Time to celebrate inspiring outdoor living spaces as we explore outdoor spots for relaxing, dining, meditating, reading, and connecting. We won’t be concerned with perfectly manicured lawns, bountiful gardens, or even slick pool houses ahead. Instead, unfussy and rustic yet elegant spaces for deep breaths are in the spotlight. While I favor a French inspired or European Country style, there’s plenty of overlap with country/cottage/modern farmhouse that it seems silly to apply labels to everything! Lovely Outdoor Living Inspo is comin at ya!
Lovely Outdoor Living Ideas to Try
Full disclosure: I’m more of an indoorsy type so I keep it very simple outdoors. I placed comfy, good looking chairs (below, on our former patio) on the front porch, transformed our deck and railings with paint before adding Adirondack chairs, and created a secret French courtyard with pea gravel over a former basketball court. If I can do these things with my limited skills, I can only imagine what magic you can work! Our first ACTIONABLE IDEA to try?
1. Adopt a Fresh Perspective of Lovely Outdoor Living
I plan to measure “wellth” this spring and summer in part by the amount of time spent sitting on the porch with a book in a comfy chair.
I won’t pressure myself to be productive activities (creating content on a laptop, listening to personal growth podcasts, or even journaling). Breathing deeply, sipping, listening to birdsong and just being present are on the agenda.
In our former home, I hung out in the French country inspired courtyard with its potted lavender, boxwood, and seasonal blooms. There are things I miss about that lovely area we customized just for ourselves and a few things I don’t.
You may recall how my serenity was consistently disrupted by intrusions in that courtyard. Not by wild turkeys and deer, but humans. This brings me to our next actionable idea inspired by beautiful outdoor oasis living areas.
2. Create & Protect Privacy & Seclusion
You can’t believe the number of times solicitors, scam artists, and strangers showed up and startled me. In some cases, they were simply insensitive (EVEN during the height of the pandemic). But unfortunately there was also aggressive behavior where I had to flee or call authorities.
The intrusions were so frequent in our “sleepy, safe, suburban neighborhood” that I nearly gave up on courtyard sitting. Our gate did not seem to prevent trespassers, and there were too many paths to access our little sanctuary.
Ring cameras help as alert systems, but I’m not tethered to my phone.
Be sure to consider privacy panels, locked gates, security cameras, and fences to preserve your patio peace. You would never suspect that in our former neighborhood, soliciting and threats would be so commonplace.
Psst. I’m no shrinking violet. I have tossed people out of my homes for bad behavior over the years. In this particular house there were several instances where odd characters tried to physically enter, and my adrenaline and aggression surged…I am not a worrisome home invasion type even after all of the weirdness.
3. Think Green for Your Oasis
There’s something so calm, lifegiving, and natural about soft sage and French green in the garden.
Sometimes just the color story from inspiring images will spark your creativity. In this moment from Vivi et Margot below, French green, grey stone, and pops of lavender set a glorious tone. See THIS for serene paint color ideas to get the look.
Muted sunny golds and aged terracotta can also be magic with green:
At times, you can find that warm sunny stone right here in the USA:
4. Spare Outdoor Spaces Can Be Soothing Too
Gardens and lush vegetation take time to grow, but airy outdoor living spaces can still be soothing and elegant. I love Erin Fetherston’s style, and her lovely California home’s outdoor dining space has that minimal luxe look that feels understated and easy to maintain.
Even a big rustic bowl of succulents for a small balcony, little patio, or wee porch space can be beautiful. Window boxes and gardens blooming with flowers are wonderful for gardening types. But even a few containers that are easily cared for may be enough for non-gardening types.
Jenni Kayne also knows her way around spare yet beautiful minimal luxe simplicity. Here’s a taste of what you can expect from her gorgeous book PACIFIC NATURAL:
I love container gardening since I can move things around creatively depending on the mood!
5. Outdoor Sheds
No matter how you feel about shabby chic, backyard storage shed that morph into potting stations, reading nooks, or hideaways can be magical.
No room for a she shed? Maybe there’s a spot for a party maker like this:
See more she sheds in THIS.
Perhaps the actionable part of this idea is investing in a good book about creating a she-shed or tiny guest cottage…start HERE.
6. Spruce Up Your Planters
Maybe your “oasis” can begin with helping a few potted plants or flower baskets live larger in pretty containers. Here are a few I own, and while they aren’t pieces I can leave outdoors across the seasons, I have found ways to use them indoors as well.
And do get creative about your conception of “container.” I picked up this old non-functional vintage bicycle at a yard sale, knowing I would use it as a garden sculpture and for its basket to hold flowers.
Keep your eyes peeled at estate sales and local yard sales for vintage and Old World style containers that have aged to perfection like these:
7. Inspiring Books to Help
If you are familiar with Patina Farm (a dream property imagined and created by Brooke and Steve Giannetti), then you know!
That property boasts too many outdoor oasis moments to name!
Take a peek at the indoor and outdoor moments of inspiration:
I independently selected products in this post—if you buy from one of my links, I may earn a commission.
8. Get the Look of a Modern French Bistro
Is it possible to create an oasis moment outside in one fell swoop without spending a fortune? Oui, madame. Imagine yourself bringing Paris to your balcony, terrace, deck, or even indoors.
I love the modern black containers on our front porch which flank the front door and look awesome year-round. Whether its ferns, trailing blooms, or evergreens at Christmas, these planters elevate the ordinary.
Sometimes just a simple addition can get your gears moving.
If you love minimal design and softer colors, this friendly-priced slightly coastal arrangement may appeal – the aqua stripes are so soothing, and I have the Malta lanterns myself and have purchased them as gifts – folks love em!
Outdoor Oasis Look 3: Modern Rustic Dining
What I admire about modern rustic design is its simplicity with clean lines and minimal fussiness as well as the zen mood it often imparts.
View a Lovely Backyard Makeover!
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p.s.
Peace to you right where you are.
-michele
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