Transforming Our Grey Outdoor Space into a Vibrant Sanctuary
I don’t know about you, but our backyard gets a little refresh at the beginning of every summer. Over the winter months, everything gets rained on, blown away, or just plain dirty. I don’t (usually) go overboard, but what I do want to do is make sure it’s an inviting space for guests to relax in. With summer’s arrival last week, and the temps to prove it, it was time to get ready to grill, sip on some Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio, and chill in the shade in a beautiful oasis.
I’ve always needed a little green in my life. For as long as I can remember, I’ve always bought small house plants to decorate my room with. So now that I’m an adult and need to fill more space in our home, I go on plant buying extravaganzas! The lush vibe that it can instantly bring to any space is what pulls me in. And while I might not be the best at keeping them alive, I try my best (so let’s cross our fingers for these guys).
We’ve always had foliage in our yard that has been there since we moved in, but a lot of our yard is hardscape. So I wanted to create this backyard oasis for barbecues with friends by bringing in ALL the greens and cozy accents. It’s easy, you can coordinate with friends and family to bring all the different pieces, and the wine is free-flowing. In the summer, we stick to brighter, more refreshing whites, and Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio is perfect for pairing with light meals prepared on the grill.
Establishing Zones for Play, Relaxation, and Entertaining
As a stay-at-home mom, playdates are a huge part of my life. When updating our yard, I wanted to make sure that we had outdoor games and activities to entertain young kids, so that they have as much fun outside as I do. Bouncy castles are always a big hit with kids, so I ordered the Little Tikes Bounce House and the Little Tikes First Slide. I chose this bounce house because it’s small enough to fit in our yard and to away by myself, without needing any help. I’ve also seen a lot of people set this one up in their basement during winters, which is a great way to get extra use out of it.
Having a cozy place to sit back and relax is key. My patio furniture is quite a few years old now, but it’s easy to update your set with fun pillows and outdoor blankets. We also ordered an umbrella from Wayfair. Our yard is south facing and gets so hot in the afternoons, which makes it pretty uncomfortable, so adding some shade makes this space so much more functional for our family.
When it comes to entertaining, I find that ambiance is key. Adding a fire table and some string lights took wine nights on the porch from a 3 to a 10. If you’re looking for some cute string lights, I love these solar globe ones we have from Wayfair. Personally, I find solar-powered ones way more convenient than having to string them up according to where your power source is. I’m also in love with our fire table. For a smaller one, it actually gives off quite a bit of heat (it’s 50,000 BTU’s). We chose a propane one since we don’t have a gas hook-up on our deck.
Bringing the Outdoors In with Lush Greenery and Cozy Textures
To really create the relaxing vibe we wanted, twinkle lights, lanterns, candles, vibrant rugs, and cozy pillows were strategically placed throughout our previously grey space. I simply placed all of the plants in wicker, fabric, or white baskets and pots to make our color scheme cohesive. I picked up some wood chargers that were the perfect size for serving plates or bowls as well as your glass of wine. This idea is perfect for holding more people in a small space, rather than taking up extra room with a table and bulky chairs.
As the sun went down, it just kept getting better! I can’t wait to entertain here all summer. Summer’s are short up here in Canada, so making sure that we can make the most of them is so important to me. Just making these small updates to our backyard space made hanging out there so great. It’s now our own backyard oasis, and I couldn’t be happier about it!
If you’re looking to transform your outdoor space into a vibrant sanctuary, I highly recommend exploring the wide selection of products available at ABC Home. From patio furniture and outdoor lighting to garden decor and accessories, they have everything you need to create your very own backyard oasis.
