This post is in partnership with Christmas Tree Shops andThat!
The time of year has come for warm weather, sunshine, and our family favorite, COOKOUTS! If the weather is warm, our family is outside grilling and eating on our patio. It’s also the season for having friends over and celebrating the warm weather! In order to do that, first, the patio needs to look perfect.
Each year we try to change the patio style up a little bit, and this year was no different. While creating the space I wanted, I thought I’d share my tips and tricks for turning the space into the “perfect” outdoor area.
Creating a new space with only a few base items can get extremely expensive, things add up quickly! Being a mom of three littles, and staying home with them instead of heading off to work, everything we do is on a budget. If I can get it cheap and nice looking, I’m going to do it, and I’m sure I’m not alone on this! This year I decided to pop into our local Christmas Tree Shops to see what they had to offer. Let me tell you, I got EVERY single thing I needed there! Everything. In one store. This was a dream come true! The aisles were filled with everything I could imagine, and I filled my cart with items that would go with my color scheme, and spent WAY less than I planned on!
Let’s get started with the tips!
Tip #1: Start With Your Base Items
For me, we have an indoor/outdoor rug that we use, a patio set (table and chairs) that we’ve had for years, and that’s it. Those are the two base items we use every year. If you have the patio set, you’re off to a great start with keeping a low budget.
Tip #2 Decide On Your Color Scheme
This year I wanted to add some summer-y pops of color without looking like a Lilly Pulitzer outfit (though I do love her…maybe another year?). I chose to use galvanized metal along blues and yellows, a perfect summer combo! So my hunt began at Christmas Tree Shops, I found neutral colored plates, yellow plates, yellow and blue serving dishes, and neutral pillows that I can use every year. They had EVERY single color you could imagine. Plates, cups, serving trays, silverware, napkins, you name it. I had a treasure hunt full of aisles to look for the exact thing I wanted. An awesome bonus is that the dishes and drinkware that I found were all $1.99 AND non-breakable- perfect for cookouts with adults AND kids around! (I’ve linked them for you here).
Tip #3: Add the Details
Now that you have your color scheme picked out and your base items are on hand, it’s time for the details. Creating a table with dimension always adds details and makes the table more attractive. If you have a table runner or plate charges, they’re always a great first layer. Putting the plates on chargers adds just a small detail of dimension and can turn your table from a thrown together look to a perfectly styled professional table. Adding a smaller salad plate on top of the plates brings this even further. Putting small details like napkins finishes off the look.
A centerpiece always makes a table look complete, though sometimes it’s difficult with a cookout going on. Whether it be a small bouquet of flowers, to a large vase, having this there for when people begin to arrive always makes the space look more inviting. It can be moved later for plates filled with food and platters of goodies. I found the perfect galvanized serving platters and lazy susan serving platter, all at Christmas Tree Shops.
Like I said before, EVERYTHING I needed was there!
Once the table is complete, adding some lanterns and potted plants, along with decorative pillows on some of the chairs really finishes off the space. Having a few taller plants in large pots always makes the space more inviting, along with the warm candlelight in the lanterns.
Tip #4 Add String Lights
A very popular addition to deck spaces and patios right now are string lights. Our patio has a retractable shade so we were unable to get string lights (much to my dismay- but it has lights attached to it so not a total loss). They are everywhere now! And totally can make a patio and deck look extremely gorgeous at night time. They also can keep the party going once it’s dark and create a cozy relaxing ambiance. Christmas Tree Shops had about 15 different styles of them (I’ve linked the page to them here), and I wanted each one! They were absolutely gorgeous. Here are a few examples of how these string lights can add the perfect touch to a space.
As you can see in the photos of our patio, using these four little tips completely changed our space from drab to fab and they can completely change yours! Head on over to your local Christmas Tree Shops to find everything you need to create the perfect patio space! Check out my other blog posts for some great tips on many other things!
xoxo -Meg
Looks so inviting..when is dinner?