A space really comes together when you add the final touches. Your favourite artwork, knick-knacks, cushions, and linens…they all have a home outside. Once you rethink how you can use your outdoor decor and living space, you’ll quickly elevate your garden into a sanctuary.
The key to having a beautiful and signature garden style is all in the details. The most fascinating gardens I’ve seen incorporate unusual and unique items you wouldn’t normally see in a garden.
I find that most people are scared to decorate their outdoor space. They believe that the only items that can go outside are sold at the garden centre and marketed for heavy-duty, outdoor use.
But we can put just about anything we want outside. Most items are not as fragile as we think, and we’re so scared for things to get weather-worn and break from being outdoors.
If you change your mindset for decorating, you’ll find that you open up a whole new world of what your garden and patio can look like. You’ll find plenty of inspiration in these photos from my garden and those I’ve toured.
15 Ways to Use Indoor Décor Outside
Houseplants
Have you ever moved any of your houseplants outdoors for the summer and watched them come alive again? Like most, I have tropicals and succulents that can’t live outside due to the cold conditions of rainy Vancouver. All winter, they survive beside the windows and patiently wait.
But in the summer, it’s a whole other story. Leaves turn toward the sun, colours deepen, and new growth appears seemingly overnight.
It also changes the look of the garden, adding some tropical flair you wouldn’t normally be able to get. Just make sure to bring the houseplants back inside when things begin to cool down once again.
Shelves
Shelves are such a simple thing you can do to really dress up a fence or patio area. We have them indoors, why not put them outside as well? You can easily use some scrap wood and outdoor paint to really make it your own.
Dress up the shelves with a plant, ornament, bug house, you name it. These little objects tell a story and make a space feel more lived in and personal. Here’s my shelf hanging by my hot tub with my pothos (outside for the summer!) and shells I’ve picked up while camping and travelling.
Curtains
Curtains are the perfect final touch to a room, and I think they can add so much outdoors as well. They work wonderfully as privacy or shade screens on a patio or pergola.
There’s also something so beautiful about sheer curtains catching a warm summer breeze. It instantly makes an outdoor space feel a little slower, softer, and more inviting.
Artwork
Yes, you really can hang pictures and frames outdoors. I have a couple of pictures by my deck and hot tub that live outside year-round. One, Kiddo found in an alleyway and proudly presented to me. Now every time I sit outside beneath it, I think of the smile he had when he gave me this alleyway cowboy.
Now, keep in mind, artwork will fade from the sun and might get water damage. But that’s also part of their charm. So this is not meant for your priceless pieces. Why not head to the thrift store or your neighbour’s garage sale to get some artwork to hang in your garden?
Rugs
Every time someone compliments my rug, I tell them, “Thanks! It’s an indoor rug.” Like artwork, I don’t get precious about my rugs outside. I have a gorgeous wool rug that sits on my deck, and is washable. Anything with natural fibers and that can be washed can be used outdoors.
Of course, I bring them in for the winter to ensure they last as long as possible, but I leave them out during the summer months.
Candles
I have both real and electric candles as part of my outdoor decor. The electric candles are mainly interspersed in my patio area, where I can turn them on and change the colour with a remote. It makes mood lighting super simple.
I also make my own candles, and citronella candles are one of my outdoor must-haves. There’s something comforting about the flicker of candlelight outside at dusk, the air cooling down while the garden slowly settles for the night. Plus, keeping them in a container (as opposed to a pillar candle) means I don’t have to worry about a little melting in the summer heat.
Chandeliers
Chandeliers can really elevate a garden, as you can see in Sue Bath’s garden, which I featured. It’s such a magical experience to see 80 chandeliers dotted through a garden, decorated with solar and fairy lights. At night, they light up the whole garden space and bring to life Sue’s unique style. Even though they’re all reclaimed, the chandeliers are painted white to match and create a cohesive look. Together, they create a level of interest at a height you’re not used to.
You can also use really ornate and exceptional pieces like this greenhouse made of stained glass. This crystal chandelier is a joyful statement while being elevated and elegant. And you might be surprised to know that it also uses repurposed materials in a way that’s unexpected and surprising. Just imagine potting up your seedlings in this gorgeous greenhouse.
Hooks
I love the idea of hanging a coat hook rack or other similar hooks along a fence or shed wall to hang your garden essentials. A weathered apron, a sunhat, garden gloves, or an old jacket can become part of the charm of the space itself. Something about it feels so cozy and lived-in.
Lamps
Under a covered patio or sheltered corner, an indoor lamp can make an outdoor space feel just as warm and inviting as a living room, especially during those long summer evenings spent outside.
Just be sure to bring it indoors for the winter. And for spaces fully exposed to the elements, it’s best to choose a proper outdoor lamp with waterproof electrical components. You can always swap the shade for something more personal.
Mirrors
Mirrors are one of my favourite decorations for a fence, especially those with interesting or ornate frames. They catch the light in unexpected ways, reflecting greenery back into the space, and create the feeling that the garden stretches a little farther than it really does.
Just be careful about the placement of your mirror. Mirrors will reflect the sunlight and can cause your plants to get crispy if pointed at them, or they can even start a fire. Hang your mirror somewhere shaded to be safe.
Side Tables
I’m including side tables on this list of decor since they’re such a small piece of furniture, but they make a surprisingly big difference outdoors. I’ve used stools outdoors as side tables as a place to rest a drink, book, or whatever you’re carrying into the garden with you.
You can also tuck them within the garden itself, adding a bit of height and layering to potted plants.
Pillows and Blankets
Most of the pillows that I use outdoors were originally designed for indoors. I even have big fluffy pillows that you wouldn’t expect to see braving the elements, but they add an extra layer of softness and comfort to my outdoor seating.
Sure, if you’re going to let them get soaked in the rain, they might not last very long. But if they’re somewhat sheltered under a roof or awning, or you’re mindful to shelter them before rainstorms, your indoor cushions can serve a good second life outdoors.
As for blankets, I have a few waterproof ones that are great for picnics and beach excursions, which also serve as outdoor patio blankets. Having dedicated outdoor blankets makes it easier to actually use them, since you’re not worried about them getting dirty.
Baskets
I have a wicker basket by my patio to store my outdoor blankets, much like you might have a cute basket or bin in your living room. Wicker works really great as it bridges both worlds of indoor and outdoor, but see what kind of baskets or bins you can find and repurpose. It’s less about matching and more about creating little pockets where everything you need is at hand and ready for slow evenings outside.
Vases
With or without flowers inside them, vases are a simple way to dress up the outdoors. I like the look of large ceramic vases tucked amongst a flower bed, or a smaller vase decorating an outdoor table or shelf. Just be sure to empty them after lots of rainfall to avoid stagnant, mosquito-loving water.
Knick-Knacks
Everywhere, indoors and outdoors, can benefit from a knick-knack (or two or twenty). I love tucking away a little figurine in the garden or adding a memento from my travels to an outdoor shelf. They catch your eye unexpectedly among the plants and textures. Knick-knacks are truly the biggest thing you can do to reflect your personality in any space. The weirder and more unique they are, the more character they bring to the garden.
As you can see, there are many items you can also use outdoors. Don’t let the indoor label stop you. If you go in with the mindset that things will get a little weathered, and that will become part of its charm. The garden yearns to be decorated!
More Decorating Tips
- 10 Apartment Decor Ideas to Make a Plain Space Feel Like Home
- How to Arrange Plants in a Living Room (5 Tips!)
- Decorative Ideas for Creating a Summer Container Garden
A city girl who learned to garden and it changed everything. Author, artist, Master Gardener. Better living through plants.
