How to Create an Outdoor Space That Feels Like a Cozy Second Living Room
It was so important to us to decorate our home in a way that maximized living life to the fullest. With the beautiful NC weather, we're so grateful that our porch can serve as a second living room for most of the year! Everyday after school, we take our little Austen Kelly for a swim and then retreat to the porch for a popsicle. We also spend many weekend mornings here with a cup of coffee or breezy evenings with cocktails in hand! As we've put our porch to good use, I'm here to share a few tips that we've personally used to make our outdoor space feel like a cozy living room. Whether you're looking to entertain, dine or kick back and relax, these simple design ideas will be sure to inspire your space. We're all about double the living at Society Social!
2. Source outdoor lighting that looks like indoor lighting.
I always prefer ambient lamp lighting vs overhead lighting. It casts a lovely glow about everyone and everything! This white wicker lamp was perfect for our outdoor patio as it adds height to our space, beautiful texture and a cozy ambience. We've enjoyed cocktails and movies to the light of our outdoor lamps!
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4. If you have a covered or screened in porch, bring your indoor accessories out!
Don't forget to decorate to entertain! Even if it's just for a few hours or for a weekend of hosting, we like to bring some of our favorite indoor accessories out to infuse our space with some personal style and to create beautiful vignettes. Decorative coffee table books and ginger jars are always a good place to start! Add a few pillows for a pop of color and print. Lastly, finish off your table with a tray of appetizers and your favorite glassware.
Shown above: Nantucket Rattan Sofa in Performance Cloud Linen fabric
5. Add potted greenery and blooms!
Since it's summer, we like to take advantage of all the beautiful fresh flowers available at our local nursery. Fill a few planters with your favorite blooms to infuse even more color into your space. Pro tip! Mix in faux greenery with real greenery to lower daily maintenance.
6. Paint your ceiling.
In true Southern style, we painted our porch ceiling blue, an old fashioned tradition meant to protect the home from bad spirits. Not only does it have a historic reference, the blue adds a cheerful pop of color to our space and make it feel more inviting!