Decorating Cents

Now that we are deep into summer, we are outside more these days. We also got a puppy so it's forcing us outside anyway for potty breaks. I have yet to pull out the pillows and rug to make the patio pretty. I guess I feel like I only need them when we have company over. My husband and kids could care less about the decor. All they want is somewhere to sit. Think of your outdoor space as an extension of your inside home. A place to entertain guests and enjoy nature. Make it fun. Make it you! photo source 1. Define the space with a rug. An outdoor rug can help anchor the area.   Target / World Market / Crate and Barrel 2. Add color and texture with outdoor pillows. Grandin Road / Target / Kirklands   3. Light it up with string and pathway lights. Lights can help illuminate the area and also give a special ambiance at night. Target / Target / Overstock 4. Add fun accessories to fill empty space. Planters and lanterns are ways to br...

Hello there.  I know it's been a minute since you've heard from me.  We're just soaking in the last few days of school and planning our summer. Since summer is on it's way, I keep thinking about spending more time outdoors.  I have plans of hosting barbecues and family together time.  I have yet to pull out my patio accessories and get things going outside.  I still love the setup from a couple years ago but the rug didn't make it.  It was an outdoor rug but I guess I missed the part about not keeping it outdoors.  The sun and other outdoor elements ruined it.  It started to shed and come apart. I've been obsessing over patios and taking notes on what we can do to improve ours.  I love bright colors for the outdoors, especially blues and greens.  Here are some patios and outdoor spaces that I really like. source source source source I'm on the search for a new rug and some other accessories....

Summer is the time to enjoy the great outdoors.  When we moved into our home, I was looking forward to having dinners on the patio with our kids and having friends over for backyard barbecues.  I see spaces like these and long for gatherings outside.  Just having friends over and doing what my hubby loves to do, throw down on the grill!  My hopes are to one day install a pergola to create a little oasis in the backyard.  They just seem to add an elegance to the patio and create a covering to protect you and guests from the summer heat. Who wouldn't want a space like this?  I love the lanterns and table. source source This space screams backyard party.  I like the two seating areas and the wooden deck is beautiful. source We've already got a patio set but I would like to add a dining table.  It would be nice to have it for a separate seating area.  Here's our patio from last year.  The rug didn't hold up well a...

We finally have an outdoor space we can enjoy!  One of the things we looked for during our house search was a great backyard.  At the time we had one child and wanted her to have space to run around in.  What kid doesn't like to be outside?  We had one of those cheap patio sets with the glass table and four chairs from our previous home.  It didn't last long so we never really sat outside because there was nothing to sit on.   Well that time has passed.  We now have a place where we can relax outdoors as well.  I wanted this outside space to be an extension of our inside space.  So I of course used blues and greens with pops of other bright colors.  I picked up this patio furniture from Target and I got busy decorating.   It's so different now to sit outside after dinner instead of watching TV.  With the addition of school being out for the summer, we aren't as rushed to get back inside and prep for the next day...

A few weeks ago I stopped in Lowe's for some flowers.  We were actually there for my daughter.  She likes the kids' workshops on Saturdays.  When the workshop was over, we headed over to check out the flowers.  I needed some hanging baskets for the front porch.  It was a hot and muggy afternoon.  I intended to only look for a short time but me being me, I took my time debating back and forth on what flowers to get.  The kids were getting cranky and the meltdowns were about to begin.  I quickly made my selections and we checked out. Well, those flowers I was so intent on getting sat on the front porch in their containers for weeks.  I still watered them but they I hadn't gotten around to actually transporting them into a flower pot.  I originally wanted to do a tiered pot arrangement, but it didn't happen.  So yesterday, I finally decided enough was enough. I started out with some empty food cans.  I keep them because I n...