Hello friends!
I am writing to you from my comfy, newly updated outdoor living room!
I don’t know about you, but when the weather is nice, I want to be outside as much as possible, so I am sitting out here with my laptop writing this post.
Last summer we did a MAJOR overhaul of our backyard. We hadn’t done much to it since we bought this place 6 years ago, and it was dated and unappealing. You can read more about our backyard renovation by clicking here. We finished the backyard last summer towards the end of June, and this is what it looked like. wide shot of backyard
Before we rennovated, the space was lacking a dining area so I was really excited to incorporate that into the new patio. I bought this outdoor table and these benches from World Market, which we love, and now we try and eat outside as much as possible.
The other thing that I wanted on the back patio was an “Outdoor Living Room’…a cozy spot to hang out as a family or entertain some guests. Last summer I scored this funky little outdoor loveseat from Target in the clearance section. I tucked it into the end of the patio with an outdoor rug we already had.
At that point, the budget was pretty tapped out and the family CFO informed me that a decorative spending freeze was happening…#buzzkill. Overall the space was really lovely and was functioning quite well for us and I was so happy with the transformation.
This summer I wanted to add a few items to make our outdoor “Living Room” more complete. We needed some additional seating as well as some accent tables. I turned to my two favourite retailers – Target and World Market to source the items on my wish list. Here is what the outdoor living room looks like now:
Now the space feels complete and I love being out here! So does Lucy…
For today’s post I thought I would share with you the 5 elements that I think make a cozy outdoor living room.
1.comfortable/conversational seating
Just like with your indoor living room, you need a comfortable place to sit. I wanted to make sure I had enough seating for us to hang outside as a family or to entertain any guests that we have over.
Our back patio is not very big, but I added this set of club chairs to the mix and they are perfect!
Luckily Target was still carrying the same line (Project 62) that the sofa came from so I was able to have a matching set. The design is pretty unique and “busy” and I didn’t like the idea of introducing a different style.
Plus the loveseat is really comfortable and I knew that the chairs would be just as good.
Having the sofa and the chairs opposite to each other works really well in the small space and it is perfect for conversating, which is totally a verb right? Now we have the perfect little spot to gather as a family or to entertain a few guests.
2.accent tables
Last summer I struggled to find an outdoor coffee table that I liked, plus there was the pesky “no more money in the budget” situation… Late this Spring, I started looking for an outdoor coffee table. I wanted something small and round and I fell in love with this one from World Market.
I ordered it online and had it delivered to our cabin in Washington – World Market doesn’t deliver to Canada at this time…insert crying emoji…anyway, unfortunately when it arrived it was broken. I was really bummed. I made a trip to the closest Worl Market, which is about an hour away from our cabin. I was hoping to exchange it for an intact table, but of course they didn’t have any in stock. They had the matching side tables which I grabbed two of out of desperation. I thought maybe I could put them side by side instead of a larger coffee table, but it didn’t look right. So I placed them on the end of the loveseat and chair, as an extra surface to set a drink or book. They really are so cute, aren’t they?
I really love the faux concrete top and the sassy MCM legs!
It was back to the drawing board for a coffee table, and I found this small metal one from Target. It barely fits this little outdoor living room. According to “the rules”, it is too close to the sofa and chairs, but I say some rules are meant to be broken!
Having a surface to rest some drinks or snacks on is essential and this little black table works perfectly!
3.outdoor rug
An outdoor rug is such a fun way to elevate the style of your outdoor space. In the case of my outdoor living area, it also helps to define the space.
It also feels really nice on the old feet and makes the space cozy.
4.throw pillows
If you know me, you know that I am all about the throw pillows. Just like having an outdoor rug, pillows are a fun way to add style to your outdoor space.
Once again, my favourite place to source outdoor pillows is World Market and Target. I bought these boho ones this summer and am in love with them!!
Not only do they tie the space together, but theyup the cozy/comfort factor.
5.greenery and accents
The last element of an outdoor living room that I wanted to talk about is plants. Flowers and greenery add life and color to your outdoor living room and they should not be overlooked!
I bought some ferns from Ikea and I love the fullness and texture they add to the space.
This tall planter and fern combo tucked into this empty space and made it feel full.
I haven’t had a ton of success with flowers, but our lavender plants are doing really well this summer, and they are a fun pop of green and purple. Plus it’s good for the bees! Succulents are always a good idea in my books, and I am still loving this centerpiece I made for our dining table, which you can read about by clicking here.
I planted succulents in some of my big planters as well, I just can’t get enough of these forgiving and low maintenance beauties!
And if you have a total black thumb, you can always go faux! This little arrangement was from Homesense (homegoods) and it looks great on the coffee table. I love the warmth of the terra cotta pot.
So there you have it friends, the 5 elements of a cozy outdoor living room. Even if you are short on space and don’t have a huge budget to work with, you can create an outdoor living space that you can enjoy all summer long.
We will be stuck inside again before we know it, so I plan on making the most of the warm weather while I can, right Lucy?
Hope you are having a great summer so far, and thanks so much for reading this post!
xo, Kerri