Summer Entertaining is Over. Start Planning for Next Year! #HGTVCanada

It’s not everyday a celebrity gives me tips on my home and outdoor space. I’m extremely excited to share with you a few inspired backyard design ideas from HGTV’s Sarah Baeumler based on my own backyard! Read on to check out Sarah’s thoughts:

Now that outdoor entertaining is nearly over, get ahead of the game and start planning for next year! Over the winter, as you dream about outdoor BBQs and family gatherings, think about how you can make the most out of your outdoor living space. Consider its layout and size to help you design a customized entertaining oasis that’s more functional, comfortable and most importantly – affordable!

This past summer, I teamed up with PegCityLovely’s Natalie Bell to provide some simple design ideas to help her revamp her hosting space for next season. Natalie already has the perfect backyard for entertaining – spacious, lots of greenery and a large deck area. With just a few adjustments and decorative additions next, she’ll have the backyard oasis that everyone on her block will be raving about!

Natalie’s Current Outdoor Living Space – deck

Natalie’s Current Outdoor Living Space

Area Rugs

Area rugs are a great way to add a pop of colour, create a fun and comfortable environment and separate seating areas from each other. For Natalie’s space, I would use two area rugs to separate the dining area from the seating area – creating two different areas for friends to mingle.

Planters

Outdoor planters are a great way to add natural shade and privacy to the backyard. I suggest placing a few low maintenance planters on the corners of the deck. By keeping them off to the sides, it will keep the area looking clean and avoid a trip hazard in a heavy foot traffic area. To keep planters looking like new and revive them after a long winter, use a good versatile cleaner like OxiClean.

Pillows

Bright colours and patterns add life to any space. Try mixing contrasting colours in deep and vibrant hues like oranges and greens to pull colours from the planters and rugs to create a fun and inviting backyard space. Purchasing outdoor pillows that are machine washable or have removable, washable covers makes them easy to clean after spills and guests. To keep the colours looking clean and bright, I’d recommend OxiClean Liquid Laundry detergent.

Furniture Arrangement

Rearranging furniture is a simple and costless way to create more room for hosting! For Natalie, I’d start by tucking both the umbrellas into the corners of the deck to open up the sitting area space and prevent them from being a tripping hazard.

To help the conversation flow easier around the sitting area, I recommend moving the love seat against the glass rail, placing the two chairs across from it with the coffee table in the middle. I would also place two additional chairs near BBQ side of the deck to create another great mingling area.

I cannot wait to incorporate Sarah’s ideas next summer!

Sarah Baeumler
Biography

Sarah Baeumler is an inspiration to busy moms and go-getters everywhere! As a proud mom of four, supportive wife and co-host of her husband’s HGTV show, House of Bryan, she’s found a way to balance her hectic schedule and still pursue her passions – one of which being home entertaining.

Entertaining friends and relatives is so integral to Sarah’s life that when she and her husband worked together to build a custom home for their family, ample entertaining space for welcoming guests was a major deciding factor in the design – leading them to opt for comfort and functionality which, according to Sarah, are essentials for hosting great get-togethers.

Her attention to detail, inviting living space and knack for design have made her home and outdoor living space a gathering hub for friends and relatives looking for great company and memorable experiences.

Sarah’s reputation as the ‘hostess with the mostest’ is proof that anyone can find the time to entertain at home while juggling a family and career. With a few simple tips and hacks for entertaining the kids and simplifying her party prep and clean-up, Sarah has much more time to enjoy good food and plenty of laughs with her loved ones.

Do you have any additional tips to add to Sarah’s fabulous suggestions?