Pep Up Your Patio! Outdoor Living 2024

Does your outdoor space need a refresh? Is everything looking tired after a long winter? Seasonal pillows faded, umbrellas teetering, furniture rusty or falling apart??? It might be time to update the space and get it ready for relaxing afternoons outside and BBQs with friends, or just spruced up so it’s not an eyesore.  A few simple tweaks can spiff up the space!

Here is our FabList of Outdoor Living products to get you on your way (and please note that you can always check out the FabList.co Outdoor Space section on our website for great resources for all your outdoor items).

Outdoor Carpet: We love an outdoor carpet to set the stage, brighten the space, and make your outdoor area easy to clean – you can hose it down or even vacuum it!  It’s also an item that can get replaced every year which if fun for a new look!  There are some great inexpensive options at Amazon.  Crate & Barrel stocks Chilewich rugs which are fab – very well made and can withstand a messy bunch of teenagers (or adults)! And we love this bold stripe rug from Wal-Mart!

Outdoor Umbrellas:  Jo has a few of these she can move around the patio to block the sun. Chrissie has an umbrella that pops into the middle of her outdoor dining table…and is also in the market for a larger cantilever option. There are also stand-alone pole options (wood or aluminum, tilting or non-tilting) and umbrella fabric options (Sunbrella or cheaper polyester…you get what you pay for!) depending on the look you want and the price you want to pay. Jo has also ordered replacement umbrellas/canopies here.  New to Serena & Lily this year is this scalloped edge design that calls to mind ’60s glamour. Stretch out under it with sunglasses and an Aperol spritz.

Chairs: Extra seating is never a bad thing….and Jo loves this chair!  It’s fun and functional, adds color and whimsy, and looks like a sculpture when not in use.  For a colorful French flair, these chairs and benches are perfect! And this Serena & Lily wicker chair is super comfy!  If you are looking for an updated Adirondack chair without the splinters and upkeep, try Crate & Barrel’s take made from weather-resistant POLYWOOD, a proprietary blend of plastics, including recycled milk jugs and detergent bottles.   It’s available in 12 colors!

 

Outdoor Furniture Sets:  If you are looking for a matching set of outdoor furniture (chairs, tables, sofas, etc.) Jo’s go-to’s for her interior design clients are Restoration Hardware for teak and Serena and Lily for wicker.  The furniture is nicely sized and well-made, and because both have retail locations, you can try it before you buy it! For a less expensive option, she bought this set at Walmart for her daughter and it did the trick!  Article has nice mid-priced contemporary options.

 

Bar Cart:  A bar cart is one of the best pieces of patio furniture! No more running in and out, in and out, to refill the snack bowl or get ice and drinks!  Serena & Lily has made this rattan cart for years – it is tried and true and on wheels so it’s easy to move around. This one, also from S&L, doubles as a very convenient ice chest!! One of Crate & Barrel’s best-selling products is this bar cart with its mix of concrete and natural wood. The top is outfitted with a concrete-resin slab work surface as well as a recessed wicker ice bucket.

 

Sunbrella Cushions: Chrissie’s cushions from this vendor have been ‘out in the elements’ for 4 years now and look brand new. Refresh your cushions to spruce up the look of your outdoor space. The Company Store also has a good selection of Sunbrella bench cushions in lots of color choice.

Throw pillows: Serena & Lily uses bulletproof Perennials fabric in great patterns that will perk up any patio. Crate & Barrel uses super durable Sunbrella fabric for striped pillows in lots of fun colors. And Wal-Mart goes all out and has great pillows at great prices in colors galore!!

Garden Stools:  Ceramic garden stools are super versatile in a backyard.  They are easily moveable and are great to hold a drink, candle, or paperback as well as to use as a foot-rest or an extra seat.  They come in all kinds of materials and colors. Walmart sells a very sophisticated rope pattern and Amazon goes with the traditional basketweave. If you want to add some color try this one from Perigold in the on-trend tangerine!!

Outdoor Lighting – Nothing creates backyard evening ambiance more easily than string lights! Click the remote and a summer evening gets magical. Chrissie leaves hers up year-round so she can enjoy them from inside during winter as well.  Super popular of late are these wireless table lights. These little babies come in a few different finishes and are great for outdoor dining or side tables, providing easy wireless lighting where you need it. They are great for indoor use as well, adding lighting on a bar, a tabletop, or a side table where cords won’t work.

Candles – Candles help set the mood outside as well as inside. Non-scented options can go in lanterns or in outdoor candlesticks. For scented options, “green” scents like Chrissie’s favorite mint candle, or this beautiful rosemary and lemongrass option, or even this Heirloom Tomato scent offer relaxing and fresh scents that work well outdoors. And you can never go wrong with one, five, or ten beautiful glassybabies glowing in your backyard (and they make a great gift as well)!

Tablescape – Don’t forget to spruce up your dining table with some fresh linens.  A checked tablecloth screams ‘barbeque’ and will make your table pop. These woven seagrass glass holders (and glasses) add nice texture and a coastal vibe to your table and can be used as votives also. And the melamine (unbreakable) plates and bowls from Crate & Barrel look like the real deal!

Outdoor living and warm nights…. we are ready for you!

 

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Joanne & Chrissie

Chrissie and Joanne love discovering, curating and creating. They developed FabList as a place to share their favorite finds with you.

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Chrissie and Joanne love discovering, curating and creating. They developed FabList as a place to share their favorite finds with you.

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