The Makings of a "Lux" Patio - A Lux Life by Au Brey

Fall is here! Cooler days mean having an enjoyable, relaxing outdoor space! After an official year of living in our new home and a visit from my mom, we decided it was time to focus on our patio deck. My mom advised I get a patio set for our deck the first of March. Little did I know, taking advantage of this space means so much more due to “quarantine living” brought about by a global pandemic. Our home technically has two outdoor living areas, but our “Lux” spot is our quaint patio area (my daughter regularly insists that her daddy takes her “outside”). With so many individuals spending more time at home and investing in home improvement projects, I hope this post provides a bit of patio inspiration.

Before our shopping adventure began, my mom asked, “What color scheme are you looking for?” To her question, I quickly replied “black and white” (providing such a definitive answer is not always my strong suit, just ask my husband). To my reply, my mom offered a perplexed look and responded, “I am not sure you will find such a specific color, but let’s go shopping.”

I envisioned a black patio set since we moved into our home. I desired something timeless, that could be expanded with additions and flow seamlessly with varying styles (I will provide more insight on this below). My exact patio set was purchased from At Home and is now sold out, consistent with most home improvement stores due to the pandemic. However, I provided a link below for a similar option available on Amazon (I have provided as many exact matches as possible in my post along with similar alternatives below). As a reminder, I purchased based on the size of my patio.

Black and white pillows, rug and umbrella accents are a mixture of At Home and Amazon links. This color pattern provides classic fare and chic style.

I brought in pops of colors with colorful pillow accents. Often, home decorators/stylists recommend accent pillows to style a space. I agree completely, but you may not always have the budget to buy new accent pillows with every home refresh project. For instance, I was inspired to add a pop of color to my set with multi-color pillows I located at Crate & Barrel (inspiration picture provided below). Instead of splurging on their “gorgeous” pillows, I researched pillow covers on Amazon. I linked below the covers I located and loved just as much to achieve my design. Not only was it cost effective, but I was able to repurpose old throw pillows. Patio furniture endures many elements, with this cost saving trick I can keep the look fresh and clean. I recommend this for your indoor and outdoor throw pillows to refresh any space (and for those with little ones or pets, you can throw the covers in the washing machine at any time). Now, you do not have to have a closet full of throw pillows and you can easily change up your look.

Speaking of enduring the elements, I recommend purchasing an outdoor furniture cover for your patio furniture (we are already on our second one). It provides protection, cleanliness and a longer life span for your furniture. With a cover you are ready to enjoy your outdoor area at any moment. I did not include a picture, but a link is provided below.

I also recommend a storage box (as seen in the second photo) to store your patio essentials from candles, pillows, rugs, lanterns, flowers, children toys, etc. My storage box even doubles as a bench for an additional seating option. Not to mention, having these accents helps make the space your own. Behind our home are tons of trees, great for privacy, not so great for bugs. An easily accessible citronella candle and chic Tiki torch repellant are a must. One patio essential I included is an indoor/outdoor serving tray because serving your guests a lovely cocktail is a must for enhanced relaxation.