An Outdoor Deck for Outdoor Living
If there were no mosquitos and if there were a teeny-tiny bathroom, my outdoor deck would be just the spot for me to live for the next 3 months. O, and maybe a small spot for me to cook – but wait, that’s covered… we have a grill!
Our newly revamped deck is filled with many comfy spots to sit, relax, eat, and simply soak up the sun over the coming Summer months. It’s a vibrant and welcoming oasis for outdoor living. But like I said, I’m not a huge fan of mosquitos – who is – so unfortunately I will have to come indoors, but not for long.
Let me show you around. Will you join me on the deck…
Along with the Patio Paradise I am in the midst of finishing up, this is another outdoor space that we’ve revamped for the coming Summer months. Since we’ll be spending lots of time at home this Summer with the new baby, it was important for us to create multiple outdoor spaces that we will really enjoy & use. And hopefully in the meantime, we’ll get a handle on the mosquitos…
As you step outside the dining room slider, I welcome you to our new outdoor dining space. I am in love with the metal table + chairs we just got from Lowe’s. We used to have a rectangular table on the deck, but it really was too large for the space. This new round table is just the right size and we’ve already sat out here many of times for a quiet, delightful lunch and our daily family dinners.
With our deck being newly stained last year, the lighter-colored rug which I got from Home Decorators a few years ago is a great contrast.
If you’re interested, the Ikat patterned umbrella is from last years Target collection (I haven’t seen anything similar this year, which is a bummer) and the seat cushions + pillows are a recent purchase from Kirklands. A few weeks ago they had some great deals so I got all 6 pieces for around $100.
I love surrounding the deck and our other outdoor spaces with plants and flowers that are easy to maintain. I really try to find things that are low-maintenance and don’t need a lot of sun because as you can see from the photos, we are surrounded by lots of trees. This fern beauty is new and it’s doing well so far…
One part of this deck that I love is that it’s two levels, so it kind of creates two distinct sections, yet they still read as one. The ‘dining’ section is what you step out to from the house and then you step down to the ‘living’ section. This is the first year it’s set up like this – we used to have it reversed as you may have noticed the change from last year.
The ‘living’ space is where we have the pallet sofa and other spots for sitting + relaxing. We still ADORE our outdoor sofa because it’s oversized and O, SO Comfortable!
Because of the sun that shines for some parts of the day, we have another umbrella that is slightly smaller that gives the coverage needed. It’s a bright orange hue and is a great compliment to the other bold + vibrant colors used on the deck. It’s a Pier One find that I scored 2 years ago during a very hot, scorching week. I’ll just say, I wasn’t the only one in the store looking for outdoor umbrellas, but I got to it first and snagged the last one {pat on the back for me}…
How can I go any further without talking about the focal point of the deck… The adorable pennant banner. The fabulous + talented Kelly of The Modern June sent them to me and I am forever gracious. I met her last year at the Country Living fair and sadly, the last pennant was purchased right under my nose (by who of all people, one of my besties). Even though I missed out, in the end I am blessed to have these beauties swaying in the wind. And you know what the best part of these cute oilcloth banners / buntings are??? they have chalkboard fabric on the other side. How much better does it get?!
The burning question you may be thinking… Where is that round table from? O, that lil’ ole’ thing… That’s a roadside find. It’s actually a wire spoil for electrical lines. You never know what you’ll find when you’re driving along with 2 kids + a trunk load of groceries. Ya, that was an interesting day.
What makes this deck oasis complete? The layers. Accessories like plants, flowers, lanterns, urns, stools, blankets, candles, etc make any space warm + inviting. Layers are the key to giving dimension to every space – inside the home or out!
Opposite of the pallet sofa is another seating vignette. Not every day is hot, so for those cooler nights a warm blanket is a must. Of course, it doesn’t stay outside overnight, but it’s brought outside often.
If you’re wondering, the pillows are a new addition. I found them while shopping for the new patio and they are all from Lowe’s. The pouf is from last year’s Target summer collection and the yellow garden stool is a Homegoods find.
As much as I would have liked to show you around in person, I hope you enjoyed the tour of our new outdoor deck oasis. If you’re looking for us, you know where we’ll be…
Happy Spring & Summer!
