Your home is your sanctuary. It is a place you can relax, enjoy time with your family and friends and just be yourself. However, if you love entertaining, you can sometimes feel a bit confined by the walls of your house.
Why not bring your living space outside the walls and into your backyard? When you start researching outdoor living areas, it is easy to become overwhelmed by the concept. Plus, when everything you read involves serious construction or cost, it may seem like having this dedicated outdoor space is out of reach from a financial standpoint. Luckily, you don’t necessarily have to spend thousands of dollars to achieve your goal of creating an enjoyable outdoor living area--all it takes is a little dedication and creativity. We’ve gathered six ideas that should inspire your quest to take the party outside.
1. Unique Planters Give Your Flowers Character - No outdoor living space is complete without flowers or greenery. You don’t have to buy dedicated flower pots for each thing you grow. Old buckets, barrels and even pots and pans can make unique planters. Open your eyes to anything that will hold some dirt. All you’ll need to do is drill a couple of holes in the bottom for drainage, and you will be ready to start planting.
2. Try Upcycled Furniture - There are tons of ways that you can take old furniture and make it work for your outdoor space. Painting and replacing the fabric slings on old lawn furniture is much cheaper than buying it new (plus the old stuff is often better made.) If you are handy, you can even build simple pieces from scrap lumber or pallets. Then, all you will need to do is add pillows for comfort. These projects are quick and easy, even if you aren’t an expert carpenter.
3. Spray Paint is a Great Way to Add Wow - Spray painting yard sale treasures or even your old outdoor decor is an excellent way to make them new again. An old metal trash can becomes hip and fresh when you add a bright coat of paint. Make that old picnic table something special by making it match your patio set. The possibilities are endless.
4. Hit the Christmas Clearance - After Christmas, you’ll likely find tons of holiday lights at 50% or more off the regular prices. The same white lights you find during this sale are sold at a premium in the summer as “string lights” or for wedding decor. Why not save some money with your lighting? No one will ever know the difference.
5. Get Creative with Serving Spaces - No outdoor living area is complete without a place to serve food and eat. You don’t have to spend hundreds on an outdoor serving station. Use an old wagon to hold the cooler. Toss a cute vinyl tablecloth on your old fold-out table, and you have a great buffet station. When you are creative in this manner, you’re not “stuck” with just one way of doing things. You can change things up as you desire to meet the needs of your gathering.
6. Use What Makes Your Space Unique - The best tip to get the most from your outdoor living space is to use what already exists. If you have a small creek, why not make that a focal point by constructing a simple bridge? If your yard has lovely old stumps, consider using those as a base to hold planters or birdbaths. If you have sturdy oak trees, you have the perfect place to hang a hammock. Using what you have saves money and makes your outdoor space unique. The best thing about these ideas is that you can use them as a launching point for creating an outdoor space that is uniquely you. Don’t be afraid to try something different and you’ll have a one-of-a-kind backyard that becomes the “place to be” for your family, coworkers, and friends.