Deck and Patio Decorating Ideas

In the summer I like to spend as much time as possible outside. Our deck was actually the first area we renovated and decorated when we moved into our house 2 summers ago because I knew I'd spend more time out here than inside! Over the last two years I have made little improvements to our deck and I've determined the top 7 things that make any outdoor space the perfect, cozy place for entertaining! I hope that this post gives you some deck and patio decorating ideas

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Lighting

String lights instantly elevate the look and feel of any outdoor space! We have ours set on a timer so they automatically turn on and off at the same time every night. I added these battery-operated candle lanterns to our deck this year and they put off the prettiest glow at night!

Comfortable Seating

Every single piece of our outdoor furniture is from Target. I love that their patio furniture is comparable in style to higher end brands, but it's much more affordable and often on sale. You can make your outdoor furniture even more comfortable by adding throw pillows and poufs to rest your feet on.

Shade

To be able to enjoy your outdoor space as much as possible, a shaded area is an absolute must! We added a second patio umbrella to our deck this year because we realized we weren't utilizing the space well since we were always sitting under our single umbrella. Patio umbrellas are such a fun way to add a pop of color to your outdoor space.

Rugs

After 2 years I finally caved and purchased an outdoor rug. I never wanted to spend the money on an outdoor rug because 1. rugs are so expensive and 2. the idea of it getting wet and dirty kind of grossed me out. I decided to get one because our deck floor gets SO hot and we have trees that drop these annoying helicopter seeds that get stuck between our deck boards. I'm seriously so happy I ended up getting a rug because it really grounded the space and makes our deck feel like an outdoor living room. I actually ended up layering 2 different rugs to cover as much space as possible.

Diffuser & Oils

Trust me on this one, skip the citronella candles this summer and get this citronella essential oil instead. It smells 1000x better than the artificial stuff and actually works! I like to pair it with peppermint essential oil. Fun fact: did you know a drop of peppermint essential oil on the inside of your wrist can help you cool down when it's hot outside?! I usually just bring my diffuser outside and plug it into an extension cord, but I'm on the hunt for a cordless one.

Gas Fire Pit

This fire pit is seriously my favorite purchase of all time. It's so easy to turn on and doesn't make you smell like bonfire, which is seriously the worst thing ever and always messes up my hair washing schedule. It will keep you warm so you can hang out on your deck all night. Plus it's perfect for roasting s'mores!

Plants

Plants are the perfect way to decorate your outdoor space! The majesty palm plant seems to do really well on our deck every summer. I like it because it brings a bit of a tropical feel to our midwest backyard. Aloe plants are another tough, low maintenance plant that can survive outside. Plus, it's always nice to have aloe on hand for sunburns in the summer. This year I added a couple small herb plants to our deck, and it's so nice to have these readily available when cooking!

I hope this post inspired you with deck and patio decorating ideas to create an outdoor living space that you love. Thank you so much for reading and have a great summer!

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