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    Colorful Outdoor Living Space Makeover

    June 9, 2015 |

    Today I'm sharing a colorful outdoor living space makeover. We found an old patio set at a garage sale and used it to create a outdoor living space. But it was missing something. We added in colorful accessories and the before and after is crazy, it doesn't look like the same set!

    When we first took a tour of our house, there were many details and features that convinced us to put in an offer. But when we stepped outside, we were surprised. The house had a beautiful yard on a half acre as well as a two level deck with an arbor overhead. There was a bit of cleaning up to do but as we walked around, I pictured us here.

    Summer mornings with coffee, entertaining with friends, clearing the calendar and relaxing. Since we had quite a bit of projects to tackle, a pretty outdoor living space was something I figured would stay near the bottom of the to-do list.

    our new home, exterior tour

    Fast forward to April when I found a patio set at a garage sale for $50. I wasn't so sure of the purchase, even after I brought it home! There were no cushions or pillows and I knew those could be expensive.

    BEFORE:

    colorful outdoor space makeover using thrifted furniture, globe lights, and vivid pillows

    AFTER:

    IMG_4654

    colorful outdoor space makeover using thrifted furniture, globe lights, and vivid pillows

    I think the pillows are happy here. 🙂

    The white slipcovered cushions and pillows were from World Market. We added in two sets of globe lights and hanging planters from a grocery store. The whole space looks happy and bright now! The prints and colors add the perfect pop of color.

    IMG_4683

    IMG_4652

    colorful outdoor space makeover using thrifted furniture, globe lights, and vivid pillows

    colorful outdoor space makeover using thrifted furniture, globe lights, and vivid pillows

    In the time we've had the space, it's been a great spot for watching the kids play, reading a good book, or chatting with friends and neighbors.

    IMG_4683

    A great spot for sipping on fresh mint coconut mojitos with tiny umbrellas. (Get that recipe here.)

    coconut mason jar mojitos

    A spot perfect for enjoying a sunset.

    colorful outdoor space makeover using thrifted furniture, globe lights, and vivid pillows

    Or for flipping on the globe lights and sneaking out with my husband after a loooong day. Ahhhhhhh, bedtime. 🙂

    globe light closeup

    BEFORE - colorful outdoor space makeover using thrifted furniture, globe lights, and vivid pillows

    Not too shabby for an old deck and thrifted patio set!

    What do you think of the space?

    Let's see that before and after again...

    colorful outdoor space makeover using thrifted furniture, globe lights, and vivid pillows
    IMG_4683

    BEFORE - colorful outdoor space makeover using thrifted furniture, globe lights, and vivid pillows

    It can be tempting to go neutral with outdoor decor, but have some fun with it! An outdoor space is the perfect spot to take decorating risks. Play it safe with key pieces, like furniture, but have fun with the rest!

    What do you think? 

    More projects

    • Before and After - 1910 House Living Room
    • 1910 House Renovation Plans and Timeline
    • Simple Home Office Organization
    • Looking Back on 2017 - Project Recap

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Liz Schneider

      August 11, 2015 at 10:45 am

      I've never invested much in pillows for my outdoor patio area, just taking hand me down from friends. Why? It seems like a lot of work to anticipate rain and bring all the pillows in. If i don't they take too long to dry out. As there truly water resistant patio pillows out there?

    2. Eva

      June 11, 2015 at 9:54 am

      Looks fantastic! Very inspiring for my own outdoor space:)

    3. diane @smartmoneysimplelife

      June 09, 2015 at 5:24 pm

      What do I think of the space? I think if it was at my house, I'd work, eat and sleep out there.

      I'm sure it will be the scene of many wonderful memories.

    4. Marilou (your moma)

      June 09, 2015 at 4:05 pm

      I love it. I still want to stain that set, but love the colors, so cool, and love the lights my grandpa would be proud reminds me of his patio with the lights going across the grape vines.

    5. Jen

      June 09, 2015 at 2:54 pm

      Such a beautiful transformation! I love the beautiful colors, they are so bright and cheerful! And I would never have guessed the set was thrifted, such a great find. You did good my friend!

    6. Parsley

      June 09, 2015 at 1:14 pm

      That looks great! So inviting! I love how white looks with bright colors like that, but I'm wary because I have little kids. Maybe I should just go with it and arm myself with stain remover when and if necessary. (I can very easily picture pieces of filmy billowy fabric hung from each of the four corners like curtains, but not anything fiddly or that would look crummy after a while.)

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    Hi, I'm Ann Marie. I want to help you find peace in your home through simplifying your life, taking on small projects, and learning to find your style. Learn more about this site and why I started it...

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    Hi, I'm Ann Marie. I want to help you find peace in your home through simplifying your life, taking on small projects, and learning to find your style. Learn more about this site and why I started it...

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