How to create an inspired outdoor space that’ll make you swoon
I have decided that I really want to spend more time outdoors this year. Relaxing, inspired, bug free time. So I put it on our budget for this spring to find a gazebo tent with screened sides.
As we searched every online site we could, we ended up finding one that was clearanced out for 1/2 off and ended up being just under $250. SCORE! Step one was complete, now for how to find inspiration.
- I started by finding a shower curtain that I could hang on the back wall. This helped set the mood and color scheme for the decor. I chose a fabric shower curtain for two reasons; a) they are more durable than many fabrics and have been sewn around the edges and hemmed. b) they already have holes cut at the top for a rod (or in our case zip ties).
- Next I found a chandelier at a garage sale. I found this one for $5. It works, it was just a less trendy color of brass. I gathered up other items that I wanted in the tent. A basket for reading magazines, some twinkle lights, etc.
- I found indoor/outdoor spray paint and painted the basket and chandelier in this great deep teal color. (the pictures make them look different but the color of the basket below is more accurate)
- We’ve had a coffee table that I made in high school laying around in our garage for years, so we took that out and decided to add repurposed fending boards to the top. I cut them all down so they overlapped the top by about 3/4″ on each side. I then faux distressed a few boards with some white paint and painted the legs of the table white.
- Now that we had all the pieces, we started assembling it all. My hubby and I strung up the chandelier from the top, center. Then took these great white lightes and strung them around the inside of the top. We made it so both cords met up on the same back corner and we zip tied an extension cord in the corner.
- The original back curtain I had bought wasn’t going to be wide enough, so I found 2 more brown ones on clearance and put those on the sides of the middle one. I love when things work out perfectly; I was looking for something to hang the curtains from in the garage and I found a 1″ piece of pvc piping that was exactly the right length. AMAZING. So I got a bunch of zip ties and I zip tied every other hole to the pole. Then we zip tied the bar to the top of the tent at different points.
- On the table I added one of my hand painted wine bottle torches. This one happens to be one that was used at our wedding reception luau so it holds extra sentimental meaning for us.
Here is our finished results:
A few other side notes – we plan on keeping this gazebo tent together in this part of the yard for years, so we anchor bolted the legs to concrete blocks on each corner. If you have tent sides you could also place those behind the fabric background to add protection from the weather. This tent was going to go in a space right next to our future bunkhouse but instead we decided to put on a different side of our yard that is at the top of a hill so it’s pretty windy. So my hubby put a couple sheets of plywood behind the curtain and anchored them to 2 metal yard stakes. This helps prevent the curtain from blowing around. (similar to if we would have backed it up to a fence or building).
We have this one about 20 feet from our fire pit so it’s incredibly relaxing out there. If possible I highly recommend putting in a part of your yard where you can relax, the original spot we almost put it left us looking at all the projects we still had to work on so we realized it would be as relaxing there.
One more project checked off our list here at the Little house on the hill. We have almost been here 1 year now, it’s hard to believe. We are loving every minute.
Wishing you an inspired day!
