Plain and simple, people love to be outdoors.  I’ve always dreamed of a cozy outdoor living space to call my own.  After 10 years of dreaming, I decided to stop dreaming and start doing.

“Some old-fashioned things like fresh air and sunshine are hard to beat”. – Laura Ingalls Wilder

 Here are 7 Easy Steps to Create a Cozy Outdoor Living Space

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1. Embrace the space.

Every backyard has perks and flaws. Embrace the space you have and learn to love it. Our covered patio had a lot of potential, but it also had a cold, empty feel.
2. Add comfortable seating. 

Whether you are needing some personal R&R, or are entertaining a crowd, comfortable seating is going to make or break how much time is spent in your outdoor living space. “Criss-cross-applesauce” simply doesn’t cut it for comfort outdoors. When choosing seating for your space, purchase quality furniture. Mother Nature can take a toll on cheap furnishings very, very quickly. Cheaply-made outdoor furniture may look beautiful at first glance, but it can prove to be a costly mistake down the road. Purchase furniture with Sunbrella fabrics (made to resist weathering), and use furniture covers in the off-season. RST Brands carries these types of quality products at a great value. We decided on the Portofino Comfort Sectional for our covered patio.  

3. Incorporate an outdoor rug.

I know what your thinking. A rug?! Isn’t that an inside thing? Absolutely not. Adding rugs to an outdoor living space is a great way to add color, patterns, and texture. Rugs also provide comfort and warmth, making them ideal for the outdoors. Just make sure you get an outdoor rug, which means they are weather resistant, easy to clean, and great for high-traffic areas.

4. Use nature to decorate.

I currently live in the southern United States, and it’s cotton season! Every geographic area has different beauties to behold. By using nature to decorate, you can show off what Mother Nature is currently giving you,… for free! 
 5. It’s all in the lighting.

The right lighting can make your space feel warm, cozy, and romantic.  It’s all in the lighting.  Lights can transform a bland backyard into an enchanted magical place.  It’s a relatively inexpensive way to create the ‘wow’ factor.  My favorite place to find lighting is on 1-800lighting.com. They have so many gorgeous lighting choices at a great price.

Featured here are the Nostalgic Edison Outdoor String Lights.My favorite part is how you can see the old-fashioned filament’s right through the glass bulb. Dreamy. 

6. Add a flame.  

It’s amazing how adding a flame to an outdoor space makes everything feel perfectly cozy. A fire place, a fire pit, heck even a few candles count! Flameless candles are a great alternative to actual live flames.
7. Add the Extras.

A cozy blanket to snuggle up with, a device to catch up on your favorite tv series, or a good book to read are the extras needed to hit a home run.

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Using these design tips, our very own Alison also recently created an outdoor living space. I love how she used tip #4, and turned her Autumn landscape into a dreamy setting. Sign me up for Thanksgiving here! Take a peek at how gorgeous it turned out.

Cannes Sofa in Bliss Blue  Cannes Woven Dining Set in Bliss Blue 

 Petite Castle Trellis Outdoor Rug in black
Giveaway to a Cozy Outdoor Living Space
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You can also opt to hire fencing contractors that can help you add in a fence around your outdoor living space. This way, you’ll have privacy where you otherwise would maybe feel that your space is a little invaded. 

*A special thanks to RSTBRANDS, RugsUSA and 1-800lighting for products featured in this post. All opinions and reviews given are our own.