Skip to Content

Creating Pretty Outdoor Spaces

Hi!  If you know me at all I am not an “outdoorsy” person but I do like creating pretty outdoor spaces to enjoy while being outdoors or to see when I arrive home after work.  It just makes me smile!

 

Creating Pretty Outdoor Spaces - www.michellejdesigns.com - I love to see flowers and pretty outdoor spaces when I look around my house. This is how I create them!

 

Creating Pretty Outdoor Spaces

When we moved into our house 20 years ago the back yard was nothing but a pile of dirt and a bunch of weeds.  I knew I wanted a nice patio area where the boys could play, we could entertain, or just a place to sit and relax.

So we added pavers, a fence with a gate and a nice tree.  We topped it off with a nice piece of play equipment for the boys.  It has been one of the best things we have done to this house.  But maintenance can be a bitch!  LOL!  Of course that is with any yard and landscaping.  It is just not our thing.

There have been times when the weeds behind the garage have been up to my waist.  I kid you not.  But, I have really tried over the last couple of years to keep it up and looking pretty so we can go out there and enjoy it.

I have been looking for an old garden gate to purchase and use as decor but hadn’t found one until this year.  I finally found one and I love it!  So, this is what I did to create these lovely outdoor spaces!

 

Creating Pretty Outdoor Spaces - www.michellejdesigns.com - I love to see flowers and pretty outdoor spaces when I look around my house. This is how I create them!

 

The first one is the most prominent along the side of the house as you walk up to the back door.

This is where my new garden gate is.  It obviously needed something around it.

I purchased some different flowers and greenery and went to work.  Chloe, once again, is my helper.

 

Creating Pretty Outdoor Spaces - www.michellejdesigns.com - I love to see flowers and pretty outdoor spaces when I look around my house. This is how I create them!

 

The boys’ Radio Flyer wagon just sits in the garage so I thought it would make a nice place for a lot of the new plants.  I added some gravel on the bottom for drainage then some potting soil for the plants.  Remember that I am not an experienced gardener.  I just plant what I like.  I do look at the shade/sun requirements on the tags.  I have a lot of shade so full sun plants don’t do well.  The larger pot at the top of the steps in the photo above did not specify so I just took a chance in a part sun/shady area.

 

Creating Pretty Outdoor Spaces - www.michellejdesigns.com - I love to see flowers and pretty outdoor spaces when I look around my house. This is how I create them!

 

I just decided where I wanted everything and planted them into the wagon.  I had some of the plants leftover for more of my outdoor spaces.  But this is what the wagon looked like.

Then I got busy with some pots.  They are mostly by the back door.  But I also wanted on on the other side of the gate.

 

Creating Pretty Outdoor Spaces - www.michellejdesigns.com - I love to see flowers and pretty outdoor spaces when I look around my house. This is how I create them!

 

I like the white plant stand but I am not sure it matches with the wagon and the gate.  I am on the search for a fun wooden chair to put in it’s place.  What do you think?  In the meantime it stays.

I was also able to somewhat hide the little gray box on the side of the house a little bit with the wagon.

I created a fun sign for the gate too.

 

Creating Pretty Outdoor Spaces - www.michellejdesigns.com - I love to see flowers and pretty outdoor spaces when I look around my house. This is how I create them!

 

Creating Pretty Outdoor Spaces - www.michellejdesigns.com - I love to see flowers and pretty outdoor spaces when I look around my house. This is how I create them!

 

I love to see this everyday!  And I am more willing to take of the weeds because I want to keep it looking nice.

Here are some more pics of my outdoor spaces.  I still need to fill the buckets on the fence and one more container but I think I have created an nice place to relax and have a glass (or two) or wine.

 

Creating Pretty Outdoor Spaces - www.michellejdesigns.com - I love to see flowers and pretty outdoor spaces when I look around my house. This is how I create them!

 

And I topped it off with a new, colorful door mat from Lowes.  Pretty, right?

 

Creating Pretty Outdoor Spaces - www.michellejdesigns.com - I love to see flowers and pretty outdoor spaces when I look around my house. This is how I create them!

 

I am hoping these little petunias will fill in around the tree soon.  They are somewhat skimpy right now.

 

Creating Pretty Outdoor Spaces - www.michellejdesigns.com - I love to see flowers and pretty outdoor spaces when I look around my house. This is how I create them!

 

One of my friends gave me some Iris last year.  I had planted some of them on the other side of the fence but never got these got in the ground until now.  They survived outside in the plastic bag all winter and now are happy in their new home.  Above the Iris you can also see my Dollar Store Outdoor Lighting.  These things are still working.  LOL!

 

Creating Pretty Outdoor Spaces - www.michellejdesigns.com - I love to see flowers and pretty outdoor spaces when I look around my house. This is how I create them!

 

Creating Pretty Outdoor Spaces - www.michellejdesigns.com - I love to see flowers and pretty outdoor spaces when I look around my house. This is how I create them!

 

It makes me happy every time I look at them and wonder why I don’t plant more.

If you like this post….as a special treat I have some other outdoor space ideas from my blogging friends you can check out below!  If you have an outdoor space post please feel free to link up and share!

Thanks for stopping by!

Michelle


Barb M.

Thursday 26th of April 2018

Why can't you paint it? Love the white too much to cover? Then use it somewhere else as is. A wooden crate with the plant on top would be very nice in that setting too. If you couldn't find an old one or too expensive, just paint up and distress a newer one. Also, an old stool/chair would work too. I'm sure you're experienced enough at painting so fear of painting can't be the issue. It's easy to spray paint that sort of thing. I just love spending 10 minutes and a can of paint to refresh something almost instantly! I even paint my tomato plant supports! Spray it from the bottom, let dry, then spray from the top. That stand looks old, style wise, but if it's old--the white may be an already refreshed paint job? Looks very white to be original color. Anyway, love your yard!

Michelle

Thursday 26th of April 2018

Hi! No I am not afraid of paint at all. I just like this piece. It iron and sometimes I will clean it up and use it on my front porch or inside and I really like it white. I could always re-paint white too, I guess. Spray paint is one of my favorite products EVER! You have great suggestions. I do think a chair or a ladder would be fun.

Barb M.

Wednesday 25th of April 2018

Very pretty! Not a bad price at all for the gate--they all run high, usually more than that. I love the little round white plant stand, but it just needs some spray paint on it (even if plastic coated, just get paint for plastic) so it's more in tune with the rest--red, dark green, black or other. It's a darling little stand. Great back yard for a family! P.S. Not sure why my comment is in all caps, my caps key is not on. Maybe it changes when it posts as no one else's is??

Michelle

Wednesday 25th of April 2018

Thanks Barb. For some reason when people type a comment it is in all caps but when it finally gets posted it is not. This theme is weird. LOL! I found the little white stand at flea market type thing. I do love it. I have to agree that a different color would make it pop but I just can seem to paint it. LOL!

Susan

Saturday 14th of April 2018

I love all of this but esp the sign and the gate! very clever

Michelle

Tuesday 17th of April 2018

Thank you Susan!! I love that gate. I was so excited to get it a yard sale. It was $35 but worth it to me.

Claire | Heart HAndmade UK

Monday 29th of May 2017

I lOVe the radio flyer wagon! super cute x

Michelle

Tuesday 30th of May 2017

Thank you Claire. I just got it planted again for this year and can't wait to share it again!

Sue

Thursday 9th of June 2016

I have been waiting to see your gate and adore it. It makes me think of slower times and just happy thoughts. OMG your yard with the fence, pavers and tree is so wonderful. I would love a private area like that as ours is all open. Everything looks wonderful that you did.

Michelle

Thursday 9th of June 2016

Thanks Sue. We worked hard back in the day when we were much younger and I am loving it now. It is a nice place to hang out when the bugs aren't too bad. Lol

Show Buttons
Hide Buttons