Our neighborhood Lowe’s sees me a LOT. The friendly employees usually find me in the garden and paint center, and they’re always curious about my next project. Almost a year ago we began to make over our back porch (or lanai, as some Floridians refer to this outdoor area). You may remember some progress pictures from this post.
We bought concrete paint from Lowe’s and gave the concrete slab a major facelift. It made a huge difference to the space and the concrete looked brand new. We also screened-in the area to be able to enjoy the outdoors without mosquitos and other biting insects. We also ordered a patio set online that, and while it was aesthetically pleasing, we learned (the hard way) why you should never order outdoor furniture without trying it out in person.
Our old patio set had metal support bars running right the rattan wicker seats. The once-perky 3″ cushions also flattened to 1″ in about 3 months of heavy use, making the bars easily felt, and it made our poor guests uncomfortable! I spent months researching thicker foam padding inserts to make the old set work, but money-wise new inserts were cost-prohibitive (as I would also have to buy fabric AND sew new seat covers) so it just made sense to buy a new patio set. Ever since then, we we’ve been on the lookout for a comfortable set on a budget. So when I was approached by Lowe’s to collaborate on an outdoor project, I knew immediately what I needed to buy: a new patio set! During one of our trips to Lowe’s we noticed this set and fell in love. I am so excited to share with you our new outdoor oasis!
Isn’t it gorgeous? What we love about our new patio set is that it is SO COMFORTABLE! There are no metal bars running under the seat. Folks, this is super important! Quality wicker furniture will be strong enough to withstand hours of sitting without metal bars under the seats. This set from Lowe’s actually cost us less than our first set! Live and learn, right? Lowe’s delivered it quickly right to our driveway, so we didn’t have to worry about bringing it home.
In addition to making sure there aren’t metal bars under the seats, you also have to consider the thickness of the cushions. Our Lowe’s set is verrrry thick at about 5″ high, and the cushions are also firm yet soft. I’ve seen similar sets cost roughly 6x the amount we paid for our set from Lowe’s.
According to color psychology, blue is a color of peace and order. It’s why you will find shades of blue throughout our home. It reminds me of peaceful, tranquil waters. Our favorite vacations and past times have always involved water, so it makes sense to bring that calmness and tranquility into our home wherever we can.
I love having neutral backdrops and accenting with color, because if I ever want to change things up, I don’t have a particular color to work around (ie. rugs, seat cushions, etc). When I saw these throw pillows at Lowe’s I knew they were coming home with me. The Maryland Blue Crab throw pillow is a nod to Brian’s home state. Most of my family also lives in Maryland, so these pillows were meant to be ours! They pair nicely with the allen + roth Geometric Square throw pillows, currently on sale for $4.98! They remind me of water bubbles rising to the surface, and I can almost hear the Jamaican beats of Under the Sea when I look at them.
My husband absolutely loves sitting by an open fire. I, on the other hand, am not particularly fond of smoke staying in my hair, clothes, and skin. After a short stint with a wood burning fire pit leaving burnt circles on our lawn, I knew a compromise had to be made. For that reason we bought this gorgeous propane fire table from Lowe’s. Brian enjoys a nightcap before the fire, and I can actually join him and not suffer smoke inhalation. It’s a win-win! When we’re not using it as a fire pit, we can put the lid on and use it for placing refreshments and entertaining.
Last, but not least, every patio needs some greenery. Plants help soften the harsh corners of a patio. At the moment I have my fiddle leaf figs on the patio, but I foresee other tropical plants replacing them when the weather gets hotter. These fiddle leaf figs were also a purchase from Lowe’s last year, and they have grown quite a lot since then!
If you need more fabulous outdoor oasis ideas, I found Lowe’s Patio Guide an invaluable resource for planning. Some of the items we ended up with are in there, and I already have ideas for updating other parts of our yard! I can’t wait to see what you come up with.
Now, who wants to come down and visit us in Florida?
