Outdoor living has taken the world by storm! We’ve come a long way from those white metal grid chairs we used to sit on when I was a kid! Now you can find furniture that looks like actual furniture for your outdoor spaces! It’s just as comfortable as it is beautiful! Our outdoor spaces are no longer just for the kids or pets to play in, they are actual spaces for entertaining, playing, etc. Your outdoor space is really an extension of your home. To help you create an outdoor space you love as much as your indoor space, I am sharing 3 tips for creating the ultimate outdoor summer space!
We will be updating our backyard over the next few months, so I am using these tips to redesign our outdoor space.
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3 Tips for Creating the Ultimate Outdoor Summer Space
Make your outdoor space flow seamlessly with your indoor space.
Your outdoor space should be an extension of the inside of your home. When you look outside, you should feel as though that outdoor space belongs with the inside. Design an outdoor space that blends with your style and your home will feel so much more cohesive.
Achieve this look by selecting furniture, accessories, throws and pillows that coordinate with your interior.
Here’s a look at our interior…
Here’s a look at our exterior courtyard…
Our courtyard is visible from the kitchen, family room, dining room and entryway. I carried the color scheme from those rooms into the courtyard to create a continuity. Notice the same use of gray, cream and pops of gold. 
The backyard is where we will be doing some updating. The bones are great, we will be selecting new furniture and accessories to flow more with the inside. Our outdoor furniture has served us well! We are lucky to get 5-7 years out of our outdoor pieces here under the desert’s scorching sun.
Create a mood board of pieces you love.
Start a search for pieces you love. Then create a mood board with those pieces.
Designing a mood board will help you envision the entire space. It allows you to “see” what the items look like together, before actually purchasing them. This tip has saved me tons of money and frustration! I wrote about how to create a simple mood board if you need some guidance.
Here is a mood board I am using for our backyard update. Creating a mood board can also allow you to purchase pieces as you have the money. Having a plan and knowing exactly what you are saving for, will help you stay focused on your goal.
Try purchasing a few pieces each month until you have everything on your wish list. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking you have to have it all at once.
1 Scalloped Outdoor Umbrella | 2 Tassel Outdoor Throw Pillow | 3 Wicker Outdoor Sofa | 4 Wicker Outdoor Club Chair | 5 Brass Outdoor Lanterns | 6 Lattice Outdoor Coffee Table | 7 White Drum Side Table | 8 Gray Striped Beach Towel | 9 Gray Tassel Beach Towel | 10 Wicker Outdoor Dining Chair | 11 Cement Round Outdoor Dining Table
Outdoor Furniture
Outdoor Throw Pillows
Beach Towels
Outdoor Accessories
Select Plants and Flowers that blend with the look you are trying to achieve.
Plants and flowers are the backdrop to your outdoor space. If you are trying to create a lush California style outdoor space, purchase plants that are will achieve that look. Don’t plant cactus and succulents! Unless of course you are going for a desert chic look.
When we moved to the AZ desert 11 years ago, we knew we wanted to look out into our yard and feel like we were home in Southern California. So, we designed our outdoor space with plants and flowers that are reminiscent of the lush California landscape.
Select plants that will thrive in your area. Just because you can find boxwoods growing and thriving everywhere California, doesn’t mean I can have them all over my yard! They require shade here in the desert.
Do your homework, select plants that will give you that “look” you desire but will also be able to survive your climate.
To create a green outdoor space. We planted lots of ficus trees that line the perimeter of the yard. They have grown together over the years, creating a beautiful wall of greenery. When you look out our windows, you do not feel like you are in the harsh AZ desert. Suddenly those 120 degree summer days feel a little cooler!
We planted green cloud sage instead of boxwoods to create a beautiful hedge around the pool. These thrive here in the desert and require very little water. White iceberg roses are a staple in California’s landscape. You’d better believe they were a staple in mine.
I hope these tips help you create the ultimate outdoor Summer space! Check back to see our backyard transformation. You can sign up for our weekly emails to make sure you don’t miss a thing!
What kind of ficus trees are these?