4 Ways to Bring Your Outdoor Space to Life

If planned right, a backyard or balcony space can be a personal oasis. By optimizing your outdoor space, you can greatly expand your living area during the summer months. Truly livable outdoor spaces share a few common elements. Follow these 4 simple ideas to transform your outdoor space into your personal dream garden.

1 – Entertaining area

To enjoy the outdoors, first and foremost you’ll need a place to sit. The joy of entertaining outdoors is you don’t always need a formal dining area or fancy dinnerware! A relaxed environment like this Collection Cosetta patio set is the perfect lounge set up for relaxing with a beverage and can double as a dining area for your next BBQ. If you’re looking for a dedicated dining space, this Collection metal foldable table set will allow you to have lots of room for all your guests to dine. In a tighter space, the Collection Bella folding bistro set is perfect for even the smallest of balconies. No matter the space, large or small, a seating area is the first step and we have a wide assortment to get your outdoor space comfortable.

2 – Outdoor kitchen

When enjoying the outdoors at home, you don’t want to trek to and from the kitchen. An outdoor kitchen doesn’t require a fancy built-in grill! It can be as simple as a dedicated surface to cook with a BBQ. The Kenmore pedestal 3 burner gril BBQ has everything you need, including two side tables for food prep. Another option is The Camp Chef XTG pellet grill which is a backyard powerhouse. It can slow smoke or grill any meal to perfection! While talking food, you’ll need to ensure you keep your beverages cold! We have some of the coolest coolers around. Like this unique van cooler. If you’re looking to save on space, this foosball cooler cart has a built in foosball table top, doubling as an entertainment centre that is sure to be a hit for all ages.

3 – Shade

Soaking in some rays is one thing that makes the summer special, however too much sun can be problematic. Making sure you have some shade is a great way to make the space livable at all times of day. The Collection aluminum pergola is a great option. Complete with two shades (one grey and one beige) it can be full shade, half shade or no shade depending on your needs. Also, its aluminum frame is sure to endure years of use. For something smaller a fiberglass windproof umbrella is a great option that is easy to move. For a more robust shade, the Bond offset umbrella is available in various colours and can cover your dining area with no obstructions or center pole. If you are working with a small balcony, this universal umbrealla for an outdoor chair is perfect as it will mount to any chair, and is also great for days at the beach.

4 – Ambience

Now that you have a sitting area, some shade, and a place to prepare your food, it’s time to add the final touches. Backyard ambience can be anything from décor to lighting. Solar lighting is a great way to add highlights to a large space without the trouble of connecting power. No matter your taste, we have a wide assortment of solar lighting options. Another final touch is to add some planters and garden décor.


From resin planters, to ceramic and even wood, there are a wide range of styles available to match any aesthetic. Add in some unique garden accessories like this Collection bird bath, and your personality is sure to come through. If on a balcony or in an urban area, a fountain like this unique Collection fountain with LED lights can help cut the background hum of the city streets and add a tranquil vibe. Lastly, a fire pit can turn relaxing evenings into a camping-like experience (but where you still get to sleep in your own bed!) Whether a table top, or stand alone unit, we have various options to fit any space.

No matter what you do to your outdoor space, we can help you transform it into an extension of your living area that can easily become your favourite place in the house. Shop our outdoor living collection today to have your dream back yard tomorrow.

Entertaining in Your Outdoor Space Like an Expert

Ah, the season of sunshine. Spending more time outside in the summer months is treat enough! A couple of folding lawn chairs and patch of grass can be enough to enjoy the warmer weather, but if you want your backyard gatherings to become the talk of the neighbourhood, we’ve got some tips to help take your outdoor space from fine to SHINE!

Step One: Tidy Up

First thing’s first—you need to make sure your space is clean and tidy. Here are our tips for getting your yard into tip-top shape for the summer.

Then, decide what style speaks to you. Choose sleek and modern, bright and tropical, cute and cozy, or any vibe that fits your space and your taste, and then decorate accordingly. A consistent style will make your space more polished and sophisticated. Here’s some eye-catching inspiration in case you’re stuck on what style to choose.

Step Two: Choose the Furniture

When choosing furniture for outdoor use, you’ll need to make sure it can stand up to the elements. Keep an eye out for metal, rattan or weather-treated wood, and coverings and fabrics should be waterproof (or at least moisture-resistant if they’re under cover). We have a great selection of outdoor furniture and accessories to suit many different styles and spaces.

Outdoor Living Guide London Drugs

If you’re on a budget, there is power in a yard sale purchase, some spray cleaner, a can of paint, and a few cute accessories. Not sure if your new-to-you furniture is meant for outdoor use? Never fear, because you can DIY it to make sure it withstands whatever mother nature has to offer. Your local hardware store will have all kinds of paint for metal and plastic protection. Wood and fabric takes a little more work to fortify (here’s a handy guide) but a little elbow grease is worth it for a gorgeous outdoor sitting area.

Step Three: Find the Shade

Your outdoor space will most likely be used in the afternoon or evening, and sun at that time of day can still be pretty harsh. There’s nothing like a bunch of squinting and hand-on-forehead-eye-shading to ruin a backyard get together, so make sure your guests have ample shade. An umbrella is the obvious choice for providing shade in your yard, but there are other options. Strategically-planted trees can provide lovely, dappled shade, or a gazebo-style cover can take care of a larger area.

Step Four: Turn On the Lighting

Days are longer in the summer, but the sun does eventually go down—lighting is an important element if you want to entertain outside in the evening. String lights create a pretty atmosphere in any outdoor space, stake lights will brighten up dark pathways and gardens, and solar- or battery-powered lanterns can be hung in trees for a romantic feel. Speaking of romance, don’t forget the candles! Make sure they’re in holders or use flameless candles to avoid being snuffed out by summer breezes.

Outdoor Patio Backyard Lighting London Drugs

Step Five: Dining Design

Any dishes and glasses will do for outside dining, but a backyard makeover is your chance to embrace bright and colourful design that might not fit in with your interior. Why not branch out a little with some fun dishes and accessories?

Keep food casual for backyard meals to capture the classic summer feel – salads, fresh fruit, cold drinks, finger food. Elaborate courses and lots of cooking is impressive, but keeps you in the kitchen and missing all the fun.

Cold drinks are important on warm summer evenings, so make sure your guests are adequately hydrated. Coolers will keep bottles and cans cold without repeated trips to the kitchen, and if you’ve got the room and electricity spare, a drinks fridge is a good investment for serious outdoor entertaining. A lemonade or iced tea station on a side table will keep guests refreshed, or for larger parties, a rolling drinks cart stocked with a selection of beverages, glasses, ice and straws can easily move back and forth from the kitchen for repeated refills.

Step Six: Curate the Music

Everyone knows the perfect playlist can really make a summer party, so keep the music portable with a high-quality, weather-resistant Bluetooth speaker.

Small space? You can still entertain!

 

Yes, even your teeny, tiny apartment balcony can be warm and inviting for guests. You’re paying for that valuable square footage, so why not make the most of it?

  • Choose smaller, narrower furniture and arrange it around the perimeter – guests will have more standing room in a smaller rectangular space instead of having to navigate around large pieces. Two small couches facing each other take up a lot less room than a group of chairs.
  • Non-traditional furniture like a bar table can multi-task as an area for food prep, eating, and outdoor entertaining, all rolled into one.
  • If you have access to a shared space that you can’t take over full time, have some folding furniture on hand for spontaneous courtyard hangouts.

Check out the London Drugs Outdoor Living Guide for all your backyard entertaining needs. Make this summer the best one yet!