acacia Wood Quick Patio Deck Tile | 6. Runnen Tiles
4. Add Plants
Another easy and relatively affordable way to make your space feel new again for summer is by adding plants around the space. It does WONDERS to bring in the life of a plant + it creates the feeling of “walls” which is important to do when you’re zoning out an area of your yard or patio.
I love a succulent because they really do last forever and you hardly need to water them (which is good to get you through the summers and beyond) but if you want to try something else and don’t know a lot about plants (I can’t say I’m the plant expert)…see this article called 15 Impossible-To-Kill Outdoor Plants.
1. 2 Succulents | 2. Cacti and Succulents | 3. Outdoor Minimalist Collection | 4. Large Majesty Palm | 5. Large Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree | 6. 5’ Travelers Palm Artificial Tree in Tall White Planter
5. Add String Lights Or An Umbrella To Create A “Ceiling”
So we briefly chatted about using plants to create “walls” but what about creating a ceiling?? It’s always a good idea to try to basically replicate an indoor room, so options for your ceiling include using string lights (which are great for nighttime) or an umbrella (which is great for shade in the daytime). Either one (or both together) is a solid option, so it really depends on how you use it. By the way, I have used the solar string lights before (which is great if you don’t have a plug in your yard) and they work really well in my opinion!
1. Plante 108” Octagonal Market Umbrella | 2. St. Tropez Beach Umbrella | 3. Solar ST38 String Lights | 4. Outdoor 20 ft. 10 Socket LED Solar Edison Bulb String Light | 5. Solar 10L String Light With Black Metal Cover And Plastic Bulb | 6. Capri 9′ Umbrella with Bronze Aluminum Pole – Water-Resistant Canvas Natural with Ink Blue Piping
6. Add A Little Fire For Ambiance
The newest hottest thing on TikTok is this tabletop fire topper product where you basically burn rubbing alcohol or a gel to get the feeling of a firepit without spending thousands of dollars. I haven’t tried the rubbing alcohol one personally (I’m worried they’ll smell weird so let me know if you’ve tried them and what your experience has been) but they are WILDLY affordable (like $20-$40 ish). I did, however, give this one as a gift to my boyfriend’s dad for father’s day last year I believe and they use it ALL the time, it burns for hours and hours and it’s so easy to use (and doesn’t smell). I highly recommend getting one for you or a friend, you can also roast marshmallows on it which rocks.
Beyond the tabletop fire pit, there’s a whole range of small to large gas or electric fire pits that will really set the vibe outside. Also, don’t forget about candles and lanterns…they always get the job done, too 🙂
1. Forestbrook 36 in. x 20.75 in. Round Outdoor Concrete Wood Burning Fire Pit | 2. Indoor – Outdoor Portable Tabletop Fire Pit | 3. Bangor Outdoor Wood Burning Fire Pit
7. Waterproof Speaker
The last thing you’ll need to refresh your outdoor yard to be party/vibe ready is some music! I love the google home speaker that connects to each other so you can play the same music throughout your whole house, but the only downside is you have to bring it in and out of your backyard since they’re not waterproof (yet). If you don’t mind having different music in your backyard vs your house then you can also get a waterproof speaker so you don’t have to worry about any water that might come near it…Sarah on our team highly recommends this waterproof one (and it would make a great father’s day gift FYI).
1. JBL Charge 3 Waterproof Portable Bluetooth Speaker | 2. Boom 3 | 3. SoundLink Revolve+ II Bluetooth® speaker
That’s all for this post, folks! If you have any more outdoor yard housekeeping tips, please comment them below. CHEERS TO ANOTHER AMAZING SUMMER UP AHEAD! Xx
Opening Image Credits: Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp | From: Jess’s Communal Patio Reveal
THIS POST WAS ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED HERE.
