Outdoor Living:

Outdoor Lighting Ideas for Your Backyard

Posted by: Caroline Inge on June 18th, 2013 | 2 Comments

Warm summer nights should be enjoyed outdoors. But to do that, you’ll need to incorporate lighting into your outdoor space. During our Patio Style Challenge this spring, our bloggers incorporated lighting in several different ways. Here are a few of their outdoor lighting ideas.

HANG STRING LIGHTS

In the photo above, Whitney of The Curtis Casa added custom iron posts to her deck so that she could easily string bistro lights, giving her deck a warm and romantic feel. We love the way they look next to the potted Weeping Yoshino Cherry Tree.

Bryn added wooden posts to her brick patio so that she could easily string lights. We love the laid-back feel it gives to her classically styled space.

Dana of the blog House*Tweaking used top rail fencing with a looped end cap to support her string lights. Anchored in cement, these bases are portable, so they can be moved around Dana’s patio to accommodate a larger seating area or party!

Lighting, outdoor lighting, Outdoor Living, Patio, patio style challenge, style challenge

3 Ways to Bring a Fire Pit into Your Outdoor Space

Posted by: Caroline Inge on June 17th, 2013 | One Comment

If you live in an area that has lots of chilly evenings, a fire pit is an easy way to make your outdoor space function for more than just sunny days. We love the welcoming vibe it gives to a backyard, plus you could indulge in s’mores anytime you’d like! Here are three fire pit ideas for building a warm seating area in your own space.

USE AN ANTIQUE OR SALVAGED FIRE PIT

Updated, urban courtyard from Hannah of Maple & Shade

In the courtyard of her urban home, Hannah of Maple & Shade incorporated a vintage fire pit that’s been in her family for years. The round, open shape of the pit and its large, circular handles are unusual but interesting, and the years of wear perfectly complement their 100-plus-year-old home.

Fire, Fire Pit, Firepit, Outdoor Fire Pits, Outdoor Fireplace, Outdoor Living, Patio, patio ideas

Give Patio Furniture Sets a Custom Look with These Tips

Posted by: Caroline Inge on June 12th, 2013 | Make A Comment

Accessories dress up a patio furniture set

If you followed along with all of the gorgeous outdoor spaces that our Style Challenge participants put together, then perhaps you noticed the same trend we did. Many of these bloggers added unique touches to their patio furniture for a custom look.

CHANGE UP THE CUSHIONS

In the photo above, Grace of A Storied Style added slipcovers to her Woodbury 7-Piece Dining Set. Her mix of turquoise and yellow cabana stripe fabrics created a cheery front porch dining spot that her whole family loved!

Outdoor Living, Patio, Patio Furniture, patio furniture sets, patio style challenge, style challenge

Don’t Let the Campsite Go Dark – LED Lanterns and Solar Lights to Take Along

Posted by: Chante LaGon on June 7th, 2013 | One Comment

A flashlight is a minimum requirement when you’re on a camping trip. And flashlights have come a long way in recent years, with extra-long battery life and super inexpensive two-for-one packs (complete with batteries already installed). But these days LED lanterns and solar lights provide more light, more reliably and more cheaply than ever. And as we’ll see, they can even provide a level of glamour that will easily turn your camping trip into full-on “glamping.”

Here are a few we used to brighten up our campsite recently. You’ll find them useful for lighting up your patio or deck at home, too!

camping, glamping, LED Lighting, lighting ideas, Outdoor Living, Solar Lights, summer activities, summer essentials

How to Build a Stone Fire Pit

Posted by: Craig Allen on June 7th, 2013 | Make A Comment

Stone Fire Pit DIY Project completed

Fun family evenings around a fire make this DIY project a winner. It will enhance the look of your backyard, too. Here are the step-by-step instructions. We have printable instructions you can download, too.

Skill Level: Advanced
Time: 2 days
Cost: $1200 (for an appox. 15×15-foot patio with a 66-inch fire pit)

DIY Project, Garden, Outdoor Living, Outdoor Projects

Tips and Supplies for Cooking Outdoors

Posted by: Chante LaGon on June 6th, 2013 | 2 Comments

A group of people gathered around a charcoal grill

Summer activities that include food cooked on the grill make for some of the best memories — and satisfied taste buds. It doesn’t matter whether you’re gathered around a gas or charcoal grill or an open campfire. The good times really get going when it’s time to eat. Even though it’s a familiar tradition, there are a few things you can do to make your outside feasts and festivities go more smoothly. Here are a few of our favorite tips and camping supplies for cooking outdoors.

camping, Cooking Out, Outdoor Living, summer activities, summer essentials

Things Around Your Home You Can Repurpose for Camping

Posted by: Chante LaGon on June 5th, 2013 | 2 Comments

So you’re headed off to your next outdoor adventure. Maybe you’re an expert at camping with your gear ready to go. Or maybe you’re more the glamping type, with all the essentials plus a few creature comforts in tow. Either way, we bet there are a few things around your home you can repurpose for camping.

Don’t have these items lying around the house? Think of it this way: Make an inexpensive purchase now to take them on your trip, and then put these items to work once you return home.

Make sure to set up a nice lounging area at your outdoor location. If you bring along a garden stool from home, you’ll see that it can serve as a small end table or impromptu seating. When you’re packing the car, take advantage of a removable top on the garden stool, or put the stools in legs-side-up so that you can transport a couple of pillows or throws inside.

camping, glamping, repurposed, summer activities, summer essentials

Never Leave Home for Your Summer Activities Without These Essentials

Posted by: Chante LaGon on June 4th, 2013 | 3 Comments

There’s nothing like getting outside for your favorite summer activities. Sure, air conditioning is wonderful, but when the campsite calls or the beach beckons, a breeze is all you need.

Well, a breeze and these tips and take-alongs. We went on a warm-weather adventure recently and found that keeping a few things in mind — and on hand — can make all the difference in enjoying yourself outdoors.

A yurt at High Falls State Park in Georgia is good shelter for summer activities

First of all, secure the right location. Make sure to reserve your campsite, check with local authorities to see if beach camping is allowed, or simply arrive at your free-for-all site in plenty of time to get a good spot.

We decided to stay at a yurt in Georgia’s High Falls State Park. It’s the perfect setting for camping with a bit of glamour, aka glamping.

Next, gather up some travel basics. Here’s a collection of our favorites — everything from a flashlight to a first aid kit. That’s just the start. Let us show you some of our other must-haves below.

Travel essentials for summer activities include an LED lighter, bug spray, a first aid kit and more

camping, glamping, summer activities, summer essentials

How to Create a Flower Tower

Posted by: Craig Allen on May 31st, 2013 | 3 Comments

Home Depot DIY Flower Tower Project -- completed

Make an instant statement in your garden with this DIY Flower Tower project. You might have seen this project featured in a Home Depot TV commercial. Here are the step-by-step instructions. We have printable instructions you can download, too.

DIY Project, Garden

Inspired by the Patio Style Challenge: Outdoor Accessories

Posted by: Caroline Inge on May 13th, 2013 | One Comment

Outdoor accessories inspiration board

For the last month, the Patio Style Challenge has brought you gorgeous outdoor spaces designed by some of our favorite design and DIY bloggers. Whether it’s a lovely DIY deck or a small-space spruce-up, we’ve been inspired by all of the helpful tips that our bloggers have provided.

In this week’s Inspired board, we’ve pulled together some of the popular outdoor accessories and products that our Style Challenge participants used to create the outdoor space of their dreams!

Inspiration, inspiration board, Inspired, Outdoor Living, Patio, Patio Furniture

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