As spring unfurls its vibrant colors and invites us to revel in its warmth and sunshine, it’s a joyous change from the winter’s hibernation. This season, nature renews itself, and it’s the perfect time for us to breathe new life into our outdoor living spaces. Let’s extend the spring cleaning ritualfrom our interior living quarters to the yard, porch, and patio, transforming these areas into inviting and comfortable extensions of our homes.

Getting the yard ready

Before diving into any decorative projects for your porch or patio, it’s essential to begin with the basics: your yard. Firstly, clearing away any remaining leaves, trimming the grass, and preparing the soil for new plantings are crucial initial steps. This foundational work lays the groundwork for transforming your outdoor living area and provides a clean slate for your creative endeavors.

Assess what you already have

Now that your yard is in order, shifting focus to your porch and patio is in order. Reflect on whether you aim to rejuvenate your current decor or start afresh. Regardless of your outdoor space’s size, it’s vital to contemplate how to make it functional. You can gradually introduce new elements or entirely revamp your space. When retrieving your furniture and decor from storage, evaluate whether your current pieces require a refresh or if it’s time for a change that better complements your outdoor lifestyle.

Treat yourself to new patio furniture

If your patio furniturefeels a bit outdated, why not indulge in a new set? Spring cleaning is not just about tidiness, it’s about rejuvenation and reimagination. Consider your seating, entertainment, and decoration needs, and imagine how new elements can elevate the ambiance of your patio. This could be the year to pamper yourself with plush outdoor sofas made with weatherproof fabrics, vibrant throw pillows, and cozy blankets, creating a luxurious outdoor retreat.

Let us help with your outdoor living space

Consider enlisting Michelle Jett’s expertise for those seeking a genuinely transformative outdoor space. Embrace the full potential of spring by dedicating your time to outdoor leisure, confident that a professional is tailoring your space to reflect your personal style and comfort. After a consultation to understand your vision and preferences, Michelle will create a customized plan, ensuring the outdoor living area of your dreams becomes a reality.

Call 877-538-8332 or Contact Us

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The post Spruce up for Spring appeared first on Michelle Jett - Decorating Den Interiors.

Want to learn how to design your home for hosting? Get a pen and paper to take notes, and let’s begin!

Make Your Entryway Breathtaking

Besides your front door, the entryway is the first thing guests will see inside. Make them feel comfortable by creating a super inviting entry room or foyer. Use bright colors and pleasant decor to liven up the space. Include some items that show consideration, including hooks for jackets and purses, seating for guests to remove their footwear, and a rug to wipe their shoes on and keep their feet warm. On top of being welcoming to guests, your entryway should also have that “wow” factor. Impress family and friends with your style by including a gorgeous chandelier and a beautifully accessorized cabinet by the main entrance.

A cozy space to sit will make your guests feel at home.

Have Plenty of Seating

Consider how your guests will use your space and include many furnishing options where they’ll likely spend the most time. From sofas and chaise lounges to poofs and recliners, there are several options for having enough places for your guests to kick their feet up. Don’t leave anyone standing uncomfortably without a place to sit by using the space wisely and strategically placing accommodations throughout the house.

Set the Mood: Use Ample Lighting

A great lighting fixture can make or break any room, so ensure you have the proper lighting based on each room’s usage and needs. For instance, the kitchen should include bright lights over the island and slightly softer lighting above your dining room table. But your living room should have a range of brightness options for different activities. Have some lamps you can click on for movie watching and overhead lights that can shine when playing board games or reading. Avoid having one harsh light you’re forced to use in every situation.

Your kitchen island is a useful place for extra seating and serving space.

Utilize Your Kitchen Island

If your dining room table isn’t necessarily built for large crowds, set up an overflow table on your kitchen island. This ensures that everyone can still see each other and speak without yelling from a different room while filling their tummies. You can also use the island to have guests serve themselves buffet-style to create an organized traffic flow through the room — ensure things are within reach of younger family members. Lastly, the kitchen island can provide extra counter space for a large meal prep station.

A guest room will ensure your family or friends have a restful night.

Always Have a Guest Space Ready

Whether you’re sure people are spending the night or not, it’s always a safe bet to have a guest room ready and available in case the evening runs longer than expected. The best hosts always have additional space and a warm bed for guests (pull-out and air mattresses included). Have clean bedding, towels, and toiletries on hand, and invest in a comfy guest bed setup to ensure anyone staying the night can sleep soundly and has everything they need. If you have the space, having side tables, bookshelves, chairs, and other furniture is also beneficial to make the space feel even more like home.

Get Professional Help From Michelle Jett – Decorating Den Interiors

There’s a fine line between a home suitable for guests and one overly crowded with unnecessary furniture. Stay on the right side by getting a personal decorator to help you. We know what makes people tick, and we can use that knowledge to create a space that hits the mark every time.

From soothing colors to the perfect guest bathroom, working with a personal decorator can ensure you mark off all the boxes for the ideal hosting space. Just reach out to one of our designers to get started!

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Outdoor Kitchen: Take Dining Al Fresco to a Whole New Level

Why limit your outdoor dining experience to carrying food from the kitchen to the patio? Instead, embrace the concept of an outdoor kitchen and elevate your back patio into a bistro-inspired retreat. Consider adding a grill or a kitchen nook with running water under a charming pergola. This shift in theme will provide a delightful ambiance for enjoying meals with family and friends after a long day.

Edible Garden: Grow Your Own Bounty

While flowers add beauty to your yard, why not take it a step further by creating an edible garden? Involve the whole family in planting and nurturing a variety of vegetables. It becomes an engaging project that everyone can contribute to, and you’ll have the joy of harvesting and enjoying the fruits (and vegetables) of your labor together.

All-Ages Playground: Fun for Everyone

Playful spaces aren’t just for kids. Transform your backyard into an all-ages playground that brings joy to every family member. Set up a courtyard equipped with entertaining yard games like bean bag toss, bocce ball, ring toss, and horseshoes. This inclusive approach ensures everyone can participate and have a blast together.

Backyard Movie Theater: Cinematic Delights under the Stars

Why confine your movie-watching experience indoors when you can create a captivating outdoor movie theater? You can enjoy your favorite films under the starry sky with a blank wall or a large screen, a projector, and some cozy patio furniture, or simply mounting a TV outside. Enhance the atmosphere by investing in comfortable seating, surround sound, and cozy accessories like throw pillows and blankets.

Get Started with Decorating Den Interiors:

To turn your backyard dreams into reality, reach out to Michelle Jett Decorating Den Interiors today. Benefit from a complimentary consultation with a personal decorator who will understand your style preferences and analyze the available space. We will work closely with you, presenting ideas, creating blueprints, and executing the project flawlessly. Your input and feedback will shape the final result while our decorators takes care of the rest.

Don’t miss the opportunity to maximize your outdoor space this season. Contact Michelle Jett Decorating Den Interiors today and embark on your backyard transformation journey.

The post Elevate Your Outdoor Living Space: Trendy Ideas for Summer Entertainment appeared first on Michelle Jett - Decorating Den Interiors.

Before you make any Sunday plans, however, you need to assess your family room and adjust seating and lighting accordingly to accommodate your guests. While we’re a couple of months into the football season, there are plenty more game days left until it comes to a close! Here are a few ways to prepare your family room for future football get-togethers:

Start with the seating

If it’s just you and maybe one other person, you can get away with nothing more than a couch. Once you start adding guests into the mix, however, things get a little bit more tricky. You’ll want to make the TV the focal point of the furniture arrangement, so make sure every seat has a good view of the action. As the sofa will likely be the biggest seating area in the room, set it up directly parallel to the television. Then, add chairs on either side of it. Consider arranging at least one group of chairs that allows people who might not be watching to have quiet conversations.

If space permits, a sectional is a great way to combine versatility and relaxation. These pieces are easy to re-arrange when needed, making it a cinch to go from family night to game day.

With larger rooms, you might want to consider creating two separate areas: One for people who are super interested in sports, and another for those who are more into the conversational aspect of the gathering. Set up a few chairs in a circular arrangement, which makes it easy for those individuals to feel included, even if they don’t know the score. Use the table of snacks as a divider, and ensure that everyone is well-fed.

Make sure the lighting is flexible

When it comes to entertaining, the more varieties of lighting you have, the better. You want it to be light enough that everybody can see each other, but not so much that it feels harsh or abrasive. Having a few lamps around the room gives you a good deal of flexibility. For example, a floor lamp in one corner, a couple of table lamps scattered around the room, and a dimmer on the overhead light will allow you to create whatever ambiance works best for you. Depending on what time of day your home team plays, you’ll need to adjust the lighting in the room accordingly. If you plan on watching football in the early afternoon, make use of the natural lighting in the family room, or light a few of those tableside lamps. If your team is playing past sunset, make sure you have enough fixtures to keep the space well-lit for viewing.

Don’t forget about the side tables

In addition to a coffee table, you’re going to want several side tables. Not only do they add character to a family room, but they’re also quite useful. People need a place to set down their drinks and plates, and doing so on the floor is a one-way ticket to messes. You only have to try to clean guacamole out of a rug once before understanding just how handy it is to have enough surfaces to put things down on. Some of your guests are looking forward to football, while others are strictly there for the snacks and beverages. Provide enough table surfaces to accommodate your friends and family from the time they arrive until the moment your home team scores the winning touchdown.

Invest in a beverage cart

Just because you’re the host doesn’t mean that you want to be getting up and down to serve people drinks all the time. When you have a beverage cart, you don’t have to. It’s an easy way to make sure everybody’s glasses stay filled, without you being the one to have to do it every time. Nobody has to make the trek to the kitchen every time they’re thirsty, and you get to kick back and watch the game with everyone else. Just as you decorate rooms with eye-catching and functional accessories, your bar cart will make an unforgettable impression when it’s adorned just right. Color, pattern, and texture are all important when designing your cart! Keep this in mind when choosing your glassware, napkins, coasters, mixing utensils, and other accessories needed to craft the perfect game-day cocktail.

If you’re ready to decorate a family room that people love spending time in, contact us today. We’ll be able to walk you through the entire process and find you pieces that not only look great and fit your personal style but also are functional and perfect for hosting.

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