If you’re spending most of your time inside during the warmer months, then you’re wasting the space in your yard! Outdoor areas are great places to entertain or just relax while enjoying the sun and fresh air, but they won’t seem like good places to be without some good outdoor decor. Just as with indoor areas, planned outdoor decor makes the difference between a bland, boring area and one that’s a pleasure to be in. If you find yourself stumped by how to put together some outdoor decor that works, here are some tips:

Define Your Space

One of the key things in outdoor decor, just as with indoors, is that you will be much more successful in pulling everything together if you define the outdoor space that you’re working with. Just as indoors, an arrangement of furniture helps to define a living room, or a rug below your dining room table helps define an essentially open space, such techniques will help outside. For instance, grouping chairs together around a small table on your patio will help to define a sitting area, or a canopy above will better mark the area where people should go to sit and relax or eat.

Use Lighting

Whether indoors or out, day or night, lighting is important, since it helps you to see what you’re doing. For outdoor decor, you will want to work with both blocking the sun to reduce light on hot days and create shade, and also lighting your outdoor living areas at night. For the former, a large umbrella or canopy will work well for you, but it’s at night where your options open up. For a tropical flavor, go for tiki torches or for a splash of color try some Japanese lanterns. Also, citronella candles keep away insects away, but careful placement to add light will also help your outdoor decor.

Add Color

A lot of the outdoor furniture that you’ll find out there is sturdy and usually fairly comfortable, but is also often not very colorful. To add a splash of color that will add to your outdoor décor, buy furniture cushions that are made for outdoor furniture. Not only will you likely bring some added comfort to some already-great furniture, but the added color will help to pull your outdoor decor together as a whole. Similarly, add colorful plants or artwork like vases that also add to the color and brighten your outdoor living area. With a little work and a creative eye, your enhanced outdoor decor will make it much more fun to be outside during the warm months.