SOURCE: Nimorix
Summer is too short to be missing out on even a second of it. I love to start getting my outdoor living spaces organized as early as possible so that I can savour the time outdoors fully.
If you’re a homeowner you might be feeling overwhelmed with the expense of having to set up your outdoor space while being on a budget. Between furniture and decor items the expenses do add up but there are some clever ways you can maintain your budget and still have the perfect summer oasis.
I’m sharing my favourite budget friendly ideas that I suggest to clients who have limited resources for their outdoor space.
3 Budget Friendly Ideas for Your Outdoor Space
1/ Battery Powered Lamps
SOURCE: Ikea
Nothing feels worse than having to move the party indoors on a beautiful night but that will definitely be the case if you don’t have adequate lighting. Although the daylight seems endless during the summer months, eventually darkness arrives. For those of us who experience hot and humid weather during the daytime it can feel like the best part of the day when evening arrives. Let’s get your space illuminated so you can extend the outdoor time.
Many of the lighting options are expensive and that can feel prohibitive when there’s a budget to honour. Battery powered lamps used to be expensive and hard to find but that’s not the case any more. These budget lamps are available at almost all large retailers and there’s a style to suit every aesthetic.
If you have a gazebo, large tree or an umbrella you can find hanging lamps and with just a few of these you can create a magical outdoor space that requires no cords or hard wiring. If you’re more interested in lounging on your deck there are endless options for table lamps, string lights, battery operated candles and hurricane lamps. And if you have a roof on your outdoor space you can even find beautiful options for chandeliers.
Pam’s Favourite Battery Powered Lamps
2/ Faux (or real) Boxwood Planters
SOURCE: Liz Marie
There are plenty of articles and blog posts about layering your decor on the inside of your home. The layering trick is a tried and true favourite of every designer because this is what adds depth, dimension and personality to your space. Essentially we’re adding layers through furniture, textiles, artwork and decor. All of these strategies can be used outdoors as well and will give you the most beautiful, comfortable space for the summer months.
One of the essential decor pieces for your outdoor space is adding greenery in varying heights. Although you may be surrounded by shrubbery or trees you still need to have some greenery that is just decor and not part of your surroundings.
Boxwood is a popular option for outdoor spaces because it has structure and creates a foundation for groupings of plants. By adding this to a planter you’ll give your space a finished and polished look and it will help to define the area.
Boxwood is available at any garden centre if you’re interested in the real thing but be aware that boxwood prefers morning sun so if your outdoor space receives a lot of sun in the afternoon you may want to invest in faux boxwood instead.
If you want to combine some lighting into the boxwood planter look for either solar powered or battery operated garden lights. This is a great way to tackle tips 1 and 2 at the same time. And if you’re in need of privacy, consider adding a hedge of faux boxwood like the one below. This one even comes with lights installed so you can gain your privacy as well as add some additional lighting to your space.
Pam’s Favourite Boxwood
SOURCE: Emily Henderson
Similar to indoor upholstered furniture, many of the outdoor sofa and chair options come with standard toss pillows in a matching or contrasting fabric. And while this is okay we can do a lot better than that.
Sometimes we neglect some of the important steps with our outdoor decorating but the rules remain the same whether you’re inside or outside. It’s important to add some colour to the outdoor space and this is the perfect opportunity to do so.
Just be sure you’re planning your colour palette and including 3-4 colours that will be repeated throughout your space. The pillows (and the rug) become the anchor for the colour palette because there aren’t as many opportunities to add colour. There are no walls for paint and artwork so we need to rely on textiles to do the heavy lifting.
Most big box retailers are overflowing with outdoor pillows at this time of year. It can be overwhelming once you’re in the store to remember what colours will work with your space. It’s easy to get distracted and fall in love with a colour that isn’t part of the colour palette so do the work before you start shopping.
Need help combining patterns on pillows? Read this post and this post.
Pam’s Favourite Bold Pillows
I hope this helps you feel more prepared for getting your summer oasis ready. If you have an upcoming project you’d like to discuss please reach out to me. I’d love to hear about your plans and let you know how I can help.
If you know your design style but you struggle with which paint to use, take a look at my Made-For-You paint palettes. They take the guesswork out and give you the confidence to get started.
