I always have cabin fever by the end of our Connecticut winters and can’t wait to spruce up our back patio and enjoy the warmer weather now that spring is here! Decorating outdoor spaces doesn’t have to involve spending a ton of money – sometimes it’s the simplest ideas that have the most impact. Today I’m sharing my five favorite simple outdoor decor ideas for dressing up your porches and patios for outdoor living and entertaining. Let’s get to it… (post includes affiliate links – see my full disclosure statement {here})
1. Define Your Outdoor Space With an Area Rug
Just like I use rugs to define large indoor rooms, rugs work really well for defining outdoor spaces too! Our North Carolina home has a covered patio which is amazing for enjoying the beautiful weather but kind of awkward when it comes to decorating it because it’s long and narrow. We added {this outdoor rug} last spring and it really helped to define the new space we set up for lounging: 
Other Sources: 5-piece Wood Seating Group | Throws | Basket for plant
I plan to create an outdoor dining area next to it and will add a second rug to our porch to define my dining space too. Along with the rug I chose for our porch, these are a few of my favorites that I came across in my outdoor rug search:
Sources: 1. Blue stripe rug | 2. Blue & gray geometric rug | 3. Dark gray diamond rug | | 4. Black & white lattice rug | 5. Buffalo plaid rug | 6. Light gray ivied trellis rug | 7. Navy diamond & stripe rug | 8. Moroccan diamond rug | 9. Denim patterned rug
2. Bring It Alive with Greenery
Whether it’s planters on your patio or lush landscaping around the perimeter of it, nothing livens up an outdoor space like greenery. It can be as simple as a vase of wildflowers for when you’re entertaining – I clip these blooms that grow in our woods every year and not only are they free but they can stand the hot sun without wilting like store bought flowers do:
I also love putting some plants in planters or baskets like {this one} that I had on our back porch last year:
3. Dress Up Tired Outdoor Furniture With Some Fresh Pillows
There aren’t many problems that a good pillow or two can’t fix 🙂 We finally got some new outdoor furniture last year but before that we were getting by with some old outdoor furniture that had seen better days. Every year we’d take the covers off of it in spring and say we really needed to buy some new furniture but as soon as I threw some pretty pillows on it, we’d decide it looked good enough to get through yet another year!
One of my tried and true favorites is {this banana leaf pillow cover} that’s a budget friendly find at under $25:
And for a little more you can get {this cute version of it} with pink piping. These are a few other outdoor pillow faves:
Sources: 1. Blue rope pillow cover | 2. Medallion block print pillow | 3. Blue arches pillow cover | 4. Yellow & gray striped pillow cover | 5. Green stripe pillow cover | 6. Pair Bohemian diamond pillow covers | 7. Blue striped pillow cover
4. Get Creative With Coolers for Entertaining
Galvanized tubs, buckets, and pails not only make awesome outdoor planters but they’re also the perfect shabby chic coolers! I have and love {this galvanized steel tub} (mine is the standard size):
And if you want to spend just a little more time to make things festive, a fun change-up is to use frozen water balloons instead of ice to chill beverages. I used white balloons but it would also be fun to do with colorful balloons such as blue, pink, and white for a baby shower:
You can probably hunt down something unique in your home that can do double duty as a creative cooler too! One of my favorites is using the giant faux clamshell that used to sit on the long dining room table in our old house as an “ice bucket” for wine (mine isn’t available anymore but {this clam shell} is similar):
5. Garden Stools Are a Win for Outdoor Drink Tables
Garden stools are the best! You can use them indoors for everything from side tables, a spot to hold bath towels outside the tub, and even extra seating in a pinch. And since most are made for outdoor use too, in the spring and summer you can move them outside for use as drink tables. It saves you from buying extra porch or patio furniture for the few months a year that you’ll use it.
The garden stools in our home that transition beautifully from indoors to out include {this diamond cut-out garden stool}:
Other Sources: Rattan chair | Fringed cream pillow on chair | Honeycomb rug | Gray & white pillow on sectional
and {this white medallion patterned stool}:
Other Sources: Rug | Similar table | Ceiling light fixture
These are a few other favorites:
Sources: 1. Brushstroke stripe garden stool | 2. Geometric patterned garden stool | 3. Medallion cut garden stool | 4. Diamond cut garden stool | 5. Classic blue & white garden stool | 6. White cement garden stool | 7. Blue floral garden stool | 8. White squared edge garden stool
I hope you found an idea or two that you love for dressing up your own space! I’ll be sure to share mine once it’s all prettied up for the season!
XO,
Kim says
Great tips, Kris and I love those pillows. What a great price.
Kris Jarrett says
Thanks Denise! You gotta love IKEA, right?!
Kris Jarrett says
Thanks Melissa!
Vel says
I ordered the same pillows too for my outdoor room update Kris! Can’t wait to get mine in, love all your tips, especially the wild flowers!
Kris Jarrett says
Those pillows are such an amazing value and I love the simple, fresh look! You’ll love them for your space!
Kristen says
Love your outdoor space! It looks inviting and decorated without being too fussy. A fun place to hang out in the summer! 🙂
Kris Jarrett says
Thanks so much Kristen – I tend to keep things pretty simple 🙂
susan says
Really lovely! I love the huge shell such a great idea!!
Kris Jarrett says
Thanks Susan!
Kelly Wilkniss says
Love it all Kris! I am now on the hunt for a giant clam shell!! Thanks for the inspiration!
Kris Jarrett says
Thanks Kelly!
Rachel Paxton says
So fun! I love that clam shell. 🙂 Hope your summer is lovely!
Kris Jarrett says
Thanks so much Rachel!
Vanessa Hunt says
Oh I’m having some serious patio envy right now!! Everything is just absolutely gorgeous and I love all of your creative and unexpected touches like the oversized clam shell. Genius!
Kris Jarrett says
Thanks so much Vanessa!
Kris Jarrett says
Thank you so much Ivory! We had neglected that space for far too long!
Kris Jarrett says
Thanks so much Yvonne!
Kris Jarrett says
Thank you! Looks like I missed the boat for the link party for this week but I’ll check it out next week!
Kris Jarrett says
Oh how I could use your gardening expertise at my house! I’m am seriously winging it! And if you find yourself in the CT/NYC area anytime, you are officially invited over to party 🙂
Kris Jarrett says
Thank you Lisa – when are you coming to hang out on that patio with me??! I couldn’t believe when I found those pillows so cheap – my best pillow bang for the buck for sure!
Kris Jarrett says
That’s so funny that you have a giant clam shell too Pamela! And what a great idea for how you used in for your breakfast!!
Kris Jarrett says
Thanks Vanessa!
Kris Jarrett says
Thanks Debbie – I can take no credit for the nice landscaping. The inside of our house was a mess when we moved in but the previous owners did a really nice job with the outside!
Kris Jarrett says
Thank you Stephanie! And I would love that!
Kris Jarrett says
They are from an online shop called Farmhouse Wares – they go out of stock frequently but will email you when they come back in if you ask them to!
Erin says
Everything in this post was stunning!
Kris Jarrett says
Thank you Erin!
Kris Jarrett says
Hi Tonya – yes those are placemats. They were HomeGoods finds! Happy 4th!
Kris Jarrett says
Thank you so much!
Kris Jarrett says
Sorry for the late reply Ashley – our table is from Target but it was bought over five years ago!
Cookie eddings says
i loved the stem glasses on your bar cart–where can I get them? I love both of your houses–pretty,pretty.
[email protected] says
I love all of your tips! The balloons for ice is a cute party idea.
Lisa says
Love the bar cart! Where’s it from?
Kris Jarrett says
It’s from IKEA actually – I believe they still carry it!
Sue V. says
Great ideas! I was wondering how you like the 5 piece Segura seating you have from Wayfair? I looked at it for my deck, but the reviews were not very good and that scared me away from buying it…..is it holding up for you?
Kris Jarrett says
I saw that several reviews said that theirs came damaged. Ours came in perfect shape and so far (we’ve had it about a year) it’s held up great. We do have it at our second home that we’re not at as often so it hasn’t gotten daily use but so far so good!
Gail says
Hi Kris. Great post yesterday, really felt like spring has sprung! I’m looking for a stand alone bath tub and love yours in your master bath. I searched your blog trying to find info about it. I know it’s there but I couldn’t find it. Could you please let me know I would greatly appreciate it.
Thanks
Gail
Kris Jarrett says
Sure – all of our bathroom details with links to everything including our tub are in this post: https://www.drivenbydecor.com/master-bathroom-reveal/
Mary Ann says
I we have a very open layout and is quite overwhelming to piece together! I’m more of a pinner and scan type girl, but could not stop going through your blog! Very inspiring.
Ha! I just receive your decorating can be overwhelming email! Perfect timing 🙂
Kris Jarrett says
I’m so glad you found my blog helpful and hope you enjoy the email series too! 🙂
Pat says
Great ideas! Can you share where the black and silver cart comes from?
Kris Jarrett says
Sure – it’s from IKEA!
Lynn says
Hi – I’m interested in the blue wicker swing chair that I saw on images of swing chairs on line. Thank you! Lynn