AN INDOOR EMBRACE ON OUTDOOR SPACE
ALICE’S TIPS ON CREATING YOUR BEST OUTDOOR SPACE YET.
As the days grow longer and the weather warms, we are feeling eager to start living in our outdoor spaces. Winter in Park City was mild this year, and spring feels like it is here early. Although we love all that winter has to offer in the mountains, spring brings new activities and time spent relaxing and dining outside. Whether you have a front porch in town or an expansive patio with a view, your outdoor space provides a new place to gather.
I’ve recently taken the furniture out of the shed and arranged it the same way I have for years. Feeling inspired for a new design, but on a budget, I transformed the space by adding a few significant items. If you are feeling the same way, consider these choices for easily purchased, relatively inexpensive items.
OUTDOOR RUG
The longest lasting ones are made of polypropylene, which is known for its breathability and moisture wicking. This material is also fade and stain resistant. Other synthetics are an alternative, although their durability can vary. Be careful of natural fibers, which are prone to mold and mildew.
If your space allows, consider a large rug that is under all the furniture. This will define the space and make the seating area feel cozier and more like a room. Most outdoor furniture cushions are made in a solid, neutral hue, so this is a place to add color and pattern if that is your style.
I chose a chunky, woven denim and white rug that adds both texture and pattern. And I went big with a 9x12 that fills up the whole space. It really transformed the look and feels great with bare feet.
PILLOWS
Back to those solid, neutral cushions. Adding pillows on the couch or sectional – or a kidney pillow in a chair – will give the space a refreshed look. Like outdoor rugs, outdoor pillows constructed using fabric that is made for the elements. In this case, choose pillows that use solution-dyed synthetic materials with mildew-resistant forms made for the outdoors.
Don’t go overboard with pillows if you will toss them on the ground when the furniture is being used. Carefully chosen in combination with a rug, these will again add color and decoration. And they come in handy for napping. Have fun, use bright colors, mix patterns. The open space with summer light is the place to use colors that you might not inside. If you mix patterns, make sure there is a color theme and use patterns of different sizes.
Yellow and orange were my color choices for pillows. Geometric was my pattern choice, one small and one large. In combination with the denim rug, the space pops with color and the gray cushions are a backdrop for the new design.
LIGHTING
Great lighting sets the mood when the sun goes down and makes it possible to see your dinner! Layering lighting outside is as important as it is inside. Consider that we are most often in rooms with both overhead and lamp lighting. This is easily accomplished on the porch or patio.
For overhead lighting, market lights are the most popular choice, although these are best suited for areas with some sort of ceiling or a canopy of trees for easy stringing. For the open-air patio, try some creative solutions with smaller, white lights. Swagging lights is not the only method. Wrapping a couple of tree branches or stretching them along the eve of the house will put light up above the couch or dining table.
There are so many options for table lighting. My go-to remains candles with a glass hurricane for wind protection. However, I did add a couple of USB chargeable table lamps. Until recently, these were pricey and seemed to all look the same in my opinion. I was excited to find lots of styles and a wide range of pricing.
