Interior Design/Interior Decorating

Interior Decorating: 5 Tips for Creating an Outdoor Oasis

  • July 3, 2019July 3, 2019

Want to make your outdoor space more beautiful?  Here are 5 ideas for enhancing your outdoor room!

photo to explain point
Photo courtesy of B&B Italia

1. Create a cozy outdoor area for lounging or entertaining by grouping seating in a cozy arrangement. Add end tables, coffee tables, outdoor lamps, and an area rug to make it live like indoors. Here in this outdoor area the seating area is centered around the coffee table to create an inviting place to have conversation.

to explain point
Design by Karen Mills

2. Bring in one of kind vintage items to show off your personality.    In this outdoor porch area, my clients introduced a table base they found along with stone top for the coffee table to create a one of kind space.

Photo courtesy of Gloster

3. Layer in different textures to keep the space interesting such as wood, metal, wicker, or plants. Here in this outdoor room a wood roof and decking provide texture along with wicker seating, fabric cushions/pillows, woven rugs and a metal table to create a visually compelling space.

Photo courtesy of Lexington

4. Add a water feature to create ambiance and to reduce outside noise from neighbors or the street with a small bubbler, hanging fountain, or even tabletop fountain. Here in this outdoor a pool beyond provides the water feature that could also include a waterfall or fountains.

shows example
Photo courtesy of Schumacher

5. Add height to your outdoor space.   One of my favorite ways as an interior designer to add height to my client’s outdoor spaces inexpensively starts with tall drapery panels on a pergola or porch or a potted tree that can be brought outside for the season.

For my own outdoor oasis, I designed a beautiful outdoor pergola with grand white Greek columns covered with climbing flowering vines and a curved header between snuggled inside a beautiful berm of trees with thick cushioned seating underneath.

Have a wonderful and safe Fourth of July holiday with your family and friends!

For more great ideas on outdoor living, join our weekly interior design blog here!

Plus become a fan of Kansas City’s interior designer and former host of the Living Large design show, Karen Mills, on Facebook here or instagram here!

Interior Design/Interior Decorating

Interior Design: 3 Tips for Selecting Quality Outdoor Furniture

  • May 11, 2018

How to narrow down the choices for high quality outdoor seating

Karen Mills' blog
Photo courtesy of B&B Italia furniture

1. Color

I think we as consumers are naturally drawn to our favorite colors and often purchase based on that fact alone but when you’re investing in a quality piece(s) of outdoor furniture you might want to consider longevity of a frame or cushion color that’s beyond a neutral.

Of course if a particular color is part of who you are, then it may not matter.  For me as an interior designer, my favorite color is usually what we are designing that day or week.  That’s why neutral seating frames and/or cushions are often best because you can switch out accessory colors every time you want a new look without starting over.

Karen Mills' blog
Courtesy of Castelle furniture

2. Furniture Style

Style, a key factor in selecting furniture, plays a huge role outside because the furnishings must not only coordinate with the exterior of the home and the view beyond but also relate the the adjacent rooms inside.

This outdoor furniture designed by Barclay Butera, who’s known for his signature blue and white color scheme, comes together beautifully with a fretwork design on the chair sides and gold finials to give a new twist to a timeless classic.

Karen Mills' blog
Photo courtesy of Gloster furniture

3. Comfort

Of course comfort is the most important factor when it comes to seating, especially if its where you will sit for prolonged periods savoring your outdoor space.   When selecting furniture ensure the seat is not only tall enough for your legs but also the right depth for you.

In this photo the chair dips down in the back to allow a more relaxed seating position which can be ideal for taking in the views while a more upright seat might better accommodate you for dining.

For more great ideas and photos sign up for our weekly interior design blog here

plus become a fan of Kansas City’s interior designer and former host of the Living Large design show, Karen Mills, on Facebook

or instagram here!