How to Create and Enjoy Your Outdoor Space

I don't know about you, but I basically live for all things outdoor. I thoroughly embrace each season (okay, that's a lie...I think I hate winter!!) so when they shift and each one makes room for more opportunities spent outside, I take every chance! When we moved into our new house last summer, the first thing we noticed was how empty the back deck felt. We already had a gazebo with globe lighting, but I dreamt of outdoor furnituture; preferably some that I could comftorably lounge and get sleepy on. We knew that realistically we couldn't afford to buy anything (buying a brand new house is *kinda* pricey all on its' own.....) so we waited until the time was right. 

See this sectional? You better believe this is where I do the majority of my ME time. Sometimes I let my husband join me... kidding, kidding, kidding! We spend a LOT of time talking and cuddling right there. I remember the first night he set this all up. It was still cool and crisp outside (not 103 degrees as it CURRENTLY is) and we completely dozed off under that Opalhouse blanket. Thank you, Target, for generating a brand new line that basically resembles Anthro, but is way more affordable, am I right, Girls?! 

All of the pillows can be found yet this season at Target. The long rectangular one is not technically an 'outdoor pillow,' nor is the throw, but I decided to risk it anyway. They didn't have many options that I loved that are considered 'outdoors,' so when it rains I just do my best to grab them and put them on our living room couch. 

The sectional is an amazing Amazon find! It is seriously SO comfortable and very easily washable. It IS considered an outdoor couch, so yay. It came with the table, and we went with the Nature Brown option. Honestly the table came broken, with a piece of wood split open on the side. We decided to fix it ourselves instead of shipping it back, and Amazon was great to refund us $100 for the trouble. 

The two side chairs were also purchased on Amazon, but are technically Walker Edison Furniture pieces. They came in a set of two, and while the wood doesn't match 100%, it's very, very close and looks great with the sectional. We love that we can host 6+ people easily on this patio, because one of our biggest passions is gathering and fellowshiping with our friends and family. It's not just us who love lounging in this space, clearly our pets spend a lot of time here as well. Our grey cat, Manny, starts to howl around 6 in the morning to be let out and when I actually get UP for the day, I always smile when I see him curled up in a ball either on the couch or in the circular tray on the table.

My biggest advice for designing your outdoor space, is to create it around your family's needs. Sure, cute things are great, but they're not always functional. We made sure that we had a couch large enough that we could host, but made sure to choose one that could be cleaned and would [hopefully] last a long time. The outdoor rug is also easily sprayed off, and can still be found at Target.  

Pops of color are always great in a neutral space, which is why I went with the Opalhouse line of products that I did. I am obsessed with those salmon, and light pinks, and they look great on that cream colored sectional! And lastly, I am a firm believer that fresh flowers make *every* space better and more appealing. So at least whenever we host or plan to spend a few hours on the deck, I like to buy some and fill a vase. 

I would love to know what your dream deck looks like! Or what projects you're currently working on! I am so grateful to have this space and look forward to many cozy nights spent outside because of it. 

Feel Great While You Sleep: Featuring Boll and Branch

My husband and I have joked that sometimes we don't feel like we have a real grown-up bedroom...however, I think we're getting there and finally making progress, and let me just tell you how much of a part Boll and Branch had in helping with this. Previously, we, probably much like many of you, tried to simply shop for affordable bedding sets, instead of really looking at true quality. Our lives were changed when we got our set from Boll and Branch and now I just want to go and buy ten more sets of everything! 

This company sells directly online to the consumer, saving money and eliminating the cost of a middleman or retail space. They also know the exact origin where their cotton comes from, and guarantee that their products are completely pure and chemical free. You can check out their incredibly inspiring story here to read further and get to know them a little better! 

My husband feels so antsy when furniture or rooms stay the same over consecutive months, so we have two ways in which we always rearrange our bedroom. From the photos above, that's usually my preference lighting wise; I love the white wall and the I Choose You poster that hangs above our bed. It also gives more walking space when you first enter the bedroom, but it also leaves us with no access to bedside tables, which can be a pain. If you're curious what the bedding you see above is called, let me help you out a little: 

Hemmed Pewter Duvet Cover
Hemmed White Sheet Set
Hemmed White Pillowcases
Antique White Cable Knit Throw

Our bedroom, believe it or not (ha!), is also the favorite hang out place for the kids AND our zoo of a pet family. The kids love to read in mama's bed and the dogs [and cats] obviously know as soon as fresh bedding is on and can tell a significant difference in the quality as WELL--getting them OFF has been a challenge. We arranged the room for another set of photos, and I'll tell you below what's different in these! 

Can you tell my daughter didn't want to be away from me the day these photos were taken? God love my husband and his patience. I also love the arrangement of our bed like this, our windows overlook the beautiful park, and we're able to use our bedside tables without tripping over them. The duvet and sheets are the same in these pictures, but we added Euro Pillows and used the throw a little more. 

Banded White/Pewter Euro Shams
 

Now that I have a new laptop (my old one hasn't functioned properly at ALL in the last few years!) and I'm no longer confined to my dining room office nook; I am LOVING using the bed to write, edit, and Pinterest all the live long day!  

Really and truly, I am honored to have found and worked with Boll and Branch. We spent some time talking on the phone and I learned so many great details of the back story behind the brand. The owners and founders, Missy and Scott Tannen, are incredible people, and their employees are just as great. If you're on the hunt for new bedding (or even towels and bath linens!!) do not look ANY further. And if you have questions about this post, PLEASE e-mail me. I can't stress the authenticity behind this post enough, we now LOVE our bed!