Colorful European Inspired Backyard Refresh

We recently traveled to parts of Europe for our second time. I am always so inspired by the colorful patio furniture and ambiance at all the shops, restaurants, and hotels! Giving my sister, Brittany, a backyard refresh from neutrals to cozy bistro patio dining! Also sharing her cute playhouse, thinking of building one for Finn!

Backyard Dining Before-

They have a great patio area, we just wanted to add color and make it cozy, plus add more seating. LOVE all the grapevine garland over their pergola they built years ago.

Dining After-

Instant cozy, colorful vibes. Makes us feel like we are eating at a luxury cafe! The pops of red draw your eye in and just feel like fun and happiness!

Backyard Fire pit Seating Before-

They had built that fire pit a few years ago, it is a gas fire pit and is the perfect place to gather!

Backyard Seating After-

New pillows helped make her outdoor sectional and chairs look brand new!

Here is everything together! So cozy! Sharing all the details below.

Patio Design Plan-

Curtains // Chandelier // Potting Table // Umbrella // Umbrella Stand // Tablecloth // Melamine Platter // Large Melamine Bowl // Outdoor Rug // French Bistro Outdoor Chair // Red Cushion // Metal Outdoor Chair // Patio Chair // Striped Pillow // Red Pillow // Terra Cotta Pot // Tall Terra Cotta Pot

First we changed the seating. She has this nice outdoor table from a local shop called Down East. The chairs are big part of the look of a European bistro. I found the darling blue French bistro chairs on Facebook Market Place (these French bistro chairs) are similar.

Then we added some comfort and color with the red chair cushions (our size is 16″x15″ the chairs are about 17″x17.5″). There are so many cute colors and patterns. They are super thick and made to resist stains, fading, water, mold, and mildew. We saw a lot of red in Paris and really wanted that pop of color!

Their patio is made of pavers, to make the space feel pulled together, and the chairs easier to move, we added this blue outdoor rug (can be used inside too!). Adding rugs helps to create a cozy and also comfortable space! I used an 8×11 rug, bonus, an outdoor rug is easy to clean. It is hoseable, scrubbable, and bleachable.

Changed up their centerpiece for flower pots with plants. The red flower is a Begonia, and the white flower is a Heartland White.

These Melamine serving pieces are so nice, and feel very European. Serving our favorite homemade bread on the platter and pasta salad from the large serving bowl. I’ll have to share the pasta salad recipe soon.

Above the table we hung a chandelier (I took off the shades, and it isn’t an outdoor light), but we converted it from a hard wire ceiling light to a plug in, so it can easily be unplugged. This kit is what we used. Then hid the cord along the pergola and plugged in. The height was perfect. So nice to have a little extra light when sitting outside eating or playing games.

For that full ambiance effect, like a true Paris cafe, we hung Edison outdoor light bulbs. Peep the hanging chair we brought from my house. We all agreed that these hanging chairs are everyone’s favorite place to sit!

Adding new pillows is a great way to give any space a refresh. These 24″ striped mason pillows are over stuffed for comfort and are perfect for outdoors because they are made to last! We also did 20″ red pillows. Here is a similar outdoor sectional.

We took down her older hanging hammock chairs and replaced with these white chairs (HERE is another option) from my backyard. The stripe pillows tie in the sectional and add a lot of fun (I did 24″ Striped Pillow, which you can still sit in the chair with, or easily move).

I also placed 2 of the same chairs (HERE is another option) on the other end of the patio to connect both spaces.

There is room to bring over the other chairs for more seating around the fire pit! My sister has four kids, and one of them is married with a baby, so they love all the extra seating!

Outdoor Curtains-

For the most part her pergola is shaded nicely, but evenings can get pretty hot with the sun shining through. Decided curtains would be the perfect solution. We did double them up, back to back so they look good from both sides. They are thick and nice, and have blackout. Plus, with how tall her pergola is it really made the space feel so cozy and connected. We used this curtain rod and added this metal plate under the bracket to hold the weight of the curtains.

Because the pergola is so tall we had to sew the curtains to make them longer. Basically we would cut a curtain panel into the extra length we needed and sew it onto a full panel. It was quick and easy. They can also close the curtains and watch outdoor movies from the comfort of the outdoor sectional and chairs.

Serving and Potting Stand-

She had a tall small table that we loved the height for but it was getting pretty old, I had given it to her before our move to Connecticut! The height of our potting table was perfect to fill in the space below her window shelf. I love using plants and flowers to add shade, shape, and color to a patio area.

She likes to serve off this spot. Brittany loves to bake, she made us a biscoff cookie cake! This is her cake stand.

Playhouse-

Here is the cute playhouse! My brother in law built it. A slide off the side and a door in the back that latches from the outside (so littles don’t fall out) that opens to monkey bars. My sisters cute grand baby giving us a tour.

All the kids love the nerf gun wall. It’s peg board with hooks to hang them on. Who else has a ton of nerf guns that could use a designated spot?! we found those pennant banners in the target dollar spot.

They don’t have a plug over here so they hung these solar lights that have worked perfectly!

They love their refreshed space! Hope this gave you some fun ideas to refresh your space not be afraid of color!