Patio Decor: Adding Summer Style With Outdoor Accessories
In this post: Summer entertaining is much more enjoyable in a beautiful setting. Up your patio decor game by adding summer style with outdoor accessories.⇒
A week ago I looked at my patio and it looked like a barren wasteland. I half expected tumbleweed to blow by.
It’s not that we hadn’t brought the furniture out yet. The deck was even immaculate having just been power washed. But my ever-so-neutral sectional and tables were looking more like winter than the vibrance of my favorite colorful season.
A re-boot was definitely in order.
Patio Decor
Since my goal was to refresh my patio without actually buying any furniture and with a budget to adhere to, the plan was to do all the work with accessories and to make the space inviting and pleasant.
As with most great decorating efforts, the best place to start was with flowers. I found a wonderful buttery yellow pitcher and filled it with a spray of aromatic lilacs. This floral display became my muse, driving the color palette for my patio decor.
Thee lilac and yellow combination looked cheery mixed with all the whites on my patio, from the lattice drum table I placed it upon, to the cushions of the dominating sectional.
(See below for resource list.)
A sweet little farmhouse carafe came next, serving up farm fresh orange juice for a jolt of color, and a welcoming way to start the morning. It’s part of a charming caddy set that comes with matching glasses.
Vintage grain sack pillows mix nicely with embroidered linen ruffles and a colorful lightweight throw. Ok, it’s actually a pashmina shawl and I’ve used it for everything from a tablecloth to a throw. The one thing I’ve never used it as…
is a pashmina shawl!
The brilliance of the lilac throw is what adds personality to the updated patio. The same effect can be achieved using pillows, as well, but I was going for a summer country feel, so stayed with white linens for my pillows instead.
(I have since accumulated a collection of brightly hued outdoor pillows, which can be used to change the color feeling each season.)
What summer gathering is complete without a bit of fruit?
This sweet distressed bowl is perfectly sized for the teak coffee table and imparts a lovely rustic vibe. Pretty French embroidered napkins add a note of grace that balances the more rugged elements.
Our rattan sectional was one of our first purchases in this home and it’s held up perfectly over the few years that we’ve lived here. It takes up a good portion of the patio offering lots of seating, along with a place to eat casually and to get sun, as well.
The cream cushions make it easy to update the look of our space with a simple change of outdoor decorative items.
I added chunky glass lanterns to hold candles in the evenings when the sun begins to fade. They’re also great for citronella candles to keep bugs and pests away.
Another option would be to fill them with string lights for a bit of a different look.
The vintage-inspired seltzer bottle is a fun nod to times past, but is also great for serving cold drinks. A distressed white serving tray sits at the ready to corral juice glasses and other serving pieces.
And since anticipating guests’ needs is always appreciated, I included the gold sphere, above, to keep napkins tidy and from blowing away in the breeze.
Our patio is compact, but it’s a place we love to entertain and our decor is sure to set the tone. Having outdoor accessories to add personality to our furniture is both practical as well as pretty!
Resource Guide
To get the look, click on the items below for direct links to the products. Where actual items were no longer available, I’ve provided similar options. If an item is out of stock but may be restocked, I left it on the list.
(This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.)
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Smart decorating with accessories! Looks beautiful.
Thanks, Dianne!
I’m sorry, but I had to laugh. The distressed bowl’s shape just reminded me of a chamber pot too much! Everything looks beautiful. I love lilacs, my lilac shrub has lots of buds on it, but it’s still too cold here for it to bloom.
Yep, big lilac fan here too. I would love to have a shrub of my own… 🙂
Love the lilacs and all the accessories – looks so inviting!
Thanks, Sandra!
Lory, you have the design eye for sure. Love your lilacs in the yellow pitcher that influenced your other accent pieces.
It’s so nice to have a source list and fun to hear your design mind working. Great patio refresh.
Wish I could run out and purchase some lilacs in our area.
Thanks, Bonnie! Well, I’m still anxiously awaiting peony season too. Have you got those near you?
Lory,
I love your patio and the sectional furniture you have. Your bright touches really make it come alive. As your deck isn’t covered from what I can tell, how do you protect the cushions from rain ?! I have sunbrella cushions, but am constantly removing them and putting back on.
Kirkland’s is a wonderful place to find unique iitems at good prices !
Oh–you definitely should have worn the purple pashmina. It would look stunning with your hair ! 🙂
Thanks, Kathy! Yes, my cushions are Sunbrella too. I don’t generally bring them inside, except for in winter, but they do sometimes take a bit longer to dry than I’d like. They’re also beginning to get green stains, likely from tree sap, so I’ve been researching how to remove them.
Nothing better than a great porch to relax on!
Couldn’t agree more… 🙂
Hey, Lory. Excellent tips and choice of decors and accessories for the patio. The yellow pitcher and the lilacs are a perfect combo. Printed or patterned designs for the cushions might be a good idea, too.
Hi Kyle,
Interesting timing, as I just finished a photo shoot and am currently working on a post for tomorrow utilizing print and patterns on the patio. Stop back tomorrow to take a peek.
Thanks,
Lory
Love the color combos. It is such a relaxing space with pretty touches of decor you added. Love that yellow pitcher! Can’t wait to see what you’re up to next week. I’m off to work on my outdoor decor! #merrymonday
Thanks!! I have so many balls in the air right now, I’m not sure how soon I can complete anything… 😉
Adding accessories to change things up is smart can cost friendly. I love the carafe set and I see a visit to the Kirklands store in my near future.
Haha, enjoy it!! They have so many great things… 🙂
Its so cozy looking! My favorite is the yellow pitcher with purple.yellow and purple are my summertime colors
Thank you! So glad you appreciate it too!!
love all the stuff you do. You really have a beautiful touch. Thanks for sharing.
What a nice thing to say! Thank you!!
That pashmina is possibly the most gorgeous shade of lilac I have ever seen! Everything looks beautiful!! I am working with Afghan refugees who escaped when the airport fell at Kabul to help with their resettlement in America (they were US embassy employees and in grave danger). One man is a master carpenter who has built us a gorgeous daybed for my screen porch. It is the best gift my husband ever gave me! Every afternoon it becomes my happy place for reading, naps, and a gin&tonic!
I love absolutely everything about that comment!! Thanks for your kind words and kudos to you for working with refugees… 🙂 I’m so glad you have a lovely happy place to relax!