It’s finally summer.   I shared the cute little buffet table that Deb whipped up in 30 minutes but I didn’t show you the entire pergola.  It got a complete makeover from last summer.  I like my areas really full… “pooped up” as I like to say.  It feels so comfy and cozy to me.  We already had our old garage door last year on the back of the garage as a focal point.  But, I wanted to add lots more things so it feels like we are tucked in while enjoying the summer months.  After all, it’s where we sip our evening cocktails and have dance parties.  ????

We attended the Springfield, Ohio, Extravaganza again this Spring and found these most awesome black columns for $30 each.  They are perfect to hold our ferns.  We ended up adding a few evergreens for height.  We can plant them at the end of Summer, if we can keep them alive.  ????

Decorating the Pergola for Summer

Flower Pots

After I added the little table that Deb made, I wanted to decorate the pergola for summer by adding flower pots and lanterns.  But, they had to be neutral …  It’s what I was going for this year.  I wanted to add lots of neutral plants and different textures in my decor.  I immediately fell in love when I found these absolutely adorable little wicker flower pots at Walmart.  They added just the right amount of texture without adding any color.  (I know, I’m weird.  ????)

Walmart carries these cute little reproduction green pots which look like the antique McCoy pieces that I have several of.  I love these hobnail ones, too.  Maybe it’s because they look old, also.

SHOP FLOWER POTS

Ambiance

We chose to add a few tabletop torches down in the middle of the table and added some citronella oil to them to keep the bugs away.  They look like concrete and are also very heavy so they won’t blow away in the high winds that we get every single Spring.  These 3 in 1 lawn torches do the same thing.  They work perfect at the front of the pergola as tiki torches.  I love these because you can adjust their heights and even use them as a table top torch, also.

We hung these commercial grade string lights from Walmart on the ceiling last year, and they held up all Winter!  I am quite impressed.  We had a few other strands that went out a few weeks after we bought them.  I think the key is “commercial grade.”  The wire is very heavy compared to all others we have tried.

SHOP FOR AMBIANCE LIGHTING

Pillows

Of course, pillows are needed in all of my outdoor spaces.  They aren’t only for comfort but they add so much to a space.  I don’t normally shop in the outdoor section for pillows because I’m not a fond lover of the bright colors that normally goes along with them.  We store them in the shed at night, along with our cushions, so I found these budget friendly textured ones and some cream colored ones in the regular home section.   I think pops of white are always needed in every space, especially when you have darker furniture.  You’re SHOCKED, I know.  ????

SHOP PILLOWS

Lanterns

One of the easiest ways to add interest to an outdoor space is to add lanterns.  Unfortunately, I cannot find mine online as I bought them long ago, but I have found some really cute ones that I thought I would share.  Just in case you are in the market.  Check them out.

SHOP LANTERNS

What do you think of this year’s pooped-up space under the pergola?  I’m loving it for a change of pace.  It feels so homey at night with all of the mood lighting.  Have you guys started your decorating?  If not, I hope this brought some inspiration for your outdoor spaces.