Outdoor Decorating: Our front porch and back deck reveal!

We are outdoor people. 

100%.  A huge part of our lifestyle in the country is not only playing outside but eating, relaxing, exploring, and just being.  Each year when winter rolls around the porch switches from pretty to practical, as we make room for the stacks and stacks of firewood we go through.  

Then just as winter is about to wear out its welcome the porch invites us to play again.  It's an invitation we gladly accept.  The dirt and dreariness of winter get cleared away and a parade of pretty begins to, once again fill the porch. 

There are a few basic requirements for me as I'm decorating.  First, because I love (like a lot) decorating but love my kids and family even more things must be do-able, both time and money wise.  I'm not willing to sacrifice tons of family time for a decorating project. 

Take this table, for instance.  We bought it a few years ago and it was plain brown.  This year we noticed it looked very weathered and not in the good way either.  So we bought some outdoor white paint and gave it a little makeover.  It took a few evenings and a weekend afternoon or two but then we had a totally different looking table, no sanding or stripping off old paint or stain necessary. 

I also like things that can easily be cleaned! 

This "rug" from Lowe's is actually a plastic kind of material and can easily be scrubbed or sprayed off. 

The chalkboard was purchased from the fabulous Natalie, of Natalie Creates, who happens to also be a local friend of mine.  She has a booth at 410 Vintage Market on College with super cute stuff as well if you're local and like her style!

And then my all-time favorite trick when decorating is to layer things up.  I love a magazine photo or real-life setting with lots and lots of layers. Colors tucked here and there, different textures everywhere you look, and things displayed at different heights.  I love a room or space that gives the eye a lot of different places to roam.  

Brett and I spend quite a bit of time on the porch after the girls are in bed.  This whole row of old metal chairs is the perfect spot for us to unwind.  The bucket was one of my most treasured gifts from Brett.  He found it on the farm and brought it up to the house for me.  

Let me fill you in on the rest of the details of the porch: The lamp was a thrift store find with the base spray-painted, the old barn door behind it was found on the farm, as well as the crates.  The Be Brave sign was painted by yours truly, as well as the yellow shutters.  

I sewed the bunting above the windows with oilcloth from Fashion Fabrics Club and the lights are LED and ordered new from Amazon.

Our girl Bouncy had to sneak in for a pic! 

Another favorite decorating trick of mine is to add lights to just about anything! 

I purchased the neatest lights on a copper wire from Amazon and have them wrapped around these branches from the yard.  At night they are just stunning…you can't see the copper wire at all, just tons of tiny little twinkle lights.  The copper wire is great because you can easily wrap it around just about anything without a big plastic cord being bulky and visible.  

We also spruced up the back deck a bit! 

We added an oilcloth tablecloth, cushions and lanterns from Lowe's, and LED string lights from Amazon.

We've already enjoyed a few dinners out here! 

How about you? 

Do you have an outdoor space you love?