A Sweet Summertime Slowdown: Enjoy Your Outdoor Spaces

If this past year has taught us anything, it is the importance of home. I am so excited to be beginning a series for the Peaceful Living Wellness community on how to truly love your home. We’re going to tackle this one room at a time (starting today with your outdoor spaces).

I once had a client tell me, “Every time I walk into that room [that I designed], I smile.” This is 100% the goal and how you should feel about every room in your home. Sound overwhelming? It shouldn’t be! Together, we are going to tackle your troubling rooms one month at a time. You CAN do this! You CAN curate a space that fills you with joy and a sense of calm. One that you are proud to show off. It all starts with what is important and to understand that it is not what you have in your home but WHO you have in your home.

Because summer is in full swing, I can’t think of a better place to start than outdoor living. Are you starting to feel the summer slumps? So often the post-school year rush leaves us feeling like we need to be the cruise director for our families and ourselves. Piled on top of that was this past summer where we had no choice but to be stuck at home.  As a result, many of us feel like we need to make up for lost time. Personally, I made grandiose plans that now seem a bit overwhelming. Anyone else? 

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Our Top 5 Tips for Peaceful Living 

Top 5 Tips for Peaceful Living

This summer, I want you to give yourself the permission to breathe deeply, enjoy your families, and for goodness sake, finally, take those trips. At the same time however, give yourself permission to rest. We are all emotionally recovering from one of the most unnerving years to date. It’s okay if you just want to relax and enjoy your home. If there is one positive we can take away from the year of the pandemic, it is that our homes can actually be a destination.

Without further adieu, I give you my top tips on easy things you can do this weekend (and at your leisure!) to enjoy the outdoor spaces you have right at home.

Know your home

Take stock of what you have. Where do you currently have outdoor space? What areas do you actually use and what areas would you like to use? At my own South Carolina home, we had a beautifully crafted garden off the side of our garage from the previous owners. We do not have green thumbs and it turned into an unusable, overgrown jungle.

One day, we decided to stop fighting it and turned it into a functional space. We cleared the middle portion and added a patio and fire pit. This is what I mean about taking stock of what you already have and thinking of ways to maximize your joy. Gardening stressed me out, so I chose to simplify and go with what works for our lifestyle. 

Know your climate

This is so important for both plants and furniture in your outdoor spaces. If you are in a heavy moisture area, you may consider more man made woods like Trex and Polywood versus real wood. If it rains a lot, you’ll want a deck box to preserve your cushions. Is it super hot? Look into umbrellas and pergolas.

Related Post: DECLUTTER AND CLEAN | 5 SIMPLE STEPS TO HOME OFFICE ORGANIZATION

Know yourself

Or at least let your Pinterest habits tell you. Here is my little trick to not letting Pinterest consume or overwhelm you. Start a Pinterest board for your outdoor space and pin it with reckless abandon. Don’t prejudge your pins just yet. Go with your gut and start pinning. After 20-30 pins force yourself to STOP!  Now, go back to your board with fresh eyes and look for commonalities. Do you lean towards a certain color scheme? Take note of that. Do you gravitate towards traditional or modern? Write down all of your observations so you have a guideline for how you want to furnish your space. Take it to heart and internalize it. Then make each decision, from large outdoor sectional, down to the throw pillows and that citronella candle, with that design ideal in mind. This will keep your look cohesive. 

Hire the help

Laying a patio, painting your deck, or even mowing the lawn may not be your forte. Whenever financially responsible, hire out the tasks that bog you down. This gives you the energy to focus on the tasks you do enjoy-like scouring HomeGoods for the perfect table or even better preparing an array of charcuterie trays and mixing up some sweet tea for your guests.

Trend Alert

Here is what I am loving for fabulous outdoor spaces right now.

1. Long pub tables with benches are a great way to utilize narrow spaces.

2. Screened porches are ideal for indoor/outdoor living (especially if your area is buggy).

3. Black and white striped umbrellas are both practical and classically chic.

4. All white cushions and lounge chairs will make you feel like you’re at a swanky hotel at home.

5. Excessive greenery gives life to your space. The is NO shame in faux plants either. Scour HomeGoods and Target for some great options.

6. Glass string lights are great for ambiance.

Still feeling stuck? A part of achieving a more peaceful life is investing your energy into what you enjoy. If designing and shopping for your home stresses you out, hire it out the same way you might hire out mowing your lawn. Many designers will pass along their furniture store discounts to their clients (I know I do) so the expense may be far less than you anticipate. As a professional, my job is to help you feel happy and peaceful at home. This is my passion and what gets me jumping out of bed in the morning. I would love to hear about your trouble spaces and would be honored to help you achieve a sense of peace at home. 

Jen

Jennifer Rose, Designer & Owner

House of Rose Design

HouseofRoseDesign.com

instagram.com/houseofrosedesign

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JENNIFER ROSE

Bachelor of Science, Industrial Design, Virginia Tech

HSR Certified Home Stager & Stylist

I help clients curate beautiful, functional, and aspirational spaces in their homes. I love giving them the confidence and peace of mind to relax or entertain at the drop of a hat. I can’t get enough. I eat, sleep and breathe home design. At night, you’ll often find me with a glass of bubbly in hand perusing and studying homes on Zillow and Realtor or binging design shows on Netflix. I’m fascinated by the real estate market and the psychology behind what makes someone fall in love with home. 

I grew up not only designing and rearranging my own room but also my friends’ rooms. I remember late-night sleepovers pushing furniture around their rooms and raiding their attics for fun art. Looking back, I can only imagine what their parents thought. My creative aspirations led me to Virginia Tech’s School of Architecture & Design where I was awarded my Bachelor’s of Science in Industrial Design with a minor in Art History. After school, I worked in graphic design and, being the child of 2 strong entrepreneurs, opened my own firm where I was on track to becoming one of the top graphic designers for the wedding industry in Hampton Roads, VA. It was then that I met my husband who took me into the exciting world of military moves. I put my professional design career on hold to raise my 3 beautiful daughters while flexing my creative muscles completely remodeling and redesigning our own 5 homes. I am so happy being back in my element and absolutely love helping my clients love their spaces.

When not designing, you’ll find me swimming, crafting or dreaming up my next home.

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