It finally feels like summer. Sun’s out. School’s out. And all I want to do is sit on our little patio reading and listening to my girls giggle and play in the backyard.
Just like the inside of our home, we’re intentional with what we purchase for the outside. When we moved here four years ago, a sand table (for fun) and Adirondack chairs (a necessity for me at seven months pregnant with furniture arriving one week behind us) were the first outdoor purchases we made. We’ve since added a few more chairs plus a picnic table, and it all works for us right now.
But some things have become a little worse for wear and the patio looks more like a holding zone than a summer relaxation space.
We’d love to have more substantial patio furniture but it’s not in our budget, not a burning priority, and frankly, we’re not even sure what we want yet!
So what can we do to inexpensively elevate the feel of our patio? Read on and learn about the two things we’re doing this month. It may be exactly what you’re looking for to bring that indoor cozy you love outside.
sand + stain
Oh, the table. Clearly, it’s in dire need of some TLC. First step: a good sanding. That alone took it from whoa to wow in approx. 2 hours using a belt and orbital sander. To prolong the look and life of our table we chose to top it with an exterior wood stain that protects against harsh weather conditions, UV damage, and even mildew.
DIY Tip#1: If you buy a build-it-yourself table as we did, stain before assembling. My love did that when we first got ours, and it was so much easier than having to contort your body to brush between all the nooks and joints. If you’re re-staining your existing table, see my next tip!
DIY Tip#2: Rope in a partner or friend to stain with you. You can split the awkward spots and get the job done twice as fast!
roll out a rug (or 3!)
Is your exterior space missing that je ne sais quoi? Try an outdoor rug. For the same reasons you‘d add one inside, a rug will corral and ground your furniture together so it feels and looks connected. It’s also a great way to warm up that cold concrete patio with color, pattern, and texture, not to mention feeling so much softer underfoot.
Where can you get an affordable rug? Retailers like Rugs USA and Target are already having summer sales, which is how we snagged ours (like 40+% off!). We bought the three nuLOOM rugs above to see which one spoke to us. Not surprising, it wasn't an easy pick! Rug shape, pattern, and shade of blue were all factors to consider, which is why it's smart to test the contenders out. Can't wait to officially roll out our winner and enjoy our updated patio for the next few months.
Since you know where I'll be, I'd love to know in the Comments below...
what‘s your favourite inexpensive way to spend summertime?
Camping in your backyard? Day trip to a lake? Anywhere with a good book? These are some of my family's faves, but we're always looking for new ways to experience this season so please let me know yours. Whatever it is, I hope you make time to do that special thing as much as possible this summer.
Always,
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