Elevate Your Outdoor Space
With Memorial Day marking summer’s unofficial start, it’s time to get your backyard ready for a season of fun outdoor living. Whether your outdoor space is a patio, deck, backyard or pool area, and whether you use it for enjoying cocktails, dining, having friends over, or just hanging out, it’s time to start preparing for a summer outdoors filled with fun and pleasure.
Here are some of our favorite tips for getting your backyard ready for summer, things you can easily do yourself without much fuss.
Set the Tone with Lighting
The right lighting will help you enjoy your outdoor area to the max. There are lots of inexpensive, simple and fun ways to light up your backyard, encouraging you to linger well into the night.
String Lights: Perfect for the patio, deck or backyard, this low-voltage accent lighting instantly provides an intimate ambiance. Choose brands that are waterproof so you can leave them out all summer. Long-lasting LED bulbs, and lights that are battery or solar-powered and rechargeable, will minimize your investment of time and energy.
Paper Lanterns: For a festive look, hang some paper lanterns. In addition to being colorful and fun, they are inexpensive and easy to install. They are available in a large variety of sizes, shapes and colors that can easily be mixed and matched, and can be hung from string lights. Individual battery-operated lanterns can be placed just about anywhere. There are also plug-in and solar-powered options.
Candles: There are many types of candles to choose from: votive, tea light, pillar, and taper, to name a few. Large pillar candles last a long time and won’t drip. Votive candles can be placed inside decorative lanterns for a delightful accent. Flameless candles are also a great choice, because they provide a candlelit ambiance without blowing out. You can always get creative by making your own unique design, using mason jars or assorted glass bottles filled with candles or tea lights.
Get Comfortable
Your and your guests’ comfort is key to enjoying your backyard. Here are a few things to consider:
Seating: Outdoor living tends to be less formal than indoor living, so don’t be shy about mixing and matching seating options. An assortment of colorful outdoor seat cushions will provide an inviting look and offer additional comfort.
Temperature: Be prepared for hot, sticky weather with rotating floor fans to cool yourself off and keep the mosquitos at bay. There are many options for outdoor fans, including floor, table, and tower fans. Patio misters can be added for an additional cooling option.
For cool nights, be prepared with a firepit, which is easy to install and available in a wide variety of attractive options. A firepit will extend your entertaining season in the spring and fall, keeping you warm and comfortable. Keep a supply of cozy blankets and shawls, and layered outdoor rugs on hand.
Inclement Weather: There are a number of attractive, affordable pop-up canopies on the market in a variety of colors, frames and cover materials. Choose one that can be assembled in minutes with just one or two people.
Another option is purchasing waterproof outdoor umbrellas. There are hundreds of delightful, decorative choices in all kinds of colors and patterns. If it’s sunny out, both canopies and umbrellas will create shade to keep you cool.
Set the Stage for Movie Nights
Why not enjoy your favorite movies on a big screen in your own backyard? It’s easier (and cheaper) to accomplish than you think!
Movie Screen: You can turn an ordinary bedsheet into an impromptu movie screen. Just hang it anywhere, such as on the side of your house or garage, pulling it as taut as possible to prevent distortions. If you’re handy, you can build a portable movie screen, making a frame out of PVC pipe and affixing a sheet or drop cloth to it. You can always indulge in an outdoor screen. They range in size from 100 to 200 inches and there are even inflatable models.
Projector: It’s possible to make your own projector using your cellphone by following simple instructions online, such as this 3-minute-long one on YouTube, “Make Your Own Projector at Home Using Your Smart Phone”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-APbZJhig6M. You can also go all out and purchase a budget projector for a home theater that works in an outdoor setting. Many of the ones on the market are small enough to carry outside and put on a small table.
Media Player: You can use a streaming stick such as Roku, which connects to the projector and uses your home’s Wi-Fi to stream movies from the internet. Or, your laptop might be able to output a video signal through an HDMI adapter.
Speakers: If your projector doesn’t have its own speaker, you should be able to use its analog output which you can connect to any speaker that has an analog input. Consider purchasing a Bluetooth speaker, which you can connect to a streaming stick via the Roku app on your phone.
So start your summer having fun and being creative by setting up a fantastic outdoor space with great ambiance, comfortable seating, and your own home movie theater.
Rita Naffas Designs is a full-service interior design studio in Los Angeles, specializing in luxury residential, commercial, and hospitality interiors. We can help you create your fantasy outdoor space or partner with you on an interior design project tailored to your exact needs.