7 Ways To Add Appeal To Your Outdoor Spaces

Photography by Emma Almendarez

Areas in need of stylish fixings don’t end at your back door. Treat your outdoor spaces the same as those inside and sprinkle them with fun and durable decor to create spaces that will lure you out of the house and into the sun.

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The Birds and the Bees

To take full advantage of your outdoor rooms, welcome natural entertainment and help support your local pollinators by investing in bright bee homes and enticing baths, colorful feeders and cheerful houses for feathered friends that serve the environment and look good doing it.

Large plantable wood birdhouse, $19.85: WindowBox.com

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Covering Ground

Just because outdoor ground coverings generally value function over fashion doesn’t mean you have to settle for a boring rug or a cheesy doormat. Try a tasteful black-and-white doormat that looks like hexagonal tiles or rugs that range from minimalist wonders and color-drenched with tassels to distressed and pastel numbers that look like they came straight from your living room.

Ansley Danica outdoor rug, from $199: Grandin Road

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Hanging Around

Create interest above eye level by hanging decorative objects from your walls, roof and greenery. Add warm texture with a leather plant hanger, a small tree makes for a great place to display a wind chime or a grouping of multilength stained glass ornaments and a modern take on the classic hunting trophy is beary cool.

Lederer traditional 3-piece wind chime set, $39.99: Birch Lane

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Suitable Seating

These days, outdoor seating options are far more extensive than just a few different styles of plastic lawn chairs. For something fresh, check out this patterned beanbag, hip hanging chair or a colorful take on the classic bench.

Amalfi bench in Deep Sea, $199: Grandin Road

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Trendy Tables

Plenty of outdoor tables can also double as seating in a pinch. Forego the typical picnic table and pick a smaller slab with plenty of versatility—from a funky stool in shades of pastel or a more natural look made of interlocked teak, even a cute floral sphere.

Wild Rose coffee table, $1,995: MacKenzie-Childs

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Let There Be Light

Swaying on a tree branch, adding adornment to the center of your table or sprinkled around the patio, whimsical lighting looks great all over your outdoor areas. Try a grouping of lanterns with natural motifs in soothing shades or forget the fire and invest in charming solar tealights for a gentle glow.

Rattan solar lantern, $30: UncommonGoods

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Popular Planters

Planters are not simply a place to plop your new plants; they come in so many varieties that they are a style statement on their own. Turn back the clock with a vintage planter straight from the 19th century or go midcentury modern with a ‘50s-inspired raised planter, or keep it light and bright with a simple exterior and a pop-of-color inside.

19th century English lead planter with renaissance cartouche relief design, $1,650: C’est Si Bon