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I’ve finally put a moodboard together for our deck! A few weeks ago I shared with you my DIY patio sofas that I made last summer. In case you missed it you can see that post here. We knew we wanted our deck to be an entertaining space and the DIY sofas were definitely a start. But since we didn’t move in until mid-summer last year, this was as much as we accomplished because other projects took priority (installing a fence for the pups and our DIY kitchen island).

While staring out the window into a snowy abyss and dreaming of summer days, I started brainstorming a color palette and what we specifically wanted for our deck. Our deck is not overly large and with 2 sofas and a grill there’s not a lot of room left. While I would love to reconfigure the deck and make it more open (you see those dark obstructive railings in the background?), it’s just not in the budget with our financial goals this year. We’ll just have to make-do with what we have, and that means multifunctional pieces will be key! Good thing I love items with dual purpose! Shall we break it down then?

1. Color Palette

• The colors of the patio furniture are pretty neutral, so the accents can really be bold
• I absolutely love blue, and navy is a pretty bold coordinating color

2. Pillows!

• I absolutely love these navy square and rectangular pillows from TK Classics and the Greendale Home Fashions accent pillows! Unfortunately the patterned pillows don’t translate well in the vision board, but I definitely think they are a great addition!                                                                                                                     

3. Outdoor Rug

• I was initially thinking of going with a more neutral colored rug, but with the already neutral colored cushions and the large area that would be covered, I thought it would wash everything it out. I really like this rug, but with our dark colored deck, it might be too much. Who knows, maybe I’ll just add a textured neutral colored rug instead!?!?

4. Coffee Table/Dining Table Conversion

• So I absolutely love this coffee table that converts into a dining table that Ana White created! Our deck is not large enough to have a large seating and dining area, so this is the perfect solution! Multipurpose item #1!

5. The X-Stool

• I also love multipurpose item #2! It will mostly be used as an end-table between the two couches for drinks or a plant, but is perfect for extra seating around the coffee table if needed! I even have leftover pavers from the patio we installed at our previous house, so that’s a win! You can find plans here.

6. The Accessories!

• I love lighting! We currently have 2 dull patio lights that don’t really illuminate the backyard for the dogs, but are kind of too bright for chilling on a softly-lit deck at night. I definitely think lanterns and some string lights will soften up the lighting for those long summer evenings!                                                                               

7. Bonus Decor!

• I’d love to try and make a coffee table fire bowl. I think it’d be fun for those chilly fall evenings and for making s’mores (without having a full firepit) 🙂

What solutions have you come up with for your deck or patio? What are some of your favorite summer traditions? For those of you who make vision boards do you utilize a certain app or software? Can’t wait to show you the finished product!