Monthly Challenge 5. | Expand Your Home by Creating an Outdoor Hangout

Since taking the time to make our outdoor deck more functional and comfortable, we have gotten so much use out of it and I cannot tell you how much value it has brought to our lives! It’s so nice to have an additional space to hang with the family, entertain or enjoy our morning coffee. It has inspired me to make this month’s challenge to create a space outdoors if you don’t have one already, or if you do have one and don’t use it much, think about what you can change about it to make it more inviting!

This space does NOT have to be anything extravagant. Don’t look too closely, but our deck is peeling like crazy 😆 but we decided to not let that stop us this year from making the most of that space.

Start by thinking about what kind of value you want your outdoor space to bring to your life. Is it a place to gather with friends and family? An intimate hangout space to enjoy coffee or cocktails with a loved one? A cozy spot to read or a place to close your eyes and listen to nature? These questions will point you in the direction of where to set the space up and what kind of furniture you will need— i.e. a sectional for large gatherings, a bistro table for intimate coffee dates, a hammock or loveseat for reading/relaxing, an outdoor dining set for dinner entertaining, a large cozy rug on the deck or patio for kids to play or pups to lay.

Depending on where you live, you may be able to enjoy the space all the way into fall, so there is still plenty of time to make this happen!

I have a post on the elements that help to create the perfect outdoor space, but again, it doesn’t have to be anything huge or overly complicated. All that’s important is that it’s tailored to your lifestyle and needs, and it gets you outside more :)

This is a setup we had on our back deck a couple years ago! A bistro table and chairs could invite you to enjoy that cup of coffee outdoors!

Rugs make all the difference in helping the outdoors feel like an extension of the home! Sectionals are great for entertaining or for lounging around with a book.

Below are a variety of inspiring outdoor spaces. Click the photo for source.