As the weather begins to cool down in Texas, we can really enjoy outdoor dining on our backyard patio. Because let’s face it, during the summer time, temperatures can remain in the 90’s even at night. Our outdoor dining season is just beginning… from smore’s around the fire pit to family dinners on the patio. Let me show you what we did to transform this space!
Outdoor Pergola Update
We recently updated our outdoor pergola with a fresh coat of paint and new wood. We used the same paint color as the trim on the outside of our home to create a cohesive look. It is an exterior latex paint. We chose paint over stain, because we had stained wood and new wood. Because the main poles were still in good condition, we only removed the wood on top that had rotted. My husband laid the rails in the same direction across the top, running perpendicular to the frame. Then, he cut smaller sections of wood to fit in between those panels, running along the same direction as the main frame. These additional boards added more support.
With some left over lumber, my husband made an outdoor dining table, as well. I painted the legs with an outdoor latex paint. For the wood stain, I mixed poly with minwax stain in espresso to lighten it. At the beginning of the summer, I spray painted the outdoor dining chairs in a navy color to give them a fresh look. The rug is by Nicole Miller from Home Dynamix. You can find a variety of patterns in this style, here. They are great quality and low maintenance.
Tablescape Ideas for Outdoor Dining
For the tablescape, I used blue and white striped placemats and galvanized metal chargers from Crate and Barrel with simple white plates. I found these cloth napkins, glasses with a wicker texture and the beautiful patterned blue and white bowls from Tuesday Morning to the place setting. They can work for many table settings indoors or outdoors.
To give it a fresh look, I used a garland of faux eucalyptus down the center of the table. I placed grapefruits and limes on the table as well. Using fruit adds a pop of color and nice citrus smell. I also placed potted succulents in terra cotta pots along center of the table. At each place setting, I used cupcake pedestals with little glass jars of succulents. Adding a touch of nature always makes a space come alive.
Outdoor Lighting Ideas
I recently found these amazing lanterns called “Sonnenglas’ on Instagram. They look like mason jars, so you can fill them with plants, shells or anything to match your outdoor space or party theme. Today, I filled them with succulents. The lids on the lanterns are solar powered and last up to 12 hours. You can remove the lids and place outside to charge. These lanterns add a lot of light and a fun element to an outdoor space. Use this link for a discount on the lanterns.
I placed a few lanterns on the table to light up my outdoor dining table. I am impressed with the amount of light that each provides as it began to get darker and darker outside.
Using jute string, I also hung a few lanterns above the table from the top of the pergola. These can easily be moved around your outdoor space. They create a magical glow that really transforms your outdoor space and creates a ‘wow’ factor.
Published by