Decorating Outdoor Living Spaces

sensational summer blog hop, giveaway and link party @diyshowoff

Summer is my favorite season of all – warm weather, long days and relaxing outdoors.  We enjoy our patio, gazebo/grape arbor and barn patio area more than being indoors this time of the year. And I love decorating our outdoor living spaces just as much as I love decorating indoors. 

gazebo @diyshowoff

Pops of color: Because I love to change things up every year, I find that keeping larger furniture pieces neutral works best since we tend to use them for 10 years or more at a time and to decorate with colorful accents. 

outdoor living space and patio @diyshowoffoutdoor living space and patio @diyshowoff

Planting flowers breathes life and color into outdoor living areas. This year it’s shades of yellows, oranges, pinks and reds. 

outdoor living space and patio @diyshowoff

Colorful accent pillows are an invitation to get comfy and kick back with a frosty glass of lemonade. I like lots of pillows to soften things up.

outdoor living space and patio @diyshowoff

Decorative accents: 

Fun planters add a whimsical touch. (pallet, chandelier, tire)…

outdoor living space and patio @diyshowoff

I recently spray painted a colander to add balance to the planters displayed in our magnolia tree …

DIYShowOff Colander Planter

Repurposed items add interest. (bird feeder, bundt pan, birdie garland)…

DIY tea cup candle sconce bird feeder tutorial @diyshowoffpatio umbrella table planter/centerpiece (repurposed bundt pan) @diyshowoffHow to make a birdie garland at diyshowoff.com

Furniture placement:

I love creating different cozy conversational areas like under the grape arbor for catching up with friends on this little bistro set

Bistro Set Makeover @diyshowoff

swinging with the baby…

sensational summer blog hop, giveaway and link party @diyshowoff

or positioning our canopied porch swing into a daybed position for curling up with a good book or a sweet pup…

outdoor living space and patio @diyshowoff

al fresco dining near the kitchen door and grill…

outdoor living space and patio @diyshowoff 

areas to encourage conversation…

outdoor living space and patio @diyshowoff

 The flowers in my pallet garden have sprouted but aren’t visible yet. 

outdoor living space and patio @diyshowoff

For entertaining, we set up a buffet on the harvest table at our barn area with outdoor games in the yard near by. We add rental tables and chairs in the shade for large gatherings, a smaller comfortable area for more intimate parties. I haven’t tackled de-winterizing yet, but here’s now it usually looks all cleaned up…

barn party patioparty patio

To celebrate the start of summer we have an AWESOME Sensational Summer Outdoor Spaces Cash Giveaway for you! Enter to win $300 PayPal CASH! 

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

Visit more outdoor spaces/outdoor living inspiration from these talented blog friends: 

Setting for Four

Sand and Sisal

Domestically Speaking

My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

Cupcakes and Crinoline

DIY Show Off

At the Picket Fence

StoneGable

Debbie Doos

Redhead Can Decorate

On Sutton Place

Clean and Scentsible

Yesterday on Tuesday

Top This Top That

Town and Country Living 

And a link party too! Share your summer related blog posts, browse the links for more inspiration!  
OH! And you’re going to need this for your outdoor living areas too! Chemical-free DIY outdoor spray. I just whipped up a batch for my mosquito-magnet hubby and love that I can use it on the dog too! 

essential oils DIY outdoor spray recipe

 

Patio Umbrella Table Planter/Centerpiece

Love accessorizing the patio with flowers? me too! This repurposed bundt/coffee cake pan works perfectly for the center of our patio table. 

patio umbrella table planter/centerpiece (repurposed bundt pan) @diyshowoff

Materials:

  • bundt cake pan (be sure the center hole can accommodate your umbrella). I used this coffee cake pan (affiliate link).
  • RustOleum spray paint
  • FrogTape
  • flowers, plants or succulents and potting soil

patio umbrella table centerpiece planter tutorial @diyshowoff

The tutorial is pretty self explanatory:  I simply gave the outside a coat of spray paint, taped off and painted some stripes for a fun look. I also poked holes into the bottom of the pan to allow for drainage. Then simply added some flowers. 

patio umbrella table planter/centerpiece (repurposed bundt pan) @diyshowoffLine the planter up with the hole in the table, insert umbrella through the center of the bundt pan. patio umbrella table planter/centerpiece (repurposed bundt pan) @diyshowoffpatio umbrella table planter/centerpiece (repurposed bundt pan) @diyshowoff

Since our patio is right off the kitchen, we spend a lot of time dining, entertaining or just relaxing outside when the weather cooperates. How about you? 

patio umbrella table planter/centerpiece (repurposed bundt pan) @diyshowoff

Outdoor Bistro Set Before and After

With summer right around the corner, it’s time to spruce up outdoor seating areas. The oil rubbed bronze of this bistro set matched everything nicely but it’s just so brown and tired. 

Before:

DIYShowOff Bistro Set Makeover before

Originally it was a $15 yard sale score, ivory and rusty. 

Wayyyyy before…

bistro set before @diyshowoff

Here it is better staged in our grape arbor/gazebo recycled brick patio/pathway reveal, but it gets lost…

recycled brick patio @diyshowoff

 

Here’s what I did:

Bistro Set Makeover @diyshowoff

Remove the glass top. A little sanding of the rusty spots, a good wipe down (Yes! That’s Young Living Thieves household cleaner)…

Thieves cleaner

and one can of Rust-Oleum Painter’s Touch Ultra Cover 2X in navy (don’t forget your mask)!, a day of dry time….

RustOleum Painters Touch Ultra Cover 2x

…then re-insert glass, top with a couple of homemade cushions and I’m loving the new pop of color.

After:

Bistro Set Makeover @diyshowoff Bistro Set Makeover @diyshowoff Bistro Set Makeover @diyshowoff

Much happier, isn’t it? Do you have some tired old boring outdoor furniture ready for a re-freshening?