Summer Fun In Your Backyard
[ 27 July 2007 ]
“Hello, I have a little backyard that I’m just dying to make into the perfect place for picnics and parties during the summer, but I’m not quite sure what I want it to look like! I’m looking for small backyard inspiration, any suggestions would be wonderful! Furniture, lights, decor, etc etc.”
I really think the key to having an inviting backyard is a few well-picked items.
You definitely need somewhere for people to sit. I like those crazy old picnic tables with attached seats — they’re a bit more rustic & authentic-looking than a plastic table & slew of chairs. Who knows though, maybe you’d prefer a whole lot of little fake toadstools for people to sit on! Check Ebay (use the specific location tool to find something close to you) & flea markets for outdoor furniture. If you can get your hands on some long 70’s pool chairs, that could be amazing. Most of those come with a squab to lay on — if you’re going to go the whole hog, I suggest having them recovered in a fabric you adore which is fairly hardy. (It needs to be able to handle rain, sunscreen, sweaty bodies, cigarettes & wobbling glasses of alcohol.)
In my experience, most outdoor parties start innocently enough in the afternoon, but end up spilling over into the night-time & early morning fairly easily. When the sun goes down, you need candles! If you bought one of those big wooden picnic tables, put a few candles in the middle (or on one end) & let them drip their wax. I looove the way this looks. Put candles all over the place — little tea-lights or votives in jars around the garden looks gorgeous. The flame reflects against the glass, it’s beautiful, & the jar prevents them from falling over or being blown out by the wind. You might want to invest in some citronella candles to keep bugs away, too. Sometimes they sell huge ones on sticks which you can just push into the ground. Have these near the table, since that’s where most of the people will be.
For extra illumination, fairy lights or lanterns are totally the way to go. Clear white fairy lights strung between braches are among my favourite things in the world, but I found a lot of other amazing lights when I looked around. There are lights encased in little pink silk flowers, pink lanterns, round white lanterns, butterfly fairy lights & silk Chinese party lights. I’m also mad about Moroccan lanterns, which should be hung from trees! I would love to have ALL of these, but it might be overkill!
Buy tea glasses (I like these in red & blue) & a beautiful teapot. Fill it with some kind of punch concoction & have everyone drink it out of the tea glasses. (Always going by “intended use” is such a bore.) Get a magnificent parasol & use it to cast some shade over the table. Blow up big, metallic balloons (or clear ones) & tie them onto tree branches, make a little fort or treehouse, buy a paddling pool. Rent a bubble machine! Tell all your friends to come over — & invite me!
Extra for experts:
Outdoor decorating photos & more
Once Upon A Garden by iVillage
Dream Spaces by iVillage
Super-love & cupcakes,
Gala
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oh gosh, i really can’t wait til summer. i added this to my favourites so when its hot again i can come back and use all these ideas :)
These are great suggestions for my next shopping trip. I read your interview with Problogger. Congrats :)
There are also these wonderful huge sandalwood incense sticks you push in the ground to keep the bugs away, lovely.
DIY flower fairy lights:
http://www.marthastewart.com/portal/ site/mslo/menuitem.0e0eb51a2e6b5ad5935 98e10d373a0a0/?vgnextoid=325718d9a863 f010VgnVCM1000003d370a0aRCRD&rsc=related
I think they look soooo pretty.
Okay, sorry that it’s so long! I hadn’t realized. Thank goodness it’s not messing up your page.
this makes me want a backyard :(
Oh, if only it would stop raining! I have a conservatory at the back of my little house and a good sized garden, it would be perfect and I’m probably not going to be living there next year.
My mum got some lovely lights from IKEA for her 50th birthday party last weekend, like a curtain of flowers and leaves that light up.
I so know what I’m going to be doing this evening with my mates…. :)
Hi,
Just come to see the article ProBlogger dedicated to you and I decided to visit your blog (it’s always good to learn from the best :-)).
Think I’m going to introduce you into my Firefox’s favorites and visit it from time to time :-)
That’s it!
And, BTW, Yes, I’m another IKEA Victim (especially when I lived in Germany and I had to furnish my flat… I discover my “black beast” on the swedish company :-)).
Kind regards from Spain :-)
Paquito.
http://paquito4ever.blogspot.com
Fire pit!
Sherry – the link given doesn’t work if I cut and paste, UNLESS I’ve gone through and taken out all the gaps. (This has happened to me so many times when I’m trying to email friends a page-link!) Anyway, the “DIY” involves getting a string of Xmas/fairy lights and some fake flowers without centres, and sliding individual flowers over each bulb. Since I live in Polynesia, I’d recommend using a fake-flower lei. I’ve seen it done in real life and it does look very good!
We nicked a turtle-shaped wading pool from a neighbour’s rubbish pile, and when we have parties sometimes we fill it with cold water and arrange chairs around it so people can soak their feet, and cool themselves off. It’s also great for keeping beer cold!
Don’t forget a hammock if you have space, they are the best!
http://moblog.co.uk/view.php?id=137385
these would be great in those tea glasses! Plus they clear your head too. Wonderful!
Icy — Oh wow, I didn’t know about those! They sound perfect! Thank you!
Paquito — Hello! Thank you! I love IKEA, almost our entire apartment is furnished with IKEA stuff & I am really happy with it. Anyway, it’s nice to have you here!
jj — Too true! Didn’t think of that. Was trying to think back to when I last had a backyard… it was when I was 21!
Katoo — Excellent idea. At my 21st birthday (held in my backyard) I had a paddling pool keeping beer cool, it was great.
Bridey — I have hammock fear! I’m so restless I am convinced that I would fall out almost immediately… but a hammock is great for most people, haha!
zoe — Ooh, that’s lovely. I have a friend who works in a tea shop & I bought a blossoming tea for my boyfriend. It was an amazing sight to behold, I loved it.
If you have a little 2-person tent, it’s really fun to have it up on the lawn in summer, with comfy warm things in it, like a fort! Great for secret pow-wows and reading when it’s cool but you still want to be outside. I miss having a lawn!