Summer Patio Tour – Our Napa Inspired Side Yard

It’s summer and I’m so excited to start using our outdoor spaces more! We have updated our side yard into a welcome retreat. Come tour my Napa inspired summer patio!

You can see the full details on my summer front porch and patio tour by clicking here.

Summer Patio Tour

Because we live in the San Francisco Bay Area, Napa Valley is less than an hour drive away. We love to visit Napa and get inspired by the design and culture there! Our climate is arid and hot in the summer months, with no rain. So, replicating the aesthetic that is Napa style is an easy transition for our summer patio.

If you follow me on Instagram, you may have seen the transformation that occurred this spring on our side yard. Because of all the rain we had this winter, this area was covered in weeds that were knee high! I used an extra strength vinegar to kill the weeds and spent weeks rehabilitating this area to get it ready for summer.

The ground is made of decomposed granite (or crushed granite) which we installed a few years ago. It is so easy to maintain and I love the look and feel that it offers in place of cement. But because it is still a dirt ground, the weeds grow through easily. Eek!. I have a sprayer of gardening vinegar that I try and use weekly to eliminate any new growth.

Garden Patio Decor

Click here to see what my summer patio looked like last year!

This summer I wanted to move these Serena & Lily chairs to the side yard. I knew I wanted to create an intimate area surrounding our fire pit. I have had these chairs for 4 years and they have held up so well!

And for those asking, “What happens when it rains?!?!”. We rarely, if ever, get any rain from May through November. Unfortunately that’s why the state of California is always in a drought. But, the good news is my outdoor furniture stays dry! Also, these chairs are slipcovered. I wash the covers after each season when we store them for the winter.

Ok, back to my summer patio, when I was recently at the Serena and Lily outlet (which is in Berkeley), they had another one of these chairs for a steal! I’m talking almost 90% off!!! So I have added this orange chair to this area and love having the extra seating!

We love gathering here amongst the garden beds and twinkle lights. And this fire pit is one of favorite spots to gather around. Our family loves to have s’mores night when the weather is warm enough!

Be sure to check out this post for my DIY S’mores Gift Basket – perfect for summer parties!

To add to the Napa-inspired vibe in this summer patio, I planted these terra cotta pots with a combination of French Lavender, Silver Thyme and Oregano. It smells amazing too! The best part about these pots is that they can handle the hot summer sun! This area gets a lot of it too.

Raised Garden Beds

We created these raised garden beds after we first moved in almost 10 years ago! They have held up really well and each year we look forward to growing fresh fruit and vegetables in them. We have grown everything from strawberries to every variety of lettuce!

There’s really nothing better than growing your own organic produce. Each year we fill the beds with fresh organic soil and plant our vegetable from seedlings. These large stakes have worked wonderfully for our tomatoes. This area gets so much sun that the tomatoes always outgrow the traditional cages, so we improvised and use these landscaping stakes.

My husband is very diligent about going out and tying up the plants each week to support the growth on the vines.

This summer we will have a great crop of heirloom tomatoes – I can’t wait!

And there’s something about hanging out in this summer patio amongst the vegetable garden that I just love! It is definitely a small area, but the perfect spot for a glass of wine and intimate conversation.

How Do You Create An Outdoor Living Space?

Since we live in California, where 6-7 months of the year are hot, we spend a lot of time using our summer patio areas. Our house isn’t huge, so making the most of our backyard, side yard and front porch are important to us. We spend a lot of time outside when the weather is mild outside. Each of our outdoor spaces are designed with comfort in mind.

Here are some tips for creating an outdoor living space:

• Choose furniture that is comfortable
• Make the layout intimate and cozy
• Add lighting (lanterns, hanging string lights or a fire pit)
• Use a rug to ground the space
• Use potted plants to decorate the space

Summer Patio Sources

I may receive a small commission when you click my links to make a purchase. However, this does not impact what I choose to highlight on my blog. This also helps my blog run free to you! 

More Outdoor Summer Patio Ideas

Today I’m joined by over 20 of my talented blogging friends who are also sharing their outdoor spaces with you…

The Happy Housie // Place of My Taste // Rooms FOR Rent // Two Twenty One // Hallstrom Home

Taryn Whiteaker Designs // Modern Glam // Inspiration for Moms // The DIY Mommy // Life is a Party

The Handmade Home // Lolly Jane // Finding Silver Pennies
// All Things With Purpose // She Gave it a Go

Clean & Scentsible // My Sweet Savannah // Maison de Cinq // Amber Tysl // Lemon Thistle

Southern State of Mind // This is Our Bliss

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ashley

Hi I’m Ashley, wife and mom of 2 young kids. Here, I hope to inspire you by sharing my favorite home decor ideas, easy DIY projects and simple but delicious recipes (sometimes they are pretty healthy too)!

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