It feels slightly odd (and a little unnerving) to be writing this while rain and wind patter on my rooftop relentlessly but I promise to deliver a cheerful post about outdoor spaces nevertheless. In fact, a storm should be a reminder that sunny days are ahead (because rain can’t last forever, right??). At least that’s what I tell myself. So wherever you are right now, despite any and all weather forecasts, today I want us to look toward sunny spring and summer days where we can enjoy our outdoor spaces with vigor. But here’s one thing I know about outdoor spaces no matter how big or small: The more functional and aesthetically pleasing they are, the more you will seek to go outside and enjoy them. They don’t have to be magazine worthy by any means, but some furniture and light styling can make a small, unused area feel like an inviting outdoor oasis. So if you are looking for some small changes you can make to make a BIG impact in your outdoor space, this is for you.
Jess’ Balcony
If we are talking about small outdoor spaces, Jess’ balcony is a great place to start. It is long and narrow (30″ x 20′) but that didn’t stop her from packing it with beautiful and functional furniture. The chaise lounge chair is vintage and not only fits the width of the balcony perfectly, but it also helps take up the length of the balcony which is, as you can see, quite long. When it is warm and sunny, she styles it with pillows and blankets for ultimate comfort and relaxation. The trick with outdoor decorating is to visualize how you will want to use your space (which is, in fact, how we suggest approaching designing indoor spaces too). For example, Jess lives in LA which is USUALLY quite sunny most of the year, so a lounge chair where she can hang out, unwind, and listen to music was a main priority for her.
If a chaise is what your outdoor space is currently missing, here are some we love:
1. Grotta Outdoor Wicker Chaise Lounge | 2. Wicker Modern Chaise Lounge | 3. Cape Coral Aluminium And Mesh Chaise Lounge
On the other side, Jess added a vintage bistro table and vintage chairs to create another separate zone to enjoy. Her dining area is a perfect little outdoor escape where she can enjoy meals or sit outside and drink natural wine with a friend.
Also, please note the blankets draped over the backs of the chairs. They are not just for style. She uses them to add extra cushion to the chair because the iron back was not the most comfortable. When it rains, however, she brings her cushions and blankets inside to protect them.
If you are looking to start building a small outdoor dining set, here are some bistro tables to get you started:
1. Canova Modern Metal Outdoor Bistro Table | 2. 28″ Etched Round Bistro Patio Table | 3. Tile Top Bistro Table
Before we move on, Jess’ DIY floor deserves a moment. She used these IKEA plastic outdoor tiles and spray painted them to create this checkered moment that is just so cool and fits her Parisian aesthetically perfectly. You can read all about how she did it here.
Caitlin’s Balcony
Caitlin wanted to transform her rarely used, charming but “needs work” balcony into a functional and beautiful space she would actually want to spend time in. Her first step in doing that was to provide more seating which started with this loveseat. It comfortably seats two and she says it’s her favorite place to lounge in the whole apartment. She usually stacks up those pillows on the right-hand side, closest to the window, and props her feet up on the bars when she is doing some morning journaling. It’s just such a great, comfy place to watch the sunrise (yes, Caitlin often rises before the sun – something I admire yet probably will never accomplish myself :)). The pillows, blanket, and outdoor rug add a layer of warmth and coziness which is so important if you want to use your outdoor space as often as possible.
If a loveseat is just what you need, we suggest these picks:
1. Sora Loveseat | 2. 2-Seat Modular Sofa | 3. Cushioned Wood Outdoor Loveseat
On the opposite side, she carved out a place for a bistro table and chairs but what’s perhaps most exciting is the styling here. Who knew you could put a mirror on your outdoor balcony??? Not me until I saw Caitlin do this! It’s such a great idea and actually makes the space feel bigger and more open (and draws the eye up). Another thing that draws your eye up is her ingenious idea to add curtains to cover the bar wall that she not-so-endearingly likened to a “prison backdrop”. The curtains are made from Sunbrella fabric so they are durable and heavyweight so they can weather even the most intense LA storms.
If you want to steal Caitlin’s look and for a simple wall styling idea, here are some mirror picks:
1. Oblong Natural Wood Wall Mirror | 2. Vintage Bamboo Rattan Framed Wall Mirror | 3. Rattan Mirror
Malcolm’s Deck
When Malcolm set out to design his 10’x11′ deck, he wanted to create three distinct zones: a lounge area, a food prep/grill area, and a gardening area. The other important goal for him was to build a privacy wall that would separate his space from the dozens of other units on the property, but would still allow him to enjoy the outdoor views. Being the fantastic DIYer that he is, he built the wall with 2x4s from Home Depot and door hinges to keep them together and allow it to be moveable and portable. I love how seamless the wall is with the rest of his deck and if you want to know more about it, you can read all about that process here!
We simply love how cohesive and functional his outdoor deck turned out. The bench lays out the ideal spot for lounging, with a small drink table to accompany it, and he also made space for a bar cart where he can food prep or make drinks. At the risk of repeating myself again, I think it’s important to note that styling outdoor spaces as you would the indoors really helps to make them more attractive and therefore enjoyable to use. Plants, some textiles, and trays can really elevate your outdoors with minimal effort.
If you want to start building your own lounge area, here are some durable bench options:
1. Caspian Grey Outdoor Bench | 2. All-Weather Woven Wicker Outdoor Dining Bench | 3. Fairmont Metal Patio Dining Bench
For some more outdoor inspiration and some wonderfully innovative DIY ideas, we asked readers to submit their outdoor transformations. Here are some we love!
Morgan’s Front Porch
This incredible front porch transformation was sent in by a reader named Morgan, and right away I knew we had to feature it. It is such a wonderful example of making an “OK” space into an idyllic outdoor retreat. To freshen up the flooring, she used brick pavers and grouted over them to create a rustic look. Then she strung lights, added plants, and DIY’d a lovely swing that was assembled by using reclaimed wood, rope, and some hooks. For a relaxing seating area, she found chairs on Facebook Marketplace and scored that bistro table from Target.
I love the sweet farmhouse vibe (I mean, what’s more farmhouse than 3 cute chickens clucking around??). The log stand also adds to this effect beautifully. Also, for anyone wondering the exterior paint color is Pure Black by Behr.
Caitlin’s Side Yard
This narrow sideyard was submitted by one of our readers, Caitlin. As you can see the area was previously unused and uninspiring, so she decided to makeover the space into a garden sanctuary. The pebbles, stone walkway, and raised garden beds make it a 100x more inviting and useful space. Brava Caitlin!
Bev’s Balcony
We have featured this incredible NY balcony transformation before, but it is worth revisiting because the transformation is awe-inspiring AND it includes a quite simple DIY. With a bamboo fence, a faux trellis, and zip ties, this reader’s balcony was transformed into a slice of serene outdoor heaven. She calls it “The Easiest DIY Green Wall Ever” but it’s also the smartest. Since NY experiences all of the seasons, her bamboo and faux greenery should hold up beautifully. This is incredibly renter-friendly (no tools needed), small space friendly and for a rough total of $500, you can make one yourself. She wanted to point out that the $500 is for two panels so if you need only one panel then slash that price in half. 🙂
That is all for now, sweet friends. I hope this post helped anyone who needed it 🙂 Thanks for stopping by! xx
Opener Image Credit: Design by Jess Bunge | Styled by Emily Bowser | Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp | From: Jess’ Long And Skinny Balcony Reveal!!
I love the roundup and the gorgeous outdoor spaces! I wanted to add Loll Designs (lolldesigns.com) to the list of furniture sources. I live in Canada, and don’t have space to bring my furniture in for winters. Our Loll furniture has withstood five years of harsh winters without even a cover, and is still bright, cheery, and looks brand new. I’m a big fan of the fact that it’s made out of recycled milk bottles and will probably last many, many years without having to be replaced.
Oh I will check them out! thanks for the rec xx
Ditto the Loll Designs recommendation. I’ve had their Adirondack-style chairs and ottomans, a rocking chair, a loveseat/bench and several tables for 14 years now and they all still look like new.
Ok, Morgan’s porch is a stunning transformation – it really shows just how far creative vision and effort can go. Having three cute as heck chickens lends added charm of course! I wonder do they have names? Our girls were called Henny-Penny and Midnight (bantams).
I love to see a smattering of reader inspiration in the blog. The post on EHD inspired reader’s rooms (bathrooms/kitchens) was a great read at the time, and I’d be here for more like it.
Does anyone know if Ajai got the house?
Feels like that AC unit would drip on the chaise lounge chair, in the first set of pics. Otherwise, gotta love these ideas to maximize a small space!
it’s completely behind the chaise:)
Zero-gravity chairs…they’re quite ugly, but so comfortable and relaxing. I have one that I keep folded on my deck. I pull it out to lay/read in the sun and fold it back up after I go inside. It will not make your patio or porch look better, but your back will thank you.
I had to google that term to find out that this is exactly the type of comfort I’m looking for in an outdoor chair. Haven’t found a goodlooking all weather version though. 🙁
Oh I wish you guys had more new content. It seems that all you’ve been doing lately is recycling old posts.
Yes, so much recycling. So much nothing.
Maybe more farmhouse rooms!? I think we saw these before but good ideas.
I always like to know what is happening though with the EHD staff even there room reveals are fun.
Hi there. While there are old projects featured in this post (and some new reader submissions too!) this is a new blog post. 🙂
I love seeing peeks into readers’ houses and projects – so much creativity out there! maybe this could be a regular feature?
Jess’s tiny narrow balcony is adorable as are all of these spaces. Tip (that you may already know): Jess can take a razor blade to the windows on her French doors to remove the paint from the door that spilled over a bit onto the glass. It’s an easy fix and makes the windows and doors look much cleaner. Kind of a tedious project but well worth it IMO!
Love these ideas! I’m moving to a rental that has a back patio that isn’t fenced in on the sides. Anyone have ideas for a temporary solution for a fence / gate / barrier to keep my toddler enclosed in the patio?