Interior Design/Interior Decorating

Interior Design: 3 Ways to Spruce Up Your Outdoor…

Taking Your Outdoor Room From Blah to Beautiful

Karen Mills' blog

I love this time of year – warm weather, food on the grill, and great parties outdoors!  But when its time for outdoor parties sometimes our outdoor spaces need a little boost to get them ready for guests so here are 3 tips for taking your outdoor room from blah to beautiful!

1. Add a pop of color with pillows

On this porch we helped clients design we started by layering in fun pillows with a beach theme in a beautiful blue color to remind them of the ocean, one of their favorite vacation destinations while also providing some contrast against the chairs.  To see more about this fabulous porch design, watch my TV segment below.

Karen Mills' blog

2. Layer in textural decor

Texture in a space is critical – it softens the hard surfaces and creates interest.  In this photo the large blue green vase on the hearth adds a pop of color while the branches inside add texture along with the orange flower and napkins.

 

Karen Mills' blog

3. Make it Personal

When you’re decorating or designing a space its important to add your own personal touches that show off your personality.  In this porch the client had a painting done on wood and picked up an iron table base to give this outdoor room a one of kind look.

Karen Mills'blog

The same holds true for this outdoor patio space where a vintage trunk on wheels has been re purposed as a coffee table.   Other personal touches on this patio include a vintage candelabra and wrought iron table that was handmade.  To see more about this patio design, click on the TV segment below

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!

Porch TV segment (click here)

Patio TV segment (click here)

 

Interior Design/Interior Decorating

Interior Decorating: 3 Ways to Decorate Your Outdoor Area…

If you’re ready to get outside and enjoy the weather here are 3 tips for setting up your outdoor porch, pergola, or open seating area to enjoy for months to come.

Karen Mills' blog
Photo courtesy of Lexington Furniture

1. Create a Comfortable Seating Area 

High quality seating and a  “L” or “U” shaped configuration like this outdoor room by Lexington Furniture help create a comfortable and inviting outdoor space.  Here the yellow chair color repeats again on the sofa pillows while the patterned pillows on both upholstered pieces add to the cohesive look.

Karen Mills' blog
Photo courtesy of Lexington Furniture

2.  Introduce Fun Accessories

Some of my favorite accessories are bold pillows, live flowers or plants, and trays for the outdoors like shown in this photo.

Karen Mills' blog
Photo courtesy of Braxton Culler

3.  Layer in an Area Rug to Create a Cozy Grouping

Placing an area rug underneath a seating area helps define the space and make it feel more like the indoors like this outdoor room.  Interesting accessories in turquoise add to the finished look along with the pillows and tray on the table.

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

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

and if you have a porch to decorate, check out my latest article on Houzz titled Get Your Porch Ready for Spring Sitting below

https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/95204125/list/get-your-porch-ready-for-spring-sitting

Karen Mills' blog