With the nicer weather, we are spending more and more time in our backyard, an area that I look to make as inviting as possible and coincidentally, I was chatting with a home decorator friend last week and asked her for some tips.

Below are great suggestions from Christine, of Decor by Christine.

Your outdoor living area should be an extension of your indoor style. The key to success is mapping out a floor plan to ensure you have a furniture floorplan that enhances conversation and entertaining. That would include potentially an outdoor sofa and 2 chairs or a sectional and 2 chairs. The size of the space will guide you to number of seats.

Outdoor rugs are essential when setting up a lounge outside. An area rug will help anchor your entire seating area while adding texture and a pretty ground level pop of colour or pattern. Choose rugs that are all-weather or made of natural materials (like jute or sisal) so they can withstand the elements.

The easiest way to liven up a neutral seating arrangement is by adding eye-catching prints and colours with accent pillows. Have fun and mix up the patterns but try to stick to a two-tone colour palette. This keeps the decor consistent, cohesive and unified.

Add ambiance to your outdoor space by adding outdoor lights and pretty colourful lanterns that add colour during the day and a warm glow in the evening.

Liven up bare areas with outdoor plants and flowers in pretty planters to decorate tabletops and style beside seating.

And last, don't forget about shatter proof glasses and dishware for worry-free outdoor entertaining.'

I’ve already incorporated a good number of these and now that the lockdown has been lightened I’m sure to be out looked to gather some more items to complete this list.

A huge thank you to Christine Da Costa for the information and guiding me in making my backyard a wonderful summer oasis.

ABOUT CHRISTINE DA COSTA

Christine's Design Philosophy is to approach a room like a woman’s outfit: Buy great, timeless pieces that have longevity and accessorize with less expensive items! “Decorate as you dress.” Make this your design motto and you will be successful. Décor by Christine can help you create stylish, yet functional rooms that reflect your personality & style!

In her experience as a designer, Christine knows how to create beautiful, stylish spaces while maintaining tight budgets, balancing multiple priorities, and building relationships with contractors and clients. Christine loves helping design challenged homeowners create stylish, yet functional spaces that reflect their own style and personality.
Christine’s design work has been published in Canadian & US print design magazines. She is also a

design blogger,
has been a Brand Ambassador for Urban Barn,
was design contributor for Dabble Magazine,
has appeared on the national television show Cityline, & CHCH News and the Marc & Mandy Show as a design expert talking about home decor, and
freelanced as a Production Designer on the Property Brothers Show “Buying and Selling” on HGTV & W Network in Canada.

Christine’s background is quite varied…she’s dabbled in theatre and television acting, acquired her fashion merchandising diploma and worked in the fashion industry for a few years before deciding to go back to University and obtaining her Bachelor of Business Commerce and an MBA. After almost 10 years in the marketing field, she decided to pursue her passion of interior decorating and design.
Christine resides in Oakville, Ontario with her family.