Did you know that seasonal increases in sun time were associated with decreased mental health distress? In other words, as the days get longer, we experience better mental health. I’m not surprised…are you? (Source: Science Daily)
I’m excited to show off our deck transformation and share my best tips on how to turn a boring outdoor space into an amazing summer sanctuary.
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Tip #1
Start with a great foundation.
Our deck was just over a year old. The pressure treated decking had ample time to “dry out’ before we applied stain. I choose a beautiful deep red/brown stain called “Jarrah Brown” by Cabot. It is so warm and inviting. I purchased it at our local Ace Hardware store. It was not cheap but I got it on sale and a little goes along way. It took less than 3 gallons to cover the deck, railings, and steps with 1 coat, plus I had extra to stain my new raised garden beds (more on those in a future post) 🙂
Tip #2
Add a colorful outdoor rug
I found this little beauty on sale at Home Depot for under $100. At 6.5′ x 9′, it was the perfect size to create an outdoor living room on my deck. I’m in love with the bold colors and the floral pattern. I also found some great options on Amazon too!
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Tip #3
Add comfortable seating
We were blessed to have been gifted a great outdoor furniture set from my in-laws about 10 years ago. It is still in amazing condition because we store it inside every winter and bring the cushions in during bad weather. We can comfortably seat 5 people on our 2 lounge chairs and couch. Bonus Tip – It’s almost August so now is a great time to look for clearance sales on outdoor furniture.
Tip #4
Splurge on pretty outdoor pillows
Yep – everyone fights over the pillows. They are really nice for taking an afternoon nap, propping your laptop on, and general lounging. Be sure to buy outdoor pillows in case they get wet. You can find beautiful outdoor pillows with the patio furniture or online. Again – looks for sales at the end of the season.
Tip #5
Side tables make life easier
Be sure to have a couple of small tables for all the summer necessities. We have 2 small side tables and they get a lot of use… plants, candles, drinks, plates, etc. Here is a bonus tip, place a big cooler on your deck and it doubles as both a side table and storage. We use ours to store our charcoal and wood chips for our grill and smoker.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Tip #6
Plan ahead for unwelcome guests
No, I’m not talking about your neighbors, I’m talking about bugs. Bugs can get soooo annoying in the summer. I’m amazed at the beautiful citronella candles they make these days. We picked up several at our local Dollar General. You could easily add torches or bug lights to your outdoor space if you need more firepower. We live in Northeast Pennsylvania so the bugs are not as bad here as they are in other regions.
Tip #7
Add flowers and pretty pots
It’s summer, so why wouldn’t you put plants and flowers in your outdoor oasis? They bring me so much joy. I loved the teal color in my rug so I picked up a can of matching spray paint and did a quick make-over on a couple of old plain jane terra cotta pots in had in the garage. Easy – peasy and it only cost about $5.00.
Tip# 8
Outdoor lighting is the icing on the deck.
I love the look and feel of outdoor lighting on a summer evening. I purchased these outdoor string lights from Amazon and would definitely recommend these for your outdoor oasis. It took 2 sets (48 ft each) to zig-zag across our whole deck. It may have been the best $80.00 I spent all summer. These are made by Sunthin, are commercial-grade, shatterproof, and easy to hang.
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Tip #9
Get a little shady 🙂
Sadly, my deck has no shade on it after 10 am. It faces North/West and when the sun rises above the roof, it’s in full sun for the rest of the day. But we’ve learned our lesson and plan to splurge on a retractable awning next summer. But, you could just as easily put up an umbrella or two. Just be sure to anchor them well so they don’t blow away in the wind.
There you have it – my 9 best tips on how to create an outdoor oasis that you’ll want to use every single day. Since we’ve all been staying home so much this summer, our deck has gotten a lot of use. I’d love to hear your tips for creating amazing outdoor spaces. I’m already planning for next year. Please share them in the comments below.
Until next time – keep looking for the goodness in your world.
With gratitude –
Denise 🙂
how beautiful creative, as a full time RV’er always looking for outside inspiration.
I love these tips! We usually travel in the summer and don’t use our back patio that much, but since we’ve been staying home for months (!!) I want to spruce it up. I like the idea of flower pots. Our patio is covered, so I’m thinking I could do hanging plants?
This is such a fun post! Your pictures looked great, definetly inspired me to redecorate!
Love it! We are putting in a large deck over the winter. The sinking patio with weeds will finally be gone. I can’t wait to make it a lovely place to hang out. I’m already imagining the little white lights. Part of it will be covered so cushions can actually stay outside.
I loved seeing the pictures with each step, wow! That looks like such an amazing, relaxing place to be <3
So pretty–I love all of your ideas! It was so nice to see easy steps and pictures so that anyone can do it. Thanks for the great inspiration.