6 Types of Outdoor Decor Designers Think You Should Avoid

When you live with an all-white or neutral kitchen, adding color can feel overwhelming. The wrong color can look stark or out of place, while too much color can seem accidental or sloppy.

Cleaning the house makes you wish for a magic machine that can do it for you. And turns out, you have one right in your laundry room—the washing machine, of course.

Once the temperature rises, and that unwavering urge to spend even more time outside kicks in, the great outdoors becomes the best room of the house. (For a few glorious months, Mother Nature replaces our living room… dining room… and, yes, even our kitchen!) However, just like in your home’s interiors, an outdoor space hinges on selecting the right furniture. 

Oliver Furth, A-List interior designer, AD100 winner, and author of Op! Optimistic Interiors, is no stranger to bold shapes and bright colors. Having designed countless homes with the main objective of stimulating the senses and bringing joy, he has a unique styling eye for combining objects with playful design. From handmade ombre rugs that feel like pillows for your feet, to playful planters that will make your favorite centerpiece plants pop, and even candy-colored dining chairs and mod outdoor lighting options that will be a conversation starter on their own. Read on for Oliver and our garden editor’s fabulous favorites, each sure to inspire a pop of personality when styling your outdoor oasis for summer entertaining.

Now that summer has finally arrived, it’s time for you to heed your call of the wild and head outside. Of course, you’re not chilling outside alone: You’ll have all your plants, grilling tools, and outdoor decor essentials keeping you company. That said, finding the right outdoor furniture to suit your space can be admittedly tricky. Not only do you have to find pieces that are designed with Mother Nature in mind—and hopefully don’t follow these key backyard blunders—but you’ll want to find items that look good, too. (Just like what’s inside your home, outdoor furniture can be surprisingly pricey, so it’s in your best interest to find furniture that ticks off all of the boxes.)

If you've dealt with stubborn stains that won't budge, don't get down about what you're doing wrong. While you can try all kinds of laundry hacks, from dish detergent to pantry staples to stain removers, the answer might be more straightforward: it actually might come down to the temperature of your water.

Aesthetics and style trend have taken over our interiors, and we love that trends are spreading into our outdoor spaces, too. This year, as organic decor and biophilic design continue to dominate our home decor feeds, a similar gardening trend is growing—literally.

There are so many great gardening hacks out there. From using eggshells as fertilizer to creatively sourcing free plants, we all know you can create a stunning outdoor space with plenty of things you can't buy at your standard garden center.

While there is plenty of design inspiration to be found for decorating your backyard and outfitting your front porch, it seems one outdoor area is often ignored—we’re talking about your deck.

As many of us know by now, there are lots of great ways to repurpose and reuse old items at home. Rather than tossing things in the trash, reusing can be an ideal option to be more sustainable—and it's a great way to save money.

Bobby Flay has said that his last meal would be a cheeseburger (“with two slices of American cheese”). And the “most signature dish that I have” is the shrimp and roasted garlic tamale that’s become a staple on the menu at all of his Mesa Grill restaurants. He also revealed to our pals at Allrecipes that chicken “is sort of ‘my protein.’”

We love helping you prioritize your outdoor spaces when the weather finally gets warm. If your space only boasts an outdoor dining set and a large umbrella, why not try transitioning your indoors out and making the most of these warm weather days?