August in Charlotte is a Great Month to Spruce Up Your Outdoor Spaces

August 3, 2016

Cooler temps will be here again, PROMISE, and we’ll all be able to head back out to the porch or patio for gatherings, meals and relaxation. Even though it seems counter-intuitive, August is a great time to spruce up your outdoor spaces, as we have at least 3 months of perfect patio weather heading our way. You can spend your dog days shopping in the cool ac of our local home stores and be ready to head outside when fall arrives.

Designer Christina from Front Door Fabrics has some great overall porch and patio design tips to consider:

“Your outdoor space should be an extension of the inside of your home so that the flow and transition from indoor to outdoorfeels natural. The colors and patterns don’t necessarily have to match, but they should create flow from indoor room to outdoor “room”.

Treat your outdoor space like any indoor space with the addition of indoor/outdoor rugs, planters, garden stools, bar carts, lighting, and other entertaining necessities.

And keep your big pieces (i.e. cushions, ottomans, etc.) neutral or in muted tonal colors allows for the addition of seasonal pops of color in the form of pillows and accents that can easily be swapped out as you transition from season to season.”

Pillows are always the easiest way to update the look of your spaces. Outdoor Included.

Beth Barden from designPOST interiors loves to change out pillows for the patio/porch.

“There are tons of stylish options on the market. One of my favorite sources is Etsy. This shop has great options divided into color categories, making it a cinch to find coordinating patterns. And speaking of color, as we transition into fall blush, deep reds, and army green are going to be a big trend. This block-print blush pillow would be a fun addition to outdoor seating!”

The indoor/outdoor pillows below are from Traditions Interiors. The colors are bold and perfect for fall:

Christina at Front Door Fabrics tells us that they are seeing an emphasis on highlighting the boxing of cushions right now with contrasting fabrics inset in the boxing, layered trims, inset bandings, etc, like the examples below:

Outdoor Rugs are a great addition to create a “room”

Beth Barden tells us “Aside from outdoor lighting, rugs are one of the biggest ways to make your outdoor space feel more like an interior room. I love choosing one with a print that is more than just your basic stripe or trellis pattern. This aztec print is really fun and I love that this rug has an overdyed vintage feel.

Check out some of the outdoor rugs we shopped locally at Traditions Interiors:

And these rug ideas and color schemes from Front Door Fabrics

Furniture, Linens and Accent Pieces Are Always Welcome New Additions

Beth from designpost Interiors gives advice for accent pieces “Outdoor table linens are another fun and unexpected place to play around with pattern and color. Caitlin Wilson textiles makes great coated fabrics that would work perfectly as a tablecloth or seat cushion covers. I love the Bridge City Blooms print paired with Buffalo Check in navy.”