How Was Your Day

We really enjoy spending time outdoors. At least, we do when it’s not a million degrees outside and the air doesn’t feel like a blast furnace when you step out the door. As you can see, while we have some amazing views, our actual outdoors space is quite limited. Those are some of the trade-offs you make when you live in the city, though. There are some basics that you need for a fantastic outdoor room, and some items that just make it feel luxurious.

The first thing you need is some fantastic patio furniture. Let’s face it – you want to sit down somewhere, right? And preferably not on the ground. Over the years, I’ve run the gamut from that kitschy looking plastic furniture to wood to resin. Heck, we even tried out metal furniture for part of one year. We quickly grew tired of being branded when we sat down. If you live in a really hot climate, you’ll also want some kind of shade covering. We had a pergola when we lived in the desert.

We have a mosaic table and folding wooden chairs currently. And yes, we leave the lights up year round!

If you live in a hot, dry climate, consider adding some misters to your outdoors area. They really cool it down and make it pleasant outside. In the Midwest, it’s much too humid to use them, but in the desert, we loved our misters.

Are you interested in entertaining sometimes? How about an awesome grill? Or even a not so awesome grill? I think just about everything tastes better grilled. As an unexpected bonus, when cooking outside, you’re not heating up your kitchen. Don’t forget the tableware, either. Of course you’ll want some cute and fun dishes that aren’t going to break. Personally, I like really bright colors all mixed up, but, you may like something that’s a little more earthy. Or even something that matches! I dig the eclectic look.

There are a couple of features that are in my ideal backyard. One is a pool of my very own. I’ve always had a pool and I don‘t currently; I didn‘t realize how much I‘d miss it. The other is a lush garden. Lots of plants and greenery are relaxing, and visually add a cool and calming setting.
 

Now that I have shared what turns my backyard into my perfect summer oasis, I want to know what you’ve done to transform your backyard into your oasis. One of my lucky readers will win a $25 Sears gift card!

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This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Sears. The opinions and text are all mine. Official Sweepstakes Rules.