As a designer, every project starts with a plan and a design. Luckily, my local Home Depot is always my one-stop shop for the various materials, products, and finishes I use for all of my home improvement projects. When seeking that high-end design look at budget-friendly prices, Home Depot checks every box.
Living in Charleston, South Carolina, the importance of quality outdoor living is equally as important as the indoor. We get to utilize our spaces for all four seasons, which means I must excel at designing multi-functional, adaptable outdoor spaces. It’s easy to look around your yard and get lost in the same old furniture you’ve had forever and just accept that the green color on your siding gives it “character.” But I am here to tell you that you can transform your current outdoor space from zero to hero with the help of Home Depot.
Materials:
- Rug
- Sectional
- Blue Throw Pillows
- Cream Throw Pillows
- Throw Blanket
- Fire Pit
- Fire Glass for Fire Pit
- Fire Pit Frame
- String Lights
- Planter
- Lantern
- Candles
- Acrylic Glasses
Step 1: Let there be Light
Lighting is one of the most important elements when designing a space, and that includes your outdoor living area! When enjoying outdoor entertainment that continues after the sun goes down, nothing says “home” quite like string lights. For my design, I will be using Hampton Bay string lights to create a defined height and mimic the stars. This set features 24 single bulbs, making it perfect for the size of this outdoor space. I chose these lights for their shatter-resistant and weatherproof qualities, so I won’t need to take them down every time it rains.
Note that this string light set does not come with mounting tools, so planning is essential before you get started. I will use an existing hook on my house, my gutter, and my pergola as the three anchors to form a triangle. In addition to the overhead lights, the Hampton Bay Wood and Glass lantern will be placed near the stairs to softly light the walkway. This outdoor lantern features two LED flameless candles that are battery-operated and controlled by a remote, allowing me to turn them on before stepping outside.
Step 2: Make a Plan
Now that we have this place looking brand new, it’s time for the fun stuff! This deck will host friends, stay at home date nights, morning coffee and be an extension of our home to create new memories. With all that said, we’ll need some furniture and décor to make that possible. But, before you start buying furniture and accessories for a space, understand your space restrictions, your must haves and your color palette. Focusing on the functionality and how you are going to live in this space is key to any planning process. Luckily, the Home Depot carries everything I’ll need to make the ultimate entertainment space and I mean everything. Did you know they carry tableware, too? It makes me look like a superhero when I come home with everything from a couch to acrylic drinking glasses all at affordable prices! Now that we have a goal in mind, let’s get started.
Step 3: Come Stay Awhile
Starting from a functional standpoint, I measured the deck and determined that an 8×10 rug would effectively define the lounge space while maintaining a clear walking path from the door to the stairs. Price, material, and durability were all crucial factors in selecting the Home Decorators Collection Rhapsody Gray rug. This Polypropylene pile rug is designed to withstand the elements and the foot traffic expected on an exposed deck.
When choosing a rug design, consider what is permanent and the main furniture it will complement. In my case, the Trex decking served as the permanent backdrop for this rug, and the sofa and firepit were the two main elements it needed to complement. With these colors and textures in mind, I found the Rhapsody Gray rug to be the perfect choice.
A V-shaped sectional was the best option for maximizing seating while still allowing a space for a fit pit. The StyleWell Oakshire 3-Piece Steel Outdoor Patio Sectional Sofa can fit four adults and one child comfortably so for a mid-sized deck, I feel like that is a victory. This sofa is super stylish. It’s when mid century modern meets patio furniture and made this beauty. Since the sofa is the main event of outdoor living, I wanted this piece to pack a big punch at an affordable price and it does just that. It’s light brown wicker and tan cushions are on point with my coastal palette and the low back is the perfect height in relation to the deck railing. Remember, size matters when planning for your own space so keep every measurement in mind. You never want the sofa to overtake the space, you just want it to be the star of the show.
For increased comfort and added texture, I chose two different accent pillows and a throw blanket. Keeping on theme, I’m using two Wendy Frost Blue Woven Solid Throw Pillows as my accent color and two Interwoven Jute Off – White / Tan Latticework Cozy Throw Pillow to add to the light, bright coastal vibe. The throw blanket is lightweight but makes a bold statement by tying in the dark color from the decking into the sofa.
There are a ton of beautiful, affordable firepits on homedepot.com to choose from so make sure you have your lists of musts while browsing. I knew I wanted a fire pit for night that doubled as a table use, long enough to be accessible to all couch occupants and have hidden storage for the propane tank. The Corden 44.9 in. Outdoor Steel Propane Black Gas Fire Pit Table checks all of my must have boxes. As far as function, the hidden tank door is easily accessible, it’s very user friendly to turn on and off and it has the flame area cover to give it the ability to be a table, as well. The firepit comes with large, oval, clear marbles to decorate near the flame but I wanted to make the area pop with my blue accent, so I added Turquoise Fire Pit Glass Rocks. This compliments my throw pillows and my pool and completes the coastal palette.
To truly embrace the feeling of home, what better way than a standalone plant? I chose the Southern Patio indoor/outdoor Contemporary, White Resin Planter with Wood Stand to host a lush, tropical Fiddle Leaf. Be sure to research a plant that can survive and thrive in your climate or find a place that the plant will spend half of the year indoors. The Fiddle Leaf will do great in the South Carolina weather and aesthetically I was looking for something tall to bring some height to the space. Since many of the finishes chosen are elongated, I wanted to add a vertical element to grab your eyes attention.
This space will be used all year round and with some annual maintenance and a few trips to Home Depot, it will continuously look great for years to come!
Explore my Outdoor Maintenance blog to see how I keep the rest of my backyard in top shape!
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