Conversation Set: Hudson’s Bay (similar) l Dining Table: Toronto Leisure Land (same) l Bistro Set: Real Canadian Superstore (similar) l Rug: JYSK (similar) l Black & White Pillows: JYSK (similar) l Green Flamingo Pillows: JYSK (similar) l Flamingo Fabric: Fabricland l Tray: Target (old, similar) l Straws: Michaels (same) l Water Jug: Chapters Indigo l Drink Bucket: Torre & Tagus (similar) l Lantern: Homesense (similar) l Mini Topiaries: JYSK (similar) l Bud Vases: Teatro Verde (similar) l Planters: Terra Greenhouses

This past weekend marked the first opportunity we had to enjoy our newly refreshed patio with good friends. We’ve been using our backyard since last year, but it wasn’t until now that I’ve actually been truly happy with the way that it looks and feels. I’m the kind of person who needs my house – inside and out – to be in perfect condition before I can entertain (totally working on this btw). However, now that my backyard is up to par, I’m really looking forward to many more days and evenings spent outside relaxing with friends and family.

We had our backyard landscaped last summer with a stone patio and tree lined fence, creating a nice and clean living space. I hate walking on grass and refused to spend anytime in our backyard until we had a patio, so the work was complete at just the right time last year when Gemma was born, and I was able to spend some time outdoors with the new baby.

We had purchased this conversation set before we moved into our current home, but the excitement I had when we first put it on the new patio last year was sadly short-lived as the black fabric instantly faded. I was extremely disappointed with the quality of the fabric and when this summer rolled around I dreaded putting the cushions back out because they looked so weathered and unattractive. I knew I need to do something about this if my type-A personality was going to find any enjoyment in our backyard this summer.

So began my design for the backyard. We recently purchased an outdoor dining table for eight, which instantly encourages us to eat more dinners outside and have more people over to enjoy it with us. I’m so happy with how much seating we have outside now  – perfect for hosting lots of people comfortably. I knew I wanted something fresh and fun and of course durable with little kids running around. I love the sleek look of white outdoor cushions, but in reality it’s totally not practical for kids – I would end up having to replace everything all over again – which I definitely didn’t want to do.

After receiving a few quotes for reupholstering my cushions, I quickly realized that it just wasn’t within the budget for this space, so I decided to tackle the project myself. I found the cutest flamingo-print fabric and bought a big bottle of Scotch Guard! I reused the inside padding from the existing cushions and followed my go-to DIY recipe for making the easiest cushions. Here’s my original blog post on the subject: How to Build a No-Sew Bench Cushion

I finished up the space with some cute pillows and a rug that adds some more visual interest. I love how the black and white pattern in the pillows contrast perfectly with the pink flamingo print fabric. After all the cushions were made I sprayed a few good layers of outdoor Scotch Guard over everything to help repel water and hopefully extend the life of the black fabric.

Now that our outdoor space is finally complete and oh so cute –  I can’t wait to entertain more starting with this coming weekend. What do you think of the space? Would love to hear your thoughts!