Outdoor Living - Shopping Roundup

Summer seems to have come late to those of us in the Northern parts of the US this year. It's already early June and I've still needed to bring extra blankets (to wrap up in, not lay on) while watching my boys play baseball. But my garden is finally in, and I'm ready to start enjoying my patio. Although it looks nothing like this one I imagined (and rendered) last fall for the Seasonal Living design contest, I'm ready to do a little shopping and spruce it up a bit. Here are a few of my favorite finds - on Amazon of course, so you can have your dream patio by the end of the week.

#1 - Start at ground level with a washable area rug.

Outdoor rugs are great for not only adding color and definition to your seating area, but can also hide a less than perfect concrete patio. Most can be easily hosed off a few times a season, so they're super low maintenance.

Check out this black & white version.

Or this fun, beachy turquoise striped rug.

Or this multi-colored floral round rug for a small sitting area.

#2 - You need a comfy chair (or 3)

Whether you have a small balcony with just enough room for you to enjoy your morning coffee in peace, or a large outdoor living room, you want to sit on something nicer than a plastic folding chair.

Here's a great compact set good for even those small balconies, or shallow front porches. The ottomans even tuck under the chairs for easy storage!

If you're looking for not only a cozy spot to curl up with a good book and a glass of wine, but ALSO a great statement piece for your patio, you have to have this egg chair. Arguably one of the most popular chairs of the past few years. You need this chair (and lots of throw pillows).

If you need seating for a crowd, a modular sectional is the way to go. Check out this highly rated sectional. Add in throw pillows to match the flowers in your garden.

#3 - Outdoor Dining is a treat

At the end of a long day, eating outdoors on the patio, with a breeze and the sounds of birds chirping can be incredibly relaxing. Here are a few different sizes of dining sets to look great while you eat your dinner.

I love the contrast of this teak and wicker set. It has great style, and is not overly large.

This metal and wood set is another stylish combination that would work well in a modern setting.

If your patio is on the smaller size, you can't go wrong with a classic wrought iron set like this one. And it even comes with seat cushions!

#4 - Add some style & color

Whether it's to protect from frequent drizzles, or intense sun, a colorful umbrella is a great addition to any outdoor space. This one even comes with LED lights on the underside so you can extend your outdoor hours well into the night.

Large ceramic planters like this royal blue one add even more style to your summer blooms. Get 2 or 3 and plant items with a variety of heights, like potato vines in one, flowers in another, and tall grasses in the third.

No patio or garden is complete without a garden gnome. This zen gnome even has a pair of solar powered lighted globes to join your late night revelry.

An inexpensive set of outdoor pillows (made to withstand the elements) adds color and comfort to your outdoor spaces. And since pillows are relatively inexpensive, they're something you can change out every year as you change up your style (like earrings)!

Time to grab that spiked seltzer while hubby is cooking dinner on the grill and update your outdoor space. Have a great summer!

*disclaimer - these are affiliate links and I do make a small percentage of any purchases you make. Thank you!