Dress: Nicholas (see my current favorites here) // Shoes: Amazon the Drop // Earrings: Amazon // Necklace: Park Lane

Location: Home Sweet Heel Clicks

My family is originally from the deep south and porches are a thing for anyone who lives in Alabama. Although I call Texas home, there are a few things from my childhood I’ve carried over here, and having a porch to relax on is a necessity. I recently made a few updates to my patio to include DIY paper lantern outdoor light shades. You basically tie a few paper lanterns together with thread and hang over the ugly old light fixture. Also, a fantastic idea for a party! My outdoor sconces are pretty deepest into the porch, so I’m not worried about wind damage. I went ahead and put together a few tips for decorating your patio!

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Pick a color scheme

Right now, I cannot make structural changes to my home (more on the topic of renovations to come soon, I promise) so I chose a very simple color palette to play off the bricks I have on the siding of the house. I opted for a Kelly green, a lime green, coral, and peach. Once I established the color scheme, I went scouting for options. The other way you can pick a color scheme is by grabbing things you already own like a set of chairs and adding colors to the palette that compliment! You can do monochromatic shades or pick a couple of colors for a mix and match look. If you are not sure where to get started, create the Pinterest board. Then, search “patio decor” and start pinning the ones you like. Your feed will update with suggestions, and you can start gathering ideas for your outdoor space.

Figure out the furniture layout

Confession, I usually change my furniture layout after living in space. Almost every room in my home gets moved around after I live in it and see that there’s a better configuration. I do recommend making sure you have enough pieces. I wanted a dining area for outdoor breakfast or lunch. I also wanted a chill area where I could just hang out with a friend or my kiddo. I created two sections: an outdoor seating area and a dining area. The table was an upcycle (I spray painted white) and the coffee table was a yard sale find I painted pink. I found the table for $15 and the spray paint was $8 for two cans. I have paint leftover and love how it turned out. The Adirondack chairs I already owned from this patio I shared a few years ago. Then, I grabbed the dining room chairs when they went on sale at At Home for less than $20 apiece.

Add Decor

It doesn’t matter if your patio is 5x5 or you have something much larger, little touches will make a BIG difference. Start with lighting. I strung these lights around the edges for a soft glow during the warmer evenings. Then, I used paper lanterns to cover old light fixtures. A few outdoor throw pillows help soften the space. Then, I opted to add a few floral arrangements to give it a feminine touch. You can also add wall decor and planters. If you get tired of it, you can always change it. You want the space to look color coordinated and also inviting!

Outdoor Entertaining

Last but not least make sure if you plan to do any outdoor entertaining (even the neighbors or your mom counts) make sure you have supplies handy. Have a section devoted to grilling or a beverage station you can pop up in a heartbeat. I love using plastic or silicon items in the backyard so if something drops on the concrete, there’s no glass to clean up. If you think ahead and gather supplies now, it’s stress-free when someone pops in and you now have an outdoors space ready to entertain.