Improvements and Practices for Loving Your Space
Having an outdoor space to call your own is such a gift. Whether you rent or own, whether your patio is 3-feet by 4-feet or your deck is the size of a two-bedroom apartment, taking time to make it yours and really enjoy it is worthwhile. In these pandemic times, when we are spending so much more time at home and in smaller numbers, what better time to make the best of what we have? If you don’t have a porch or dedicated outdoor space, consider adapting some of these ideas for a sunny room or grab-and-go provisions for front stoop squatting. These ideas may even help you extend your porch joy through late fall.
My personal porch joy spans irreplaceable summer-long memories on my grandparents’ front porch, planned and impromptu college social hours on mismatched (indoor) furniture, urban escapes on roofs and assorted small footprints, to my current covered porch that I share with my family and switch from kid-friendly to cocktail-ready on the regular. So I think you will find a little something here to try yourself, no matter what you are working with and whether your space is primarily one for solitude or entertaining.
1. Functional furniture. I won’t go too far in recommending specific furniture, as personal styles, budgets, and available spaces vary so widely, but I would like to offer a few tips on furniture attributes to consider.
Think: multi-purpose accents that can transform as needed or fill more than one void in the haven you are building.
For example, a long bench makes a great coffee table for eating, drinking, playing games, and kicking your feet up. When you have additional guests, you can easily gain floor space and seating by simply moving the bench and adding a cushion or throw pillows. Folding side tables and dining tables are also worth their weight in gold. Benches, ottomans, and chests that can hold throw blankets, pillows, towels for water play, or other supplies are also great investments. A wheeled storage ottoman is even better! Lastly, for the cold beverage enthusiast, this icy side table could be a game-changer. We don’t have one ourselves but have gifted it to extremely enthusiastic recipients! Speaking of cool drinks–
2. Porch drinkware is often overlooked as a porch necessity but the right drinking vessel to suit your taste and aesthetic preference can really add to how much you enjoy your outdoor space.
The key is finding a style that delights you, keeps your favorite drink at the right temperature, and is not too delicate for porch use.
At our house, we love colorful acrylic goblets, retro-inspired tumblers, and Zak stainless steel cups in any size or shape. They are the best at holding the coldest temperatures! We also love Lifefactory glasses and bottles that have built-in grippers in colorful hues. Regardless of your top glass pics, you will also want to consider extra-large ice cube trays and pitchers which can save trips indoors and keep your cool drinks even cooler.
3. Lighting is also key to setting a mood and, sometimes, dialing back the heat.
For lights at night, we love combining string lights with candles that sit inside simple lanterns and intricately designed tea light holders. If your space gets, heavy, direct sunlight, you can also try solar light options which are beautiful as well as safe and energy efficient. These tend to be great for mood lighting, but if you need something brighter, it may be best to stick with string lights and pillar candles.
For shade and privacy on covered spaces, I highly recommend installing simple, lightweight curtain panels.
We scored inexpensive cotton panels at Target last year that have rod pockets at the top and bottom. We used copper piping to secure them at the top near our ceiling and at the bottom of our railing so we can slide them and keep them secured as needed. These magnetic curtain ties complete our look and are perfect for letting us adjust to the moving sun or create privacy in the evenings. To achieve a similar look, you can try products like these sheer panels and curtain rods. For small, uncovered spaces where you can’t fit an umbrella or build a pagoda, but you want some personal shade to read a book or just kick back, try keeping a portable shade solution on hand to clip on to a railing or chair when you need it. This can also be a great solution for renters.
4. The sounds of summer (and fall). Here are two strong recommendations for you. First, wind chimes to soothe and harmonize with birds are unexpectedly awesome. We have two and they are truly lovely, under-the-radar mood soothers. Secondly, portable, outdoor-friendly, bluetooth speakers are a no-brainer. We have had great luck with these Anker and Bose models. The Bose model is better for sound quality and bigger spaces, but both do the trick.
5. Accessories and textiles. This category of supplies can be highly personal.
Here is where you can really bring in your style and hobbies – and even little touches for guests.
These small details are where you can make annual updates to keep your space feeling fresh and give yourself some tools to make enjoying your porch easier.
It may seem silly, but an awesome tray is one of my favorite things to recommend. From simple to bohemian, there are many styles to choose but I would recommend prioritizing handles and outdoor-friendly materials, in whichever color and shape you like. You can use trays for serving drinks, but they are also great for housing “collections of curiosities” that add to the decor, organization, and function of your space. Most days, our staple tray holds a small potted plant, a small geometric vase of chunky sidewalk chalk or fresh-cut flowers, and my daughter’s binoculars for getting a better look at our yard’s nesting neighbors and scampering squirrels. At other times, it holds candles with stick lighters, decks of cards, and even sweet little paper fans from the dollar store. The trays keep your space clutter-free but personalized.
Take time to also pick rugs, pillows, throws, and flower pots to finish off your space. We tend to mix and match but appreciate both spaces that use a lot of different colored pots as well as those that keep to an all-white or monochromatic theme. Also, don’t forget terra cotta plates to go under your flower pots to catch draining water. Cork pads are also great for protecting the surfaces under your pots. If you have particularly heavy plants or plants you want to move to follow the proper amount of sunlight, splurge on some plant trays with wheels.
6. Pest control should also not be overlooked. These magnetic screen curtains were perfect for our small patio in the city. They kept our kitchen accessible, breezy, and (mostly) pest-free without installing anything permanent or expensive. Recently, we just picked up a bottle of this natural deterrent spray. It smells good and seems to help keep the creepy crawlies away without harming nature. I prefer it’s minty scent to citronella, but citronella candles or repellent wipes are always good to have on hand as well.
7. Incremental updates. Maybe you can’t make a lot of changes to your space all at once for budget reasons, or maybe you simply prefer to take your time and add pieces only as you find things you truly love. With different homes and times, I have certainly employed both strategies but I have truly found joy in each unique space.
When your space is new to you, try to identify one thing that you really like without having to exert any energy or money.
For us in our current space, it would have to be the ceiling fan that came with the house. What a score. With one win under your belt, you will be more able to enjoy what you have in the moment and perhaps also be more motivated to keep going with your modifications. Perhaps before spending a lot of money, you can also take inventory of what you may have on hand that just needs a little love to shine. Give new life to an old plant stand, inherited side table, or tired-looking chair with Rustoleum Paint. With just a little elbow grease, you can give yourself an advantage on keeping a budget or preserving an old favorite. We have had great luck changing colors on metal and wooden surfaces with this spray paint, and even weather-proofing wooden chairs with clear Rustoleum. Cheap and cheerful. Give yourself creative freedom and also the freedom to keep dreaming of the next generation of your porch while loving what you have. For me, though I love our current set-up, I do look forward to the day when I can weave in a beautiful hanging chair.
In addition to suiting up your space with the right pieces, it’s important to remember to give yourself the time to enjoy it. Maybe make a standing weekly date with a book, partner, or family member. Make a chore like folding laundry or calling the cable company a little more enjoyable by doing it outdoors. It’s worth a shot for fresh air and fresh perspectives. Take it all in while you can. “Winter is coming” quicker than you might believe!
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