The Wardrobe Stylist

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Summer…ahhhh…such a pretty and magical time. Too bad it’s almost over 😦

But not if you’re in Australia. You’re gearing up for it. Oddly enough, it coincides with the holiday season. It seems strange to me to spend Christmas on the beach with barbecues, backyard soirees, and family cookouts. In my part of the world, it’s snow, hot cocoa, reindeers in sleighs, cars getting stuck in snow, and sadly…snow shovelling (yuk!).

Though not all people have it equally in the Northern Hemisphere either. If you’re in Cali or Florida, you get to enjoy the outdoors for pretty much the whole year.

But for those of us in colder (yes much colder that is), we aren’t there yet, and let the summer continue until it’s officially over for us.

Backyard Ideas For The Sunny Days

It’s hard to beat a sunny afternoon with the people you love. Getting the garden in order is a top priority in the spring time for us but now is also not a terrible time to get it ready with all the great sales happening.

If your garden is looking a little shabby or just a bit uninspiring, perhaps you haven’t had the chance to spruce it up earlier this year. Now is not a bad time to start with some basic backyard ideas. There are plenty of fast, affordable ways to reinvigorate it.

This guide will help you transform your garden into a beautiful space for dining and entertaining. It will give you some cool backyard ideas to put into practice.

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Buy Yourself a Heater

Some backyard ideas, like the purchase of outdoor heaters, involve an investment in its future. They work to create an ‘all year round’ space, which doesn’t have to be packed away when summer ends.

If you are fond of using the garden for dinner and entertaining, you could get a lot of value out of an outdoor patio heater. Let me tell you that surely works wonders in the fall when it’s quasi warm but not so much that you could spend hours without getting the jitters.

With these products, it’s possible to keep using the outdoor space, even in the dead of winter (given it’s not -40 degrees celsius). You’ve got ready access to artificial warmth. They are energy efficient, easy to install, and put you in control of the backyard climate.

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Hanging Overhead Lights

Don’t you just love these?? I find they are so boho chic.

Outdoor illumination comes in a huge variety of shapes and forms, but if you’re trying to create a bit of magic and romance, you can’t go wrong with twinkly string lights.

Hang them from your favourite trees or drape them around the garden table for visual warmth. They’re such a pretty element and guess what?? They can double up as Christmas light (I can’t believe I am already referring to Christmas lol).

You can also use post lamps and solar fixtures to create a soft, diffused glow after dark.

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Do a Little Hardscaping

Reclaimed and salvaged stone is ideal for DIY hardscaping projects. For example, if your dining area isn’t already raised on a deck or patio, you can demarcate it by building a dry stack stone wall or border.

If you use high-quality slate or stone and stack the pieces carefully, you won’t need cement. Plus, it’ll add a rustic, country house vibe to your outdoor space.

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Feed a Hungry Lawn

You’ll only need to do this for the next month or so before it starts to turn into a dry, sad yellow tone (again for those of us in the cold, colder, and even colder, climates).

Don’t forget to give your lawn some TLC, because you want the garden to look good for parties and al fresco get-togethers.

This is easier in the summer, but there are still challenges. When temperatures rise, the grass is at risk of dehydration. You may need to water more often. If you have a hose, don’t just spray the surface. Make sure that the soil becomes saturated.

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Create Your Own Furniture

I love this part! It is easier than you might think to create a completely bespoke piece of furniture. Don’t get nervous. For instance:

• two beer or wine barrels make excellent legs
• an old antique door is a good way to add a board, sturdy surface

Just make sure that any wood you keep outside gets regularly sealed and treated. Otherwise, it will become vulnerable to moisture damage.

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Grow Shrubs for Privacy

There are plenty of tall, thin shrubs which make great privacy screens. They include:

• golden privet
• spotted laurel
• Dartmoor
• pendula
• sea buckthorn
• various species of japonica

If you grow these against garden fences, they’ll eventually transform into a low-maintenance, low-visibility barrier against nosy neighbours and any passing traffic.

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The Gist of it

It only takes a few small changes to turn a backyard into a versatile, dynamic outdoor space. After all, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t get the most out of your property no matter what the season.

As long as you are warm, cosy, and protected from the elements, the fun doesn’t have to stop, even when summer draws to a close.

What are some of the backyard ideas you have lined up for your space?

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This is Grace

Grace from Color & Grace. Based in Troy, Michigan, Grace is a 42 year-old petite woman who loves colours. Born and raised in China, she moved to America for love in 2007. Her day job – teacher. Her dream job – fashion blogger. Make sure to go and check out her blog and leave her a comment on her awesome outfit.

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