Guest Picks: Backyard Decorating
Perk up your backyard in preparation for summer with swings, flower boxes and more outdoor decor
I have been working diligently the last few weeks on creating a more usable and beautiful backyard. Living in the mountains allows me a pretty fantastic setting, but I definitely need a few items to allow me to enjoy it to its potential. With the longer days and the warm nights, my backyard is used as an additional living room and I want it to function as beautifully as possible. — Shannon from Shannon Berrey Design
Firepit By Plodes
My kids love setting around a campfire and roasting marshmallows for s'mores. This firepit is functional, but it is so stunning, it would become an architectural piece in the backyard too.
Original Tree Swing
Remember swinging from the trees as a child? Such great memories! I know the neighborhood kids would love it if I hung this from the huge elm tree right on my creek's edge.
Whimsical Birdhouse By Cedar Chair Co.
If you don't have a green thumb, a great way to add a punch of color to your yard is with this sweet birdhouse with its bright green roof.
Personalized Garden Planter By natureinspiredcrafts
The monogram moves outside! I would plant my herb garden in these pretty planters and sit them right outside my kitchen window.
Concrete And Steel Indoor And Outdoor Coleman Stool By Greta de Parry
If you are lucky enough to have an outside bar area, then bar stools are a necessity. These handmade minimal and sleek stools are beautiful, and there are no worries on using them outside since they are concrete and steel.
Rocking Hammock
Lying in a hammock and rocking in a big comfy rocker are two great ways to relax in a backyard. This awesome rocking hammock provides both at the same time. I can see a lot of fighting over this one, so it's a good thing it's big.
Brynn Small Rectangular Lantern
Candlelight is a lovely, simple way to cast a beautiful glow on blooming backyards. I would love to scatter a half-dozen of these candleholders with big chunky candles throughout my backyard.
Zinc Rectangular Rail Hook
My porch gets a huge amount of sun in the spring, but it gets shady in the summer when all the trees are full of leaves. This planter is perfect for moving around the railing of my porch when the sun changes with the seasons. And there is no hardware, so there are no holes left behind.
Orange Birdstake
Stick a bird in it! Whimsical art stakes are such a fun way to add a little artistic flair to your flowerbeds. I would use these to assist in my climbing vines or my tomato plants.
Eco Watering Can Bottle Adaptor
For those who don't have the space to store big, bulky watering cans, these little screw-on pour spouts are a great alternative. They turn whatever pretty glass bottles you have into watering bottles.
Trimaran Stripe Sprout And Ivory Indoor And Outdoor Rug
You gotta love a rug that doesn't mind getting hosed. Adding a rug to your porch brings an instant coziness, not to mention it feels great on bare feet. I love these so much I use them inside too. And, when it's dirty, you can throw bleach on it, hose it off and, voila, it's new again!
Metal Heart Bird Feeder
A sure fire way to increase the number of feathered friends in your yard is to give them a pretty perch and a lovely meal.
LED Solar Outdoor Tree Lights
There's nothing prettier than white lights tucked in dark green trees. These LED solar lights are completely hassle-free: They come on at dusk and stay lit for eight hours.
Custom Window Flower Box And Corbels By perfectpergola
One of the first things I do each spring is plant my window boxes. How I would love to toss my plain plastic ones and replace them with these beautiful custom-made boxes. The weighty corbels add the perfect country cottage charm.
Rusty Finish Pembroke Corgi Metal Garden Art By Mountain Iron
My metal rusty corgi is perched right between the black-eyed susans in our yard. He doesn't step on the flowers and doesn't leave his business in the pansies. He is sort of the perfect pet.
Copper Plant Stakes The Featherweights By Dillybags
I'm bad about remembering where I have planted what from year to year. This pretty little set of stained plant stakes would solve that problem beautifully. They are hand-stamped with the flower or herb name of your choice.
GardenGlo Solar Lighted Planters
It's a light, it's a planter, it's a cooler! No matter how you choose to use these on your own porch, you will have the coolest conversation starter!
Charleston South Carolina Vintage Porch Swings
I would love to grab a book, a blanket and listen to the creek while relaxing on this rustic bed swing.
Teak Metal Basket Dining Tables
This teak table would provide some great outdoor dinners. A round table allows everyone to be included and this one is just the right size for intimate meals.
Belgian Slope Arm Outdoor Armchair
Outdoor dinners now have the same luxury seating as the indoors when done in these lovely ultra-comfortable deep seats. They are customizable in 54 exterior fabric choices and I am pretty certain they would convince my family to want to eat every meal outside.
Next: Great Grill Setups Take the Party Outdoors
Next: Great Grill Setups Take the Party Outdoors