Spending time in your backyard is always a good way to breathe in some fresh air while enjoying a pleasant environment. However, when the winter comes and you neglect your outdoor living space, you might be surprised how much work you’ll need to do in the spring in order to liven up the outdoors and prepare it for the upcoming summer. Fortunately, you can easily breathe in life into your backyard, patio and even your deck if you only follow a few simple steps.
Declutter
First and foremost, you should clean up the outdoors. Whatever’s been laying around the grass or leaning against the house and just making a huge mess, should be either stored properly or disposed of. If you have items that you haven’t been using for years but are still in good shape, donate or sell them. Make room for items that you’ll be using every day and that will actually serve their purpose. Only after you’ve cleaned everything will you be able to picture the future outdoors and know where to start when it comes to adding more life to your backyard.
Sweep any leftover leaves and dirt, mop the deck and be sure the exterior of the house is in good shape too before you decide to maybe add a fresh coat of paint. The best way to refresh the outdoors is to declutter it nicely and let your imagination run wild towards the next steps.
Add a pop of colour to your furniture
Once everything has been cleaned out, it’s time to do your magic. One of the first upgrades that come to mind is definitely regarding your backyard furniture. If you’re not satisfied with your old one, there’s no need for you to go on a shopping spree and get everything new because you can just add a fresh coat of paint to your existing one and completely transform it in a blink of an eye. Lemon yellow, grass green, or sea blue are some of the colours that will look wonderful on your old furniture. This is especially true if your deck is white because it will brighten up the area even more.
After painting the furniture, feel free to add accent throw pillows in vibrating colours which will not only make the deck look super awesome, but will also make everyone sitting in the chairs and sofas even more comfortable than before. Add a large umbrella in of the summer-like colours and colourful pillow pairings to make the entire furniture arrangement pop.
Give the doors and windows an upgrade
If your windows are dated, think about changing them for new models that will keep you perfectly warm during winter and cool in the blazing summer. If all they need is a touch of upgrading, think about installing retractable window awnings that will keep the hot sun rays off the interior and make the exterior look modern and hip. Quality window awnings will also add value to your home while making it look up-to-date.
When it comes to your door, you can always use a fresh coat of paint on them too to make them truly pop. Create a dramatic impact by painting the door a bold red or blue. Alternatively, use some of the cute decorations such as flowers, wraths or anything that might be attractive to you, to add a dose of vibrancy to it.
Spruce up the greenery
When it comes to outdoors, flowers and plants have the power to completely transform your backyard. That’s why you should think about investing in a plethora of colourful flower that will liven up the backyard. Succulents can be a great addition to your outdoor décor as they add the pop of green while still being more modern than your everyday arrangements. If you’re aiming towards a natural and rustic-looking garden, then wildflowers can be a perfect solution for you. They are very low-cost and require minimum maintenance, so if you have a large yard with a variety of plants, you’ll be happy to plant a few wildflowers and not have to constantly think whether they’ve withered.
Succulents thrive in an arid climate and provide wonderful décor throughout an entire year with minimum watering. Additionally, dainty begonias, sun-loving chrysanthemum, stunning dahlias and other annuals will make your backyard look vibrant and inviting with so much pop of colour.
For everyone loving the year-round greenery, perennials such as aster lavender and hydrangeas will make your garden look stunning. Be careful with hydrangeas, though, because they tend to grow more each year so when you plant them it would be a good idea to plant them in a spacious area to allow them to flourish and grow.
Give the deck a new clean look
The look of your deck will affect the look of an entire exterior. Therefore, if it needs a bit of upgrading too, be sure you fix it before you place the new furniture and all décor on it. Feel free to play with colour and instead of keeping the floor neutral, add some vibrant hues to it to match the rest of the house.
A wood stain can always be a good idea if you’re out for an always-modern look, but soft greys and subtle blues and yellows can always look good on an airy porch. To give the deck a bit of personal touch, feel free to use stencils and create a truly unique pattern on your deck that everyone will admire. This way you won’t have to use a rug thin order to make the floor pop.
Define a dining area
If your backyard is large enough, you should also consider having a dining area. Nothing feels better than having a yummy meal outdoors in the fresh air, so create a gathering spot that can easily become an extension of your indoors. Whether you decide to place it under a covered patio or you’d prefer to create it tucked away in a corner of your garden, you’ll instantly elevate your outdoor space.
An alfresco entertaining spot will be the favourite place for everyone, especially in breezy end-of-summer nights. Invest in a small move-around grill that will be perfect for the-end-of-the-week gatherings when everyone needs a bit of relaxing and spending time together.
Consider adding a well-stocked bar top your dining area as well, to keep the party outside at all times. Stock the bar cart with dinner party essentials, such as plates, tumblers, and barware. A bar cart will also creatively refresh your space. Feel free to put some decor staples on it such as bar tools, sparkling water and many other at all times. Right before hosting a summer bash, get the drinks outside, alongside fresh lemons and limes, an ice bucket and more. Having a bar cart will free up space on the dining table and leave more room for eating and food essentials.
Hang mood lights
Ambience lighting can truly make or break the exterior. That’s why you should take a good look and use all of your creativity to play with the lighting sources. For example, you can always hang pretty string lights, above the deck or over the trees. Oversized lanterns and stone hurricanes for candles will offer wonderful lighting for your evening parties when you want to set the mood.
Table lamps will also work nicely outside if your deck is covered and there’s no risk of keeping the electrics outdoors. Empty lanterns are fabulous for putting outdoor candles in them. It will create the perfect romantic ambience for nightly gatherings.
Play with accessories
Accessories are as much a must outdoors as they are indoors. Therefore, place a cute doormat, door knocker, or some window boxes for planting flowers in your garden. If you’re out for more visual interest, hang vibrant lanterns. An outdoor rug in an interesting print can always be a lovely addition to the deck, as well as outdoor flooring tiles instead of wood floors. These will help you create a more elevated look on your deck.
Candles, small statues, and other interesting accessories will make your outdoors truly pop. Think about installing drape bistro lights across the ceiling or hang outdoor curtains to create a more living-room-like ambience that will make you feel even cosier.
Final thoughts
Refreshing your outdoors can be easily done in only a few simple steps. All you need to think about is to prepare everything for your creative ideas by de-cluttering the areas. After that, all you need to do is let your imagination run wild and feel free to rely on some of our suggestions. Plant flowers, update your furniture, add pops of colour, assemble a dining area and play with accessories to create the most visually appealing look of all times. Don’t forget to pay attention to your doors and windows and check if they need upgrading as well. Your family and friends will have no choice but to spend all the free time with you in your perfectly cosy and put-together outdoors.
Emma Williams is an Australian writer with a master‘s degree in business administration, who has a passion for anything lifestyle and design related. She spends most of her time redecorating and participating in house projects. As a great nature lover, her biggest pleasure is spending time in a small cottage by the river.
Follow Emma on Twitter – https://twitter.com/EmmaWilliams204
Did you like this post? Why not Pin it?
No Comments