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Last Updated: May 31, 2019 By

Summer Simplified: Simple Outdoor Decorating Ideas

Hi guys! Did you all enjoy your Memorial Day weekend? Most of ours was hot and sunny so we spent a good chunk of it outdoors doing a little lounging along with some work sprucing up our patio that had gotten pretty tired looking over the winter. And today, I’m excited to be sharing our newly spruced up along with my favorite tips on how to easily and simply enjoy summer outdoors (post includes affiliate links – see my full disclosure statement {here}). So come on around back and let me show you around:

Beautiful flagstone patio with rounded boxwoods, stone walls, and four chair conversation area

There’s not much in bloom in our backyard yet (those “sticks” in the background will be full of blooming hydrangeas in a month or so) but with all of the rain we’ve had, it sure is green and lush! Our patio furniture was bought at Target about 7-8 years ago and it’s starting to show its age so I dressed it up with a few new outdoor pillows, my favorite way to give tired old furniture some new life! I shared some of my favorite outdoor pillows in {this post} and ended up buying {these palm pillow covers} because I love the print and the price was right:

Back patio conversation area with four outdoor club chairs arranged around a coffee table. More pics of this backyard space included in blog post!

I’ve had a bunch of people ask about our patio set – it’s actually almost ten years old and originally from Target so is no longer available but {this set} has similar lines.

Since we can get some chilly evenings even in the summer, I also like to keep a few throws on hand for using outside – being able to wrap up in one is a nice little luxury and there’s the added benefit that they help disguise ratty chair cushions 🙂

Outdoor pillows, lanterns and throws (for chilly nights!) are a few of the simple ways to dress up your patio - click over to post for more pics and tips!

Lanterns are another favorite outdoor accessory of mine, especially when we’re hanging outside in the evening when they give off a beautiful glow:

Lanterns are a simple, inexpensive way to dress up an outdoor space

Another must-have outdoor piece for our family is a bar cart that does double duty holding things coming on and off the grill when barbecuing and as a beverage station when entertaining. Our old wood bar cart that we’ve used this way for years was literally falling apart so I shopped for a new one a few weeks ago and ended up with IKEA’s KLASSEN outdoor serving cart (in store {here} and online {here}):

A simple outdoor bar cart for entertaining - full source list included in blog post!

For Memorial Day weekend, I set it up with some drinks, glasses, straws, and a beverage dispenser that has a built-in infuser that I filled with lemons and mint (my beverage dispenser is no longer available but {this one} is very similar):

Love this simple outdoor bar cart / beverage station

And to pretty it up, I added a bouquet of….weeds. Yep, weed bouquets are another favorite outdoor entertaining tip – not only are they free but they can stand the hot sun without wilting like store bought flowers do. These are growing throughout our woods right now and I actually think they’re really pretty. I have them in {this hurricane vase} that is one of my go-to pieces:

Liven up your outdoor party with a bouquet of weeds (yes, these are weeds!) - one of the great tips for simplifying summer entertaining in this post!

On the bottom shelf of our bar cart, I put some chilled drinks in {this galvanized tub}:

Galvanized troughs and buckets are the perfect outdoor coolers!

And if you want to spend just a little more time to make things festive, one fun change-up is to use frozen water balloons instead of ice to chill beverages. I’ve always used white balloons but it would also be fun to do with colorful balloons for a kid’s party or baby shower:

Add frozen water balloons to an outdoor cooler instead of ice for a festive touch! Would be cute with colorful balloons for a kid's birthday party too!

And if you don’t have a typical cooler or tub for chilling drinks, get creative! The giant faux clamshell that used to sit on the long dining room table in our old house makes a great ice “bucket” (mine isn’t available anymore but {this clam shell} from Wisteria is super similar:

Using unique vessels for icing drinks (like this giant clamshell) is a favorite tip from this post with outdoor entertaining ideas!

Decorative clamshell as a unique outdoor cooler - love!

There probably aren’t too many of you that have a giant clamshell hanging around (or do you… 🙂 but you may be surprised by how many things you can hunt down in your house that can do double duty as a unique cooler!

For outdoor dining, most of the time I keep things easy by using an acrylic-coated tablecloth because I swear that I can clean and clean and clean my table and still get pollen and junk off of it. It’s much easier to just give the table a quick once-over and then throw a tablecloth on top of it. And food and drinks wipe off of acrylic-coated ones super easily. My tablecloth is actually IKEA’s SOFIA acrylic-coated fabric that’s sold by the yard – I simply cut it to the size I needed for my table:

Outdoor dining area - full source list included in post

For a simple centerpiece, planters you already have work great! I took one of the hanging planters from the front of our house, popped off the hanger, and put it in the middle of the table flanked by {this pair of lanterns}:

Use a hanging planter as a simple outdoor dining centerpiece! One of the tips for simplifying summer in this post!

When serving a crowd (or if you just want a pretty table), wrapping up individual sets of silverware in a napkin and tying it in a knot or bow is quick and simple prepwork to keep the party flowing smoothly:

A simple summer placesetting with silverware rolled in napkins an tied with ribbon

And my final tip? Find somewhere close to your outdoor space to store your pillows, tablecloth, and accessories to make things quick and easy. Our 60+ year old house is seriously lacking in storage/closet space so I added a wire baker’s rack ({this baker’s rack is similar}) right by the door to our back patio where we can store it all. Plus we have a few tabletop essentials stored in {these nesting herb crates}:

Open shelving holds patio pillows and accessories while nesting herb crates hold the tabletop necessities for the kitchen eat-in area

Thanks so much for stopping by! I’ve included a full source list at the bottom of this post if you have questions about where anything is from but feel free to comment or email if I missed something!

XO,

KJ Signature

 

Driven by Decor Source List

 

Outdoor seating area: Chairs & table – Target (years ago) – {this set} is similar but with light cushions | palm pillows | lantern – HomeGoods | throw – no longer available | wood tray

Beverage center: Bar cart (in store {here} and online {here})| beverage dispenser – no longer available but {this one} is similar | striped straws | galvanized tub | glass vase | pineapple towel – HomeGoods 

Dining area: Tablecloth fabric | woven chargers (similar) | dinner plates | side plates – Anthropologie (no longer available) | glasses | napkins | lanterns

Baker’s rack – Restoration Hardware ({this one} is almost identical and less expensive) | Nesting herb boxes

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Comments

  2. Denise says

    June 1, 2016 at 9:58 am

    What a great space for lounging or entertaining! I love the idea of using the coated fabric for a tablecloth – never thought of that before! Much cuter than most you can buy. 🙂

    Reply

  4. Ivory says

    June 1, 2016 at 10:20 am

    I love EVERYTHING you did to your outdoor space. The space inside your home for quick storage for pillows etc., are beautifully done. Thanks!

    Reply

  5. Yvonne @ StoneGable says

    June 1, 2016 at 10:25 am

    Kris, Your outdoor spaces are just gorgeous! I love how fresh and welcoming they feel. You table setting is my favorite! Just lovely. I’m on the lookout now for a big shell to chill my wine in too! Thanks for all the inspiration and beauty today!

    Reply

  6. Katherines Corner says

    June 1, 2016 at 10:47 am

    ummmmmm… WOW! You have created a lovely and inviting outdoor space. Perfect for summer nights too. I invite you to share at my Thursday Favorite Things link party ( starts tonight at 7PM (MST) ends Saturday at midnight.) Hugs

    Reply

  7. debra @ 5th and state says

    June 1, 2016 at 11:06 am

    when i first opened this post, i thought this was a share of beautiful outdoor spaces & soon realized this is YOURS! gorgeous, stunning, and oh so inviting.
    i want to come for a party 🙂

    thank you again kris for endless inspiration
    xx
    debra

    Reply

    • Kris Jarrett says

      June 5, 2016 at 1:02 pm

      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 🙂

      Reply

  8. Vel says

    June 1, 2016 at 1:39 pm

    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!

    Reply

  10. Lisa | Shine Your Light says

    June 1, 2016 at 1:49 pm

    Kris your bluestone patio, stone walls and lush landscaping is so beautiful back here! Your table looks so pretty!!!!…..and I love that we are twinning with our palm pillows 🙂 🙂 🙂 Don’t they work so well with everything??? So versatile! Enjoy your pretty space!

    Reply

    • Kris Jarrett says

      June 5, 2016 at 1:05 pm

      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!

      Reply

  11. Pamela says

    June 1, 2016 at 1:49 pm

    I love the rolling rack for outdoor supplies. They stay mice and clean and ready to use. I actually do have a real giant clam shell quite a bit bigger than yours. I have used it many times for bottled water, soft drinks or shrimp. We held a gift opening breakfast the day after our daughter’s wedding and served yogurt from the clam shell.

    Reply

    • Kris Jarrett says

      June 5, 2016 at 1:11 pm

      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!

      Reply

  19. Jacque says

    June 4, 2016 at 8:27 pm

    Hi! What a great look you have for your outdoor space. I was wondering where I could find the cute wooden boxes- sage, parsley… they are terrific!

    Reply

  20. Vanessa Hunt says

    June 5, 2016 at 11:05 am

    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!

    Reply

  21. Heather says

    June 7, 2016 at 9:03 am

    Gorgeous space and wow – what a beautiful yard you have! I love all of your black, white green adn metallic decorating touches! That clam shell idea is brilliant! Happy Summer!

    Reply

  22. Jenny D. says

    June 10, 2016 at 9:19 pm

    My favorite is your final tip! The way you decorated your storage rack is very attractive – and the boxes on the wall for extra storage are just lovely!

    Reply

  24. Tonya says

    June 29, 2016 at 1:10 pm

    So pretty! Are those placemats rolled up in the bottom herb box? If so I would love to know where you got them, and sorry if it says and I’ve somehow missed it!

    Reply

  25. Benny Jill says

    March 27, 2017 at 9:06 pm

    Kris, what a great patio. I love the accents and colors. You really pulled it all together. Oh and yes the clam shell was a super touch. Beautiful job.

    Reply