Our backyard is so small, but it’s going to be really fun to make it pretty. We already have a built-in gas firepit, and we’re adding a small deck outside the kitchen, right through French doors. I am picturing a spot to sit, some potted plants, and we just ordered climbing roses to grow on either side of the French doors, too! I can’t wait to put in as many flowers and plants as I can to make it feel like a little cottage garden.
In addition to the joy of gardening, our goal as we design our backyard is to make it feel welcoming to visiting family on a summer evening. To pull together the right design elements, we first need to visualize the experience we want people to have. As we imagine people gathering there, what do we need to make the space enjoyable? This is true for any size backyard, of course, but you definitely have to be intentional to make the most of every inch in a small one!
Get inspired for summer entertaining with this outdoor mood board!
I love mood boards because they not only can help you visualize how a space might look, but also how it might feel (all the senses!). When I look at this mood board I can picture the cheerful sounds of friends and family chatting over a BBQ meal, soft music playing in the background, pouring a refreshing glass of lemonade at the serving cart, getting a whiff of the delightful scent of roses on the trellis, gathering around to make s’mores around the firepit…I love summer evenings like that! I can’t wait! Stay tuned to see how our backyard comes together :).
Sources:
2 Piece Outdoor Swivel Glider Chairs with Patio Cover (Great price for two, and I’ve read very positive reviews from people who have had them for years!)
Teal/Copper Patina Planter Pot
Hammered Copper Garden Stool with Removable Lid for Storage
Patio Umbrella – Gray and White Striped (color options)
Outdoor Area Rug (color options, great reviews!)
Outdoor Wood Serving Cart Tea Trolley (portable with a drawer, glass holders, and serving tray)
Colorful Mini Lantern (color options)
Do you enjoy mood boards? You can find more HERE, and you can also follow our @theinspiredroomstyle Instagram for more mood boards and decor finds.
More Outdoor Inspiration:
3 Ways to Create a Happy Garden
9 Elements for Enjoyable Outdoor Spaces
My Outdoor Furniture, Patio Umbrellas, Rugs and More
My Backyard Tour: Pea Gravel Patios, Flagstone & Secret Garden
You’re braver than I am! Most of the time I find this town we live in too cool in the evening to sit outside.
Cozy sweaters + sitting by the firepit = my favorite!! We don’t have to sit out for long if it’s chilly, we just make a few s’mores and head in!
Also there r those washable , fuzzy blankets available on Amazon as well. If you prefer fleece, they too are easy to take care . Nothing better than a warm fire , soft music and a cup of tea to close out the day! ❤️
I love sitting out in cool summer evenings! I saw that same rattan chair set at Lowe’s that you posted about and loved it too!
Thank you for your Memorial Day posts.
My husband just got a hammock for my birthday for our small back deck. I love it! It is great and has a sturdy metal frame to support it. What a great addition! We now have an outdoor sofa, coffee table, the hammock, an umbrella, a small bistro dining table with two chairs, a smoker, a cute fake plant, a utility type cart we can wheel out with outdoor dishes and items, and a cute beverage cooler cart we can wheel out from our garage. We plan to get two Adirondack chairs to put at our fire pit in the back yard, and we plan to add back yard shrubs for greater privacy. These items I mentioned have taken us 5 years to slowly accrue. We are not wealthy, and it has not been overnight to afford these things. I am in the hammock as I type and so thankful. I basically have used Pinterest and blogs to help me decorate and be inspired and plan what we want.