Hello and happy (almost-official) summer! After being cooped up in our house for what felt like ages, we are spending as much time outside as possible and loving every minute of soaking up the sunshine! I don’t know about you but the gorgeous weather we’ve been having is definitely giving me a more positive outlook on things, even though our summer plans this year look a little different than usual. Parks, beaches, and restaurants are starting to slowly open up again but the reality is that many of us are still spending a whole lot of time at home—and naturally, we want to take advantage of our outdoor spaces!

Recently, a client came to me because she wanted to get her deck in shape for summer. It’s a fabulous area for relaxing and enjoying the great outdoors, but space is limited and she wanted a design that would take advantage of every inch so she and her husband can entertain guests and host casual bbq dinners al fresco! As the “before” photos indicate, the current layout doesn’t lend itself to effortless hosting and needed some rearranging.

In the new layout, I moved the grill closer to the door for ease of moving in and out of the house with food and added a console table directly across for serving. The righthand section of the deck is reserved for the seating, including a bistro table and chairs, rocker, and bench. All of the furniture I selected is small and lightweight so that it is easy to shift around depending on whether my client is having company, doing work at the table, or relaxing on the bench with a glass of wine! We also decided to spruce up the deck with a new dark wood stain and paint the railings a nice clean white. A rug adds extra color and coziness, and the one I chose is reversible for an easy way to switch things up.

After the major elements were nailed down, it was time for the icing on the cake—accessories! Because they are set apart from the rest of your home and its color scheme, outdoor spaces are the perfect place to be daring with bold colors and patterns. I mean, how gorgeous are these plates? Maybe they wouldn’t work as your everyday dinnerware, but they hit all the right notes for a fun summer gathering! The whimsical doormat and mismatched pillows add to the cool, bohemian effect. I love to include lots of green in the outdoor spaces I design, so in addition to two planters I added the herb planter that—bonus!—attaches to the house, thereby saving additional space. Finally, these beautiful lanterns will add a nice ambiance when the sun goes down.

I can’t wait to see how it all comes together, and hope my client spends many, many hours relaxing, laughing, and toasting good friends on her deck this summer. Have I inspired you to spruce up your own outdoor space for summer? I’d love to see photos! And, as always, I’m happy to help or answer any questions you have—get in touch at carolyn@blissfulinteriordesign.com. Stay safe this summer!

~Carolyn & Team Bliss