5 Low-Cost Updates Pros Always Do to Refresh Their Outdoor Spaces for Spring
Design by Emily Henderson / Photo by Kaitlin Green
As temperatures inch upwards, there’s no better way to welcome spring than prepping your outdoor space.
Thankfully, it doesn’t take much time or money to freshen your patio, porch, or balcony. With a few thoughtful, budget-friendly updates, you can transform your outdoor space into a cheerful retreat, perfect for hosting al fresco gatherings.
To help get your outdoor space spruced for spring, we asked a handful of our favorite designers to weigh in on easy, cost-effective ways they update their yards. From throw pillows to umbrellas, this is how to make your outdoor space blossom!
Add Rattan Patio Furniture
Design by David Quarles
After months of being cooped up indoors, creating an outdoor seating area is a great way to take advantage of warmer weather and longer days. While outdoor furniture can be pricey, David Quarles, a Memphis-based designer and founder of David Quarles IV, has an ingenious workaround: rattan furniture.
“I like to design outdoor spaces using Mid-Century rattan furniture so that the base of the space will have clean lines and a neutral palette to work with,” Quarles says.
As a bonus, lightweight rattan furniture tends to be much more affordable than aluminum, teak, or all-weather wicker pieces.
That said, it's often less substantial looking than pieces made of the above materials, To remedy this, Quarles recommends bringing in colors and patterns through pillows, throws, and even rugs.
Choose a bright, happy color palette to match the season. “Right now I'm into greens, yellows, and neutrals, with a pop of orange,” Quarles says.
Install Outdoor Umbrellas
Design by Emily Henderson / Photo by Kaitlin Green
Don’t wait until the summer sun is beating down on you to pop up an umbrella. Lynne Lawson and Laura Outland, designers at Lawson Dream Team, explain how a patio umbrella can easily elevate your outdoor space.
“It adds a luxurious element without spending too much," they say.
Long gone are the days when umbrellas were purely functional items. Today, they come in a wide array of styles and colors, so use that to your advantage when it comes to picking one. Lawson and Outland, for instance, love umbrellas with details like fringe or scalloped edges,
For a versatile pattern that will look good just about anywhere, the duo recommends a striped umbrella. Black and white umbrellas are especially chameleon-like, adding a bold punch to any space.
Not sold on stripes? "Go with a fun, whimsical pattern like lemons or flowers,” Outland says.
Try Light Fixtures
Christina Kim, designer and founder of Christina Kim Interior Design, says that people often overlook decorative outdoor lighting when it comes to their outdoor spaces.
"Adding an oversized outdoor woven pendant or an outdoor chandelier to a dining area will do wonders,” Kim says.
If you have a covered patio, adding a hanging lighting source is an easy way to turn it into a literal outdoor room. Don’t have a covered patio? String one up under a pergola or arbor.
Kim explains how there are various budget-friendly pendants on the market now. Rattan and wicker pendants, for instance, are lightweight and inexpensive—plus, undeniably spring-feeling.
Alternatively, vintage iron pendants, spray-painted a bright color like Kelly green or lemon yellow are a sustainable and price-conscious alternative.
Lay an Outdoor Rug
Indoors, a rug can unify a space and bring lively patterns and texture, so why not use one outdoors in the same manner?
“A good indoor or outdoor rug can work wonders in grounding an outdoor space,” Charles Almonte, a designer at Charles Almonte Architecture | Interior Design, says. “It creates a defined cozy vignette and invites friends and family to ‘come on in.'”
If you’ve ever dreamed of an ornately tiled patio, an outdoor rug can replicate the look for a lot less money. Keep out for rugs with medallion, star, or trellis patterns inspired by global motifs for a spring-forward look.
Go for Pillow Covers
If you have existing patio furniture, decking them out in brightly colored pillows is an excellent way to get them in the spring spirit.
Rather than buying all new pillows, Quarles recommends investing in pillow covers.
“I spend more on good inserts so that I can spend less on outdoor pillow covers,” Quarles says. “Buying the covers instead of new pillows each season helps save space.”
For spring, look for pillows in pastel hues like pale pink or sage green, but don’t be afraid to mix them with darker year-round hues like indigo, cream, or cognac to make those lighter spring-forward hues pop.
Read Next: 45 Outdoor Living Room Ideas for Al Fresco Entertaining
Read the original article on The Spruce.
