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 space with you all as part of the Summer Simplified blog tour where I’m joining some blogging friends to share our 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:
full source list at end of post!
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:
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 🙂 I found my fringed throw {here} – {this one} is also similar:
Lanterns are another favorite outdoor accessory of mine, especially when we’re hanging outside in the evening when they give off a beautiful glow:
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}):
For Memorial Day weekend, I set it up with some drinks, glasses (also available {here}), 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):
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:
On the bottom shelf of our bar cart, I put some chilled drinks in {this galvanized tub}:
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:
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} is super similar:
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:
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}:
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:
Shop my outdoor space:
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 right by the door to our back patio where we can store it all:
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!
Now it’s time to hop on over visit the other bloggers who are sharing their outdoor spaces and tips for entertaining, gardening, and simply enjoying summer – I’m so excited to check them out myself because these are some super talented ladies!
Day 1
Driven By Decor (me!)
Garden Therapy
Empress of Dirt
Cedar Hill Farmhouse
Day 2
Stone Gable
Duke Manor Farm
Savvy Southern Style
Southern Hospitality
Shabbyfufu
Day 3
In My Own Style
The Wood Grain Cottage
Maison de Pax
Love of Home
Setting For Four
My Soulful Home
Day 4
Debbiedoo’s
Craftberry Bush
At The Picket Fence
On Sutton Place
XO,
——————————
Outdoor seating area: Chairs & table – Target (years ago) – {this set} is similar but with light cushions | pillows | lantern – HomeGoods | throw | wood tray
Beverage center: Bar cart (in store {here} and online {here})| beverage dispenser | glasses | striped straws | galvanized tub | glass vase | pineapple towel – HomeGoods ({this pineapple towel} is similar)
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
Great tips, Kris and I love those pillows. What a great price.
Thanks Kim! I’m looking forward to seeing your space tomorrow!
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. 🙂
Thanks Denise! You gotta love IKEA, right?!
Lots of great tips! And I am completely smitten with that wire baker’s rack.
Thanks Melissa!
I love EVERYTHING you did to your outdoor space. The space inside your home for quick storage for pillows etc., are beautifully done. Thanks!
Thank you so much Ivory! We had neglected that space for far too long!
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!
Thanks so much Yvonne!
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
Thank you! Looks like I missed the boat for the link party for this week but I’ll check it out next week!
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
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 🙂
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!
Those pillows are such an amazing value and I love the simple, fresh look! You’ll love them for your space!
Kris,
This looks so inviting. I loved the detailed tips and the Ikea fabric in black and white stripes is such a great tip.
Can’t wait to see the other’s handiwork.
Karen
Thank you Karen! It’s a fun little blog hop to go through – lots of great posts!
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!
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!
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.
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!!
Love your outdoor space! It looks inviting and decorated without being too fussy. A fun place to hang out in the summer! 🙂
Thanks so much Kristen – I tend to keep things pretty simple 🙂
The baker’s rack for storage – what a great idea! Lovely home.
Thanks Vanessa!
Really lovely! I love the huge shell such a great idea!!
Thanks Susan!
Love it all Kris! I am now on the hunt for a giant clam shell!! Thanks for the inspiration!
Thanks Kelly!
WOW! Your yard is amazing Kris. It looks like an outdoor park!
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!
So fun! I love that clam shell. 🙂 Hope your summer is lovely!
Thanks so much Rachel!
what a gorgeous space! I’ll be right over for a drink 🙂
Thank you Stephanie! And I would love that!
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!
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!
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!
Thanks so much Vanessa!
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!
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!
Everything in this post was stunning!
Thank you Erin!
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!
Hi Tonya – yes those are placemats. They were HomeGoods finds! Happy 4th!
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.
Thank you so much!
Beautiful outdoor area! I know you probably got your table a while ago but where was it from?
Sorry for the late reply Ashley – our table is from Target but it was bought over five years ago!