Lawn Chairs In Living Room
Brian Patrick Flynn
Summer is sadly coming to an end, but your outdoor furniture can live on! You spent all this time expertly curating your ideal outdoor area, so it would be shame to just bid it adieu. Today, I'm teaching you different ways to use your outdoor furniture indoors. Let nothing be wasted.
Personally, I like to switch out my decor seasonally. Not all of it, so don't freak out, but enough to give me a nice change. If you follow me on Instagram, you know that I just spent weeks selling all of my extra decor. I live in NYC, so I no longer had room to store decor and furniture in my only two closets.
The amount of extra art, chairs, desks, decor items, lamps, etc was a little insane for the amount of space I had to work with. I'm not a hoarder, I just collect items for the future when I have a larger space. But, isn't that what a hoarder would say?
I'm telling you this to give you an idea of how important I think it is to curate a mini "design warehouse", if you will, in your own home, however large or small. That way, you can always shop your own home if you want to change things up! Brilliant idea, right?
So, when the time comes for you to move your outdoor furniture into storage or put it under a cover for the winter, take an extra look and see how it can be repurposed. It's basically "free" furniture for the taking! Ok, not free, but you get it; you're giving your stuff a second life. So let's see how we can use our outdoor furniture indoors to spice up our space.
10 Ways to Use Your Outdoor Furniture Indoors
1. Reuse plants + pots
Casa Watkins
Ok, plants and pots are technically not furniture, but I'm including them because I am a big advocate of using living things in your interiors. Also, the transition from summer to fall can be kind of daunting. The colors and life of the summer fade so suddenly as cooler temps move in. A better way to transition is to see what plants and planters can be moved inside safely.
You want to only move in plants that will tolerate the change in light and temperature. Basically, a full sun plant won't thrive indoors, but if you have a shady spot or medium light spot in your garden, those plants might enjoy the extra life you give them.
If you have pots outdoors, chances are you filled them with potting soil, so they can move right indoors without an issue. What I do when reusing soil is get a nice organic fertilizer and some compost to beef up the nutrient profile of the soil that might be a bit depleted, and then go to town planting!
Let's say all of your plants are annuals that need full sun. Well, friend, you cannot reuse the plant, but you can take the pot! You can replace your pots of annuals with an indoor friendly plant. Make sure you clean off all dirt on the outside of the pot and check for bugs.
CB2
If your pot has drainage holes, then get a saucer. If your pot doesn't have drainage holes, fill the bottom 2 inches with small rocks to prevent root rot. Root rot is when the soil doesn't have enough drainage and the roots rot from being too moist.
Planters are expensive, right? So, why not get more use out of them? You can flip a pot upside down to create a fun plant stand, night stand, or side table. It sounds crazy, but consider what a garden stool looks like; it's basically the same thing, just not $200.
2. Bring outdoor pillows inside
Doris Leslie Blau
Outdoor pillows are perfect for seasonal transitions. You're not quite ready to give up the brightness of summer, and certainly don't want to add fall decor, so adding some outdoor pillows indoors is your answer. It's a great way to brighten up your interiors and make the seasonal transition easier.
Just give those pillow covers a good wash, and add them anywhere in your home! These covers are virtually indestructible, so you can get creative. Add them to a kid's playroom, the floor for a boho area, kitchen/dining chairs, a side chair, your sofa, your bed, anywhere that could use a bright pick me up.
3. Switch up your sofas
CB2
Outdoor furniture has come a long way. Now, you have so many stylish selections that don't even look like outdoor furniture. If you have a storage area, why not use your outdoor furniture indoors? Most outdoor sofas and chairs have nice cushions and are made of wood or iron, so they are perfect for indoors!
If you're hesitant about swapping out your sofa or love seat in your actual living room, think of a space that could use some fluffing up. Is there a sad basement? A neglected family room? A play room that remains empty? Use those big ticket items to give your current space a new purpose. Coming from someone with less than 600 square feet of space, you wanna use that square footage, ya'll!
4. Put your outdoor rug in the kitchen
Apartment Therapy
I actually wrote a couple blog posts about using outdoor rugs indoors. I have had the same outdoor rug in my kitchen for over 5 years and it still looks brand new with zero damage. So, I highly recommend putting outdoor rugs in high traffic areas of the home if you want something that is super durable.
5. Use outdoor cushions for an indoor meditation space
The Citizenry
Many outdoor pillows are oversized. The reason? So they can also act as seating. The fabric is already stain resistant, so throw those babies on the floor and create a meditation area for yourself!
Even I, in my tiny NYC apartment have a designated meditation area. I recently redecorated and now I think I'm going to get some cushions to create a meditation nook. Self care is so important, so give yourself the gift of a cozy are to get your zen on.
6. Create a nook
Casa Watkins
I am all about that NOOK LIFE. Nooks are my jam. I think it's because as a New Yorker, it is so ingrained in me to make use of every square inch of space. So, transforming an unused and forgotton corner into something delightful makes my heart soar.
Consider any empty space in your home that could benefit from a "nook transformation", if you will. An accent chair with a pillow and throw blanket can do wonders. Could you create a reading nook anywhere? Does your living room need additional seating? How about your dining area?
Nooks are great because by definition, they are tiny spaces. Look around your home and see if you can move any outdoor furniture indoors and create an instant conversation area!
7. Pepper in some side tables
Brian Patrick Flynn
Think about your master bedroom; is there a corner that could use some love? A chair and a side table is all you need to create a quiet space for calm. A place for coffee, for AM/PM reading, or even just a place to put on your shoes and check the weather. All you need is a side table and a dream (lol).
I mean, look at the space above…can you tell whether it's indoors or outdoors? Exactly.
8. Create your own garden room
Brian Patrick Flynn
I love Brian Patrick Flynn is the master at creating insanely welcoming interiors as well as outdoor spaces that are just as inviting. If you're unfamiliar, he is the designer of all the HGTV dream and outdoor oasis homes. Every one of these homes comes with an outdoor space, obviously, and Brian has this uncanny ability to make an outdoor space feel like an extra room inside the home.
If your home doesn't come with an indoor/outdoor space, then create your own! Get some inspo from Brian, bring your outdoor furniture indoors, and style like crazy. If you need styling help, check Brian's Instagram for loads of inspiration. You can literally redecorate your entire space using only what your currently have!
Can't think of a space to transform? Well, what about your formal dining or living area? Barely anybody uses formal dining rooms or formal living rooms anymore, so chances are, you do have an extra space to spare that you're not aware of. Give that space a new life and a purpose instead of just being a place to have holiday dinners a few times a year.
9. Change your dining chairs
Urban Revival Phx
Chairs are the workhorses of the home, and the good news is that outdoor chairs are even more durable! You can swap out your current dining chairs in favor of something bright, patterned, or textured. Most dining tables people flock to are wood, which matches basically everything. So the chances of you being able to completely switch up your look without looking crazy is pretty good.
Don't have a dining area or are too in love with your chairs to switch? That's okay! Your seating area doesn't even have to be in the dining room; you can set up a new crafting area or work space. Hello, new home office!
10. Get coastal
Brian Patrick Flynn
We've talked about adding outdoor furniture indoors for the sake of bringing some color and pattern to your space, but what if you're a neutral lover? It's okay; you don't have to hide. If you love neutrals, then chances are you did not choose colorful outdoor decor. You probably flock more towards your wickers and weathered woods.
So, what can you do with those? Get coastal! And no, coastal decor isn't tacky…well, most of it. I'm not advocating for the placement of coral and anchors everywhere, but when tastefully done, the coastal vibe just makes you feel serene and at peace. Lovely, right?
So bring your coastal outdoor furniture indoors! You're actually pretty lucky because if you are a neutral person, you don't have to use too much brain power to figure out if things will mesh…because I'm 90% sure they will.
Let's bid summer farewell in the most stylish way possible.
-Kristen
More inspiration
- Jenny Komenda's Evergreen House Kitchen Reveal
- How Interior Design Affects Your Mood
- Emily Henderson's Portland Project Reveal
- How to Reupholster a Chair Easily
Source: https://obliquenewyork.com/2019/08/21/10-ways-use-outdoor-furniture-indoors/
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