Take Your Living Space Outside

One of the biggest trends of the past decade has been the move towards finished outdoor living spaces, which is as much a lifestyle switch as it is home decor. Whether it’s dining alfresco, gathering in an outdoor living room, or even watching movies in an outdoor home theater, Americans are turning their backyard spaces into extensions of their inner sanctums.

Are you a late adopter? No worries. Start with faux-wicker furniture (you can leave it out year-round and it won’t cause splinters in tiny hands, unlike wicker). Lay an outdoor area rug to create a warm, room-like ambiance; you can also add an outdoor lamp. Get the kids involved by letting them help you fluff-up the space. They can select outdoor pillows and throws; or put them in charge of bringing the patio accessories in and out of storage as required (to reduce fading, stash pillows, cushions, and throws out of direct sunlight or rain when not in use). Older kids can also be in charge of setting out votives for you to light at nightfall (opt for LED versions instead if you have small children), and setting up solar lanterns if you recharge them somewhere else during the day. Let your children display their own flower arrangements and mini-planters in the area, too. (Be sure to check out our gardening tips for kids.)

Photo courtesy of Target.