I am so happy to be included in the Summer Outdoor Living Blog Hop where a group of bloggers showcase how the decorate their outdoor spaces. I hope you get some great ideas for your outdoor space. Don’t miss visiting all the blogger’s post listed at the bottom of this post because we have some very talented ladies here.
My favorite room at my house is my outdoor space and I change it up a little bit almost every year. My porch started with an outdoor couch that I purchased from a tent sale.
Purchase clearance and thrifted items all year.
My best tip is to purchase items for your porch all year long. I decide the colors and the look that I want to use on my porch, and I buy things when I find them all year.
You can get outdoor items dirt cheap when the stores are trying to get rid of it in August and September. Target is one of the best stores to do this because they really mark the items down very low. It is amazing how it all comes together when the next spring rolls around.
Pillows
Pillows are one of the most inexpensive decor items you can buy unless you are like me and love lots of pillows and then the price adds up. I search for outdoor pillows all year long, and I usually find new pillows at my favorite thrift store. I do not know why people give new pillows away but they do.
Even if they are not brand new, I can’t pass them up when they cost 99 cents.
Sometimes, I purchase pillows that I find thrifting, even if I don’t need them. For the cost of a couple of dollars, I have extra so that I can change it up if I want to.
Use items that you have to make back porch decor.
I had some wire spools in my garage that my husband found in a dumpster. He knows me so well. I wanted a table outside so that we can eat out there. I stacked two together and secured them to each other. I placed a glass table top from an old table on top. I had been storing some old bar stools that I did not use anymore and wasn’t ready to donate so I spray painted the stools and I have a beautiful outdoor table that didn’t cost me anything. It’s funny how creative you can be when you are determined not to spend any money. You can read the wire spool table tutorial here.
Use items from your yard (they’re free).
We had a tree fall during a spring storm and the largest piece sat in the backyard for a while. It was so heavy that my husband and I were dreading carrying it to the street curb. We carried it halfway to our back porch, pulled off the bark, and sanded it. I love the way it looks as a side table. I also set it on a plant stand with wheels so that I can move it around easily. You can always find a stump even it doesn’t come from your yard. I have passed by so many houses that have cut up trees pulled to the road for pick up. I always think that stump would make a great table.
Side Tables
You can usually find side tables marked down at the end of the year just like pillows. A side table can make a back porch look beautiful.
I purchased this little white table from a thrift store along with some outdoor pillow covers. I paid $6.99 for the table, and the table has a price tag from At Home for $49.99 under the table top.
Old bar carts styled with outdoor dishes and decor look so pretty on a back porch, and I always grab them when I am thrift shopping. I love that this thrifted $5 had wheels. You know how women like anything with pockets, I like anything with wheels. It makes it so much easier to move around.
If your style is farmhouse, you can hit the jackpot at thrift stores. People are always donating old weathered side
tables.
Like I said, when I find outdoor decor priced for only a couple of dollars, I think that it is less than the cost of a coke and candy bar, and I have so much fun in the spring, pulling out and decorating with all my finds.
Have a great summer and don’t forget to check out these talented ladies outdoor spaces!
Anika | Anika’s DIY Life
Barbara | French Ethereal
Jeannee | Shepherds and Chardonnay
Kellie | Gratefully Vintage
Kim | Exquisitely Unremarkable
Leanna | Faeries and Fauna
Lisa | The Purple Hydrangea
Nancy | Cobani Bleu
Patricia | Old Things New
Sam | Raggedy Bits
Sherry | Savvy Apron
Susanne | Pearl Street Designs
Suzanne | Shop at Blu
Toni | Small Home Soul
Jordan | Jordan’s Easy Entertaining
Debbie | Chatham Hill on the Lake
Kim says
I am with you, you can never have enough pillows ~ Especially when they are .99!! Your whole space is filled with charm and color. Perfect for summer!
Sherry says
Thanks Kim. When I bring home these pillows and my husband looks at me like I’m crazy, I tell him that it is only 99 cents. That’s almost free. Have a great day.
Patricia Krank says
Ah, Sherry, you are a girl after my own heart. I love thrift stores and end of season sales and cannot bear to pay full price unless it is a super low one! I love our color scheme as well as it is the same I’ve used in my outdoor spaces. Your screened porch is beautiful and I’m sure you are enjoying spending a lot of time there this Summer.
I’ve enjoyed being a part of this blog hop with you my friend and look forward to more like this ahead.
Patti
Sherry says
Thanks Patricia for the sweet comments on my porch. I agree, it was so fun working with you and these other talented bloggers on this blog hop!
Patricia Krank says
P.S. I love the dog. I have a boxer/lab mix who looks a lot like your sweet pup. 🙂
Leanna says
A large covered porch is just wonderful, talk about a perfect outdoor living area. You post proves that with a little imagination you can have a wonderful space for little cost. My favorite part is the spool table. Its funky and chunky and perfect. I imagine your family loves living in this space.
Susanne says
Sherry your porch is amazing! I just love that table made from those spools!! And what a score you made on those pillows for 99 cents!! I can’t pass up pillows either, lol! My husband thinks I am nuts when I bring home more. 😉
Sherry says
Thanks Susanne. My husband laughs at me bringing in pillows but I am with you, it’s only 99 cents!
debbie says
Such a huge porch! I would spend every morning and evening out there. I love your shopping tips, but I know why people get rid of things they haven’t used….they over buy and then change their mind and they are not likely to return. Done it a few time sadly. Now, heading for retirement, I will never do that again. Your finds are so great…that thrift store would be dangerous for me with such great items. The tree trunk is a great story and people pay a fortune to have something like that. Thank you so much for being a part of this hop. Love your space.
Sherry says
Thanks Debbie and thanks for including my porch in the hop. It really was fun and easy to work with this group!
Diane | An Extraordinary Day says
I love, love, love your pillows (such gorgeous colors) and your spool table. That is so creative…, especially with the fun chairs. What a great space to enjoy!!
Sherry says
Thank you Diane! I do love that the colors are so bright on the porch. It makes me happy to sit out there.
Barbara Chapman says
sherry,
Your back patio is so inviting! I could curl up with a book anywhere out there and be happy listening to birds and feeling soft breezes coming in. What a wonderful place! I have to say, too, that the spool table is amazing! I saw a big spool the other day and thought, Hmm?? It would be kinda cute out in the yard as a table!!!
Thank you for many great and inexpensive ideas,
Barb 🙂
Sherry says
Thanks Barbara. I keep bird feeders on my porch so that I can sit on the porch and hear the birds.
Toni says
Sherry I always love looking at your porch, that spool table and those cute blue stools are so awesome. So seriously I want to know which thrift store you go to that has all those great pillows and prices. The stores around my area are over priced and the stuff not nearly as great. Anyhoo, all your great buys has come together so nicely to fill your sun room with an inviting vibe 🙂
Sherry says
Thanks Toni! I love the American Thrift in Huffman. That’s in Birmingham. Occasionally, things will be overpriced but usually, they are priced very low. That’s why if you see something you like, you grab it because it will be gone the next day.
Kristy says
What a fantastic covered porch, Sherry! I love how you repurposed the large stools and made a counter height table…great idea!. And I adore the tree trunk accent table. I’m sure you and your family share many wonderful memories here.
Sherry says
Thanks Kristy. We have been in this house 15 years so I have spend a lot of time out on the porch.
Jeannee Taylor says
What a nice covered porch ! I love the way you’ve decorated it with the owls and the natural stump ! You must love spending time there !
Jeannee
Sherry says
Thanks Jeannee! I do love spending time outside on the porch.
Sam-Raggedy Bits says
Oh, my goodness!! What a bargain find with your cushions!! They are perfect colours for summer and look right at home on your back porch! I am sure that you and your family spend a lot of time out there in that beautiful space!!
Sherry says
Thanks Sam! We do spend a lot of time out on this porch. I like to read out on the porch.
Nancy says
Sherry, your porch is so inviting. I just want to sit back and relax with all those pillows!! I love how you have mixed and matched all the patterns! They look great. And the spool table is so unique, I love it.
I am so glad we got to meet at Haven this past weekend! It is so nice to meet fellow bloggers!!
Sherry says
Thanks Nancy! I really enjoyed getting to know you a little better at Haven! I hope to work with you more this year.
Sue at Blu says
Oh Sherry! What a lovely space! I dream of a covered area where we can relax sheltered from the Alabama sun! I love how contemporary your space it…great fabric and textures and furniture! And you are rocking those discount buys! Makes me want tor run out to the thrift store! Beautiful space!
Liz Teaches says
These back porch decorating ideas are mind-blowing. I just have two words–creative and innovative!