Come tour my outdoor living room that I created in our backyard. The perfect spot for drinking my morning coffee or sipping a glass of wine in the evening.
I am so excited to be joining these beautiful ladies for today’s Outdoor Living Spaces Tour. Just wait until you see the incredible spaces that are linked up. If you came over from Kelley & Co., welcome!
I can’t wait to show you my backyard patio and garden and share some insider tips with you on how I created this designer look for much, much less!
Backyard Outdoor Living Room Ideas
Living in California, we use our outdoor spaces just as much as we use the inside of our home. And since housing prices here in the Bay Area are sky high, making the most of our yard and creating an extension of our home is a must.
While most people use their back patio for outdoor dining, we prefer to create different seating areas for entertaining. We actually never eat outdoors unless it’s sitting out here by the fire pit grazing on small bites.
Having friends and neighbors over happens at least once a week. So, creating an outdoor living room that functions as an extension of our indoor living space makes it more enjoyable when the weather is nice.
And since our backyard patio is pretty large, I chose to create two separate seating areas. This allows for more intimate conversation groupings as well as an area for the kids to hang out on their own.
We tend to start the evening on the sofa and work our way over the fire pit and pull up extra seating as the night goes on.
Outdoor Living Space On A Budget
Decorating and furnishing your outdoor living space can be expensive! I’m sure you’ve gotten those glossy catalogues in the mail with beautifully styled outdoor living rooms and had a bit of sticker shock.
I definitely have champagne taste on a beer budget, lol! But, I want to share with you my favorite tips for getting the look you want without sacrificing style.
Money Saving Outdoor Living Space Tips
There are few different ways you can save money when purchasing furniture and accessories for your outdoor living room.
Shop The Sales
Memorial Day is a big time to save on quality outdoor furniture. End of season sales are also a great time to buy pieces for the next summer.
I tend to buy the accessories like pillows, throws and lanterns during these sales.
Mix and Match
Mix high-end finds with budget friendly versions. Our outdoor living room is a mix of Serena and Lily, Restoration Hardware and Target finds. I love the mix the high and low for a collected feel. Not only does it make it feel more interesting, but it definitely helps to save money.
Shop The Outlets!
My favorite resource for purchasing outdoor furniture is by scouring the outlets. We live by the Restoration Hardware and Serena and Lily Outlets. In the spring I start going once a week to see what items they have for our backyard.
This year, the outlets have been shut down for months! The Serena and Lily outlet just recently opened back up and I hurried in. I was able to find this outdoor sofa at over 75% off the retail price! And the only thing wrong with it was it is missing the back cushions. I simply placed some extra throw pillows on it and it is absolutely PERFECT for our summer outdoor living room.
I also bought a new coffee table on the same trip. Now, you won’t believe the deal I scored on this. The original price was $1198. I got it for $80. Yes, that’s right – $80! See that chip in the bottom right corner? That’s how I got it for such a deal. And given that it will be living outside, I am ok with a discounted piece like this.
Shopping the outlets has saved us so much money and I am able to get the look I want and love without having to fork over these cuties college savings.
Backyard Chickens and Garden Area
Two years ago we decided to get a few backyard chickens. It has been fun and the kids love taking care of them and they have become a part of our family. We currently have 4 chickens. Two Buff Orpingtons, one Silkie and one Light Brahma. We get about 3-4 fresh brown eggs a day.
Backyard chickens are surprisingly easy to care for and they have more personality than they get credit for. One of our chickens, Goldie, comes running whenever we come outside. And the silkie is the sweetest thing ever and loves being held.
The chickens have a large run area. When we first got them we let them roam free but soon learned that they loved to eat all the plants. So, now they have a nice area where they can free-range and every now and then we let them out to eat some fresh grass and catch some bugs.
Thank you for stopping by and touring my outdoor living room and summer backyard. I hope you gathered some good ideas and leave feeling inspired!
Shop Sources from My Backyard
Be sure to visit all the beautiful outdoor living spaces being shared today – all the links are below. Next up on the tour is Kim over at Northern California Style.
More Outdoor Living Spaces
I am so excited to be included in this talented group of designers and bloggers sharing their outdoor spaces today. Click the links below to take the tours and prepare to be inspired!
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kim
Ashley this was so fun to see your pretty yard, I wish I had space for chickens like you. They are so cute too and I love their names. The enclosure is even pretty. You have great ideas for giving the yard a high end look. I wish I was closer to the S&L outlet. What amazing finds!!. I agree with you we have to use the outdoor space as much as we can here in the Bay Area. My space is small too, but I am glad to be able to use the extra room for the kids to spread out. Your family is adorable!! So happy to do this collaboration with you. xo Kim
ashley
Thank you Kim. Yes, we need to make the most of our spaces here in the Bay Area. I so enjoyed touring your beautiful backyard and front porch. Gorgeous details and design!
classic casual home
Everything is so pretty and fresh and comfortable…and those cute kids and chickens are the icing on top! Hey, let’s meet at the Berkeley S&L outlet some time! Thanks for doing this with us Ashley!
Mary Ann
ashley
Yes! Sounds fab!
Juliet
Ashley, I’ve been an admirer of your outdoor space – and chickens – for a long time. I love how you created two seating areas on the patio. Great idea. We are so fortunate to have the outlets … and the new Serena and Lily outlet in Vacaville is huge – yay! Believe it or not I just learned about the RH outlet and will make a bee-line over there. Our landscape works begins on Monday … after a 3 months pandemic delay … and today’s garden tour has provided so much inspiration. Thank you!!! xo
ashley
Thank you Juliet! I can’t wait to see how your yard turns out!
Annie Diamond
Ashley! You really have maximized your living space with adding beautifully designed and comfortable outdoor spaces. I love how in California the lines of indoor/outdoor living really take on new meaning. Your spaces are such a wonderful mix of styles and yet it blends so beautifully and compliments the home’s exterior and the interior too! I’m sure many happy memories are made in these gorgeous spaces!
ashley
Thank you Annie! I had such a fun time putting together this post with such a talented group of women. Thanks for including me!
Gail
What a beautiful, inviting outdoor space. You did a fabulous job and on a budget? Sure don’t look like it. Great job!
ashley
Yep! I love a good hunt for high-end finds at the outlets.
Janet
Oh hello Serena & Lily coffee table that I covet! Next time I’m out visiting my daughter I’ll have to go shopping! Love your garden Ashley…xo
ashley
yes! it’s such an amazing resource!
LA CONTESSA
HELLO!
I CAN GUESS WHERE YOU LIVE BY THE TREES AND OUTLETS!WE ARE IN THE SAME HOOD I THINK OR CLOSE ENOUGH…….as I TOO AM IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA across the BAY BRIDGE.WE also have the chickens and YOU are so LUCKY as we have about TEN LADIES and they are only giving ONE EGG A DAY!ENJOY YOR KIDS………they GROW FAST!When we lived in ITALY the older ladies would tell me that too and I did not believe them as I was so TIRED..BUT it is TRUE!SUMMER IS HERE TODAY!HOT HOT HOT!
ashley
haha! yes it’s kind of a giveaway 😉
as the kids get older that saying rings so true. i wish i could slow down time and stop them from growing up!
cindy hattersley
Sorry, I am late to the party. I babysat for a rambunctious two-year-old (in your hood) yesterday and promptly went to bed when arriving home.. Ashley this outdoor space with it’s bohemian collected look is so fun for a young family. You have done such a great job of combining the high and low and made the combination your own. My daughter lives really close to you and my niece and nephew could be your neighbors! My niece would absolutely adore this space. You two need to meet. I am sure she has been in your store. Thank you so much for sharing your charming space with us. It is pure perfection!
Ginger
Great mix of high and low and love your chickens! The trellised planting on your back fence is very cool too!
ashley
Thank you! My husband has been working on that ivy for years! It is finally coming to life.