CREATING A SIMPLE OUTDOOR SPACE and a $100.00 VISA GIFT CARD GIVEAWAY
Please see the bottom of this post for the $100.00 VISA GIFT CARD GIVEAWAY!
I love small outdoor spaces. A little corner, a patch of porch… A cozy space made just for me! I have one of those simple outdoor spaces! You will find me there most morning in my pj’s with a big cup of coffee, reading or doing devotions or blogging or going through my piles of emails. It’s not fancy or expensive but it IS sassy and serene and… me! Do you have an outdoor space all your own? You should! I’ll show you how I created mine and embraced my space!
I just hosed it down. Living in the middle of farm fields can be a challenge. There is always some dirt or pollen or fragments of what is being grown in the fields swirling around! But the views are so worth the trouble!
To create a space of your own you first need to find a little space that will work for you. It does not have to be big. Just enough for a piece of outdoor furniture or two!
The corner of my porch works perfectly for me. It’s shaded until late afternoon. A wonderful place to work!
Now for all of you who think I only like neutrals… think again! I love love love color. I chose a color palette of black, white, hot pink and bright spring green. Very fun and girly!
Since we are making an outdoor space just for us we need to choose colors WE love. I say… this space does not have to match or work with the rest of your home. This is a space all about YOU! Embrace your space!
I was so inspired by these hot pink MONROVIA verbena in choosing colors for my outdoor living space. The remind me of bright pink lipstick! Wow!
I’m using this very sturdy, oh so comfortable, and very inexpensive mesh furniture that I got at Lowe’s… the same place I got the annuals! The wind at StoneGable can be fierce, so I selected easy-care furniture that would hold up and won’t blow away on a windy day!
What furniture will you choose? A rocker and small side table, a table and chairs like I did, a director’s chair and a poof or a hammock under your favorite shade tree? Use your imagination! Just make sure the furniture you choose can hold up to inclement weather.
The next thing I chose for this space was the chair pads and cushions. I’ve had them for several years and they were just what I needed for this area!
It thrills me to reuse something and give it another life!
How will you bring your color palette into your space? Chair pads, cushions, a throw, place mats or beach towel? There are so many fabulous colors for outdoor living!
To bring the “outdoor room” together I added a small indoor/outdoor rug. Again, I already had this rug. It has been on my front porch for several years
I think rugs are such an important part of outdoor living! Choose a rug that ties your colors together and defines your space.
Since I did not use any hot pink in my outdoor furnishings I wanted to bring the color to my living space with flowers! Beautiful flowers!
I chose a profusion of hot pink blooms. Monrovia “Lanai Upright Verbena” was my choice! Aren’t these just gorgeous?
The gray pot was once a regular terracotta pot. I painted it a soft gray with chalk paint! The pink works so much better with the gray than with a dull orange color!
Just think of all the colors you could paint a container to work with your outdoor space colors!
To add a little more drama I picked Monrovia “Sidekick Sweet Potato Vine” in a gorgeous deep and sultry almost-black-purple!
The Lantana will grow thick and upright providing an ongoing flower show all summer long and the sweet potato vine will impressively spill over the sides of the containers. Sigh! And they are easy to care for!
I like a tight color palette. I think choosing just a few colors to work with creates a very powerful statement! I love love love how vivid and striking these blooms are!
The last thing to add to create a great outdoor space is the embellishments! Think about adding outdoor curtains, or shutters. Would an outdoor chandy or lantern work in your space?
My space is mostly an outdoor work space, so I kept it simple. I added a bright green garden stool to put my morning coffee on since I usually have my computer and calendar etc spread out on the table.
Check back soon to see new outdoor curtains I made for this space.
It’s such a pleasure to have a simple outdoor space created just for me and my needs. How about you? Embrace your space and enjoy it all summer long! What kind of a space would you create?
Now for a GIVEAWAY
Enter to win a …
$100.00 VISA GIFT CARD
You can use the GIFT CARD towards creating an outdoor space of your own or whatever you choose! Make sure to follow the directions in the entry form. You can enter some chances daily!!!! Don’t forget to come back and enter to win every day!
Good luck!!!!
Winner will have to verify their winning entry before prize is issued!
You might like to follow me on Pinterest and see what I’m pinning every day HERE.
A big THANK YOU to the nice folks at MONROVIA for sponsoring this post!
Such a great idea to create a little office outdoors and what an inspirational place to work. I work just outside our kitchen on the terrace in the warmer months; with 2′ thick old stone walls it’s about as far as the Internet will reach here in France! I have the natural shade of the giant Lime tree and it just feels good to be in the fresh air.
Sounds so idyllic !
Love your little corner of tranquility and beauty. I will be pulling together an area soon on my patio and this is just the inspiration I needed. Found a Monrovia garden center so close to my new home so I will be planning a visit there soon to buy some of their beautiful hydrangeas and other pops of color. Thanks, Yvonne!!
Love the look and the bright pop of the flower color!! Just love it!! You make everything so inviting.
I’m so happy that it’s finally planting time in NE Pennsylvania! I am working on a large bluestone patio fire pit area in my yard…it’s set away from the house and I’m enclosing three sides of it with raised mounds of plantings edged with all the rocks in my yard…can’t wait to get to add plants like lemongrass and flowering perennials! thanks for the link to such a great site!
That sounds so pretty!
Beautiful, looks perfect for a cup of coffee and morning bible/prayer time. L
Your patio looks amazing, Yvonne! Love the greens with the beautiful flowers! I’ve been working on mine and plan on dining al fresco this weekend! Happy Wednesday!
Love your outdoor space. Colors perfect! If you don’t mind, could you tell me where you bought your green garden stool?
Thanks. Your blog is the highlight of my day!
What a sweet area to work or relax. Plus you get to enjoy Mother Nature. Do you find the Lantana draws the butterflies?
I’m not sure. But I will find out this summer!
Lantanas are great for attracting butterflies. Living in South Texas where we haven’t had a freeze in three years, Lantanas pop up everywhere.
Thanks Yvonne for todays post.You make your porch so inviting,I’d like to sit on your porch and enjoy a cup of coffee and see the countryside views. Here in Illinois we have bugs to contend with so I’m hoping to create a morning coffee retreat like yours,only with screened windows on our back porch. Have great day!
I love “first love gardenia” they are beautiful to look at and smell so good.
Moving to an apartment soon and will only have a small outdoor space so love the inspiration, I love all of your designs. Thanks!
I love the Lantana and it’s side kick…2 of my favorites!
Thanks for the fun giveaway! I love the verbena on your porch… I’ve never tried them before… I wonder if they need a lot of ‘dead-heading’ to keep blooming or if they’re pretty carefree?
Everything you do is just beautiful!! I have been looking through your blog for ideas for my outdoors and your vegetable/flower garden is amazing!! I know this is a silly question but just wondering if this is the back of your house. We also live in the country but we can’t put our veg garden in our backyard. Just needing some ideas:) thank you!!
Hi Dayna! What you see is the back corner of my home. Our garden is in the backyard but on the other side. How about growing veggies in great pots where the sun is best.
We had a lot of lantana in California. I learned that you need to water the soil – water on the leaves can leave black spots. They don’t like too much water anyway! Good choice!
I am DYING to have hydrangeas … LOVE, LOVE, LOVE them ~ growing, lush cut displays indoors, and then dried! What other flowering beauty can give you so much joy!?! Thanks for another great gift card giveaway opportunity, Yvonne!
Hi Yvonne,
Such a tranquil space to spend some time with God. Your flowers are so pretty. I do have one question, did you prime your clay pot before and after you painted? Thanks for sharing your home. Have a wonderful day.
Great question Bonnie! Chalk paint needs no primer. I suggest Amy Howard One Step Paint. It’s a chalk paint and you can get it at Lowe’s
Thank you for sharing your beautiful porch and plants with us, you sure know how to put things together and make them sing!!
Blessings to you and Stonegable!!
Your plants are inspiring me:)
i love the everblooming gardenias – so pretty
Gardenias smell heavenly!
my favorite garden style is the zen garden
its not very close but Blue Moon Gardens is 100 miles from me
That would be quite a fieldtrip, Debbie!
The post was so inspiring , and loved looking at the garden choices. I liked the lavender lantana. but the dwarf olive tree was so sweet.
Be Blessed
I like your pictures,looks nice.
I love your style, Yvone! It makes me happy and gets me inspired. I love the idea of drinking coffee outside on a beautiful day like today in NYC ?☀️
The pink flowers are the verbena and the lavender ones are the lantana? I have never seen lavender lantana, that I remember! It is beautiful!
Yes, they are both Lantana. Lantana is one of my favorite blooms. Isn’t it pretty?
I absolutely love your garden office! I wish I could spend more time outdoors while still working, but my apartment terrace faces a really busy street and it’s quite unpleasant.
Thanks for the give away. Such a pretty patio. I know you enjoy it !
What a beautiful space to sit and relax! I love the color combo of black and white, along with a pop of bright green, it’s one of my favorite color combos! I plant a lot of verbena and lantana in pots and my gardens, they’re so hardy and they can handle our Texas summers!
I love the Red Darling hibiscus. I always love hibiscus plants. Your relaxing area is so fresh and pretty. i love the green garden stool.
My first choice of a garden design would be Zen although I love all things relaxing and peaceful and plants.
Frese Ornamental Nursery, Inc. in Quincy, Il is the nearest garden center.
Hello! What a wonderful giveaway!! I love all the flowers that you have planted and I will be using a lot of pinks when I do my pots…and, I will have to get out the chalk paint to do the pots….great idea! I really love your home and what you have done inside…lovely ideas on decorating. I am going to paint my dining rooms chairs exactly like yours…I have debated for a long time and now am ready to do it! Wish me luck! Diane
The First Love® Gardenia is gorgeous.
After 16 years, we are finally building a huge deck for some outdoor entertaining space and I can’t wait! Looking forward to brightening up that space with hot pink flowers! Thank you for the inspiration!
What a beautiful space to sit and relax. I like your outdoor space & all of your design.
Surender
http://www.lavacanza.in
I like the Blue Enchantress Hydrangea plant! Those are my favorite. although lately I have been drawn to Peonies. So pretty.
I like the Blue Enchantress Hydrangea plant! Those are my favorite. although lately I have been drawn to Peonies. So pretty. I also like the cottage garden inspiration look.
I found a nearby center! The Wasco Nursery & Garden Center in St. Charles IL is near me 🙂
I too am all about small spaces..our whole home is about comfort…your space is lovely and so inviting and your style is what I love…well done..
I love the everblooming gardenia
I have a little black iron table very much like that one. It needs a fresh coat of paint! It’s a lovely space!
There is one about 30 miles from me.. I’ve been there before .
I love, love the little square black table and chairs. i looked online at Lowe’s for that same one or something similar. Was it a recent purchase? Maybe they don’t carry it anymore?
HI GINA, I got the table and chairs last year. Many online garden type shops carry them. Look around, I hope you find one!
Love your outdoor space. I have been looking for a good source for pretty outdoor cushions. Any suggestions? Where did you find your black and white ones?
Beautiful!
I love your color choices, especially the pink and lime green.