DIY Ambience for Outdoor Living
Ahhhhh, summer outdoor living! We love it.
Whether we are at the cottage, home or sharing gatherings with others, we love to spend time outdoors. The big spring projects, seasonal maintenance and upkeep are finished. Now is the time to enjoy the fruit of our efforts!
Let’s face it. The summer is fleeting! The best part of preparing your home for summer savouring is the finishing touches to creating an inviting and peaceful ambience where you can sit back and enjoy the final weeks of summer.
Whether you love your home more than ever or preparing to stage it for selling, ambience for any outdoor space, regardless of the size, is essential! To make any outdoor space a little more whimsical, cozy and inviting does not need to cost a lot of money or take a lot of time. These are our three favourite go-to DIY categories that will set up your outdoor space for blissful solitude or casual entertaining. The best part is there are unlimited easy and simple ways to create ambience.
Let there be Light
A little bit of illumination can do wonders! The softness of twinkle, solar lights or candles add romance, shimmer and lovely elements to your space. String lights are sold virtually everywhere now and the creative ideas on how to use or feature them are endless. There are many ways to use lights outdoors using materials you have in your basement or inexpensive to buy. Use the natural and built elements you already have to show off a focal point. You can string lights in a tent-like effect over a dining area, fire pit, trees or more discreetly in plants, garden pots or shrubs. Other ways to light up space easily are by:
Using old mason jars, tins, cans or vases.
Making lanterns with mason jars, tea lights to hang or stand.
Placing candles in lanterns, metal boxes or even coffee cans (painted and drilled with holes)
Hang string with jars filled with solar lights from tree limbs
The Joy of Jars
You can purchase mason jars, but if you have a collection of jars you keep, your outdoor space is going to love to find their use for them now! The possibilities are endless, and there are no rules when it comes to types or amounts! With a few supplies probably found at home or at a dollar store, you can do so many things with jars.
Fill with sand or shells for a beachy look.
Add water or tint to create coloured water and lights for warmth and themes
Place on a tabletop amid flowers or table setting
Fill with glass stones, natural stones or succulents
Make hanging lanterns adding tea lights and then stringing through lids.
Attach to an old fence or post using zip ties and pipe hangers
Create citronella torches and candles to add warmth and ward off pests
Fabric is Fabulous
You don’t have to be a seamstress to make textured elements in your outdoor space. Even without a sewing machine in your house, fabric has many possibilities!
Installing a privacy screen using a canvas drop cloth using shower curtain hooks
Use fabric paint on drop cloths to add details and uniqueness.
Craft up themed or beautiful cushions with old placemats (sewing skills help here) to use on old pillows or filled with craft stuffing.
Repurpose Mother Nature’s Gifts
After every storm comes more than rainbows! Taking a drive after a big storm or becoming available after an arborist has been around can yield some natural treasures for creating a rustic retreat in your own space. Here are some examples:
Tree stumps from fallen trees can serve as extra surface stools, footstools or side-tables.
Build a table or board game your family loves using rocks as game pieces and exterior sealer to the top of the wood.
Gather driftwood or birch for enhancing your pots and gardens. (Wrap in twinkle lights!)
Inspired to create a backyard oasis? We would love to brainstorm with you!
