It’s summertime, and many of us long to spend more time outside. Creating an outdoor living space can make it easier to take advantage of wonderful weather, and bring some simple joy and serenity to daily living. Here are some things to consider when planning an outdoor living space, and how to begin the process.

outdoor living space

Have a goal:

Before you get started, take time to reflect on what you hope your outdoor space will be used for, and how often you plan to use it. Will it be for entertaining friends and family, cooking, or simply reading, writing and hanging out on your own? Answering this question will help you decide what’s really essential.

Stick to a budget:

Remember, an outdoor space is meant to help you spend more time outdoors–it doesn’t need to be fancy or expensive to do the job. So figure out how much you can reasonably spend and decide which elements are most important to your vision. Shop around (including online), visit your local thrift shops and garage sales, and be patient: you may find what you’re looking for at half the price.

Designing an outdoor living space:

Here are 6 things you might include in an outdoor living space:

Making your dream a reality:

Chances are, you already have a vision of what your perfect outdoor living space could be–but don’t let that dream keep you from getting started if you can’t do it all at once. Pick one thing to work on or purchase and enjoy it: slowly but surely you will be able to make your outdoor living dreams come true.