Creating an Outdoor Oasis! (Pier 1 Giveaway)

I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting (#MC) for Pier 1 Imports. I received a product sample to facilitate my review and to thank me for participating.

We moved into this house about a year and a half ago and still have so far to go on decorating! Seriously, we haven’t even hung photos on the walls yet. We have an amazing outdoor space so we love to have people over and host parties… our deck is huge with a pergola, there’s a playhouse and swingset for the kids, and plenty of seating. The problem? Decor and color. With the help of Pier 1 Imports, we finally started this summer off right by creating an outdoor oasis!

outdoor oasis

On one side of the deck, off our porch, there’s a pergola. The previous owners had a hot tub in there, but for us it’s just a big empty space. Okay, really, it turned into toy storage for our toddlers’ playhouses and ride-on cars. But what a gorgeous space it COULD be, right?! Great for hanging plants and lanterns, some string lights, a cozy couch…

before outdoor oasis makeover

Then we also have a nice patio table that seats 6 and a 2-seat bistro table. Pretty! But no color. Even our deck is that Trex type that’s gray… against our gray house…. BLAH. We were in desperate need of color and decor.

In one of the photos above you can see my husband pulling the wooden boards off one side of our pergola! We decided to leave the side facing our neighbors for privacy, but yanked out all the board facing out to the yard… it has really opened up that space and has made a huge difference in the overall look! Now I can easily look out from there and see the kids in the yard, too.

after outdoor oasis makeover

COLOR! Love, love, love the bright options at Pier 1. I bought sets of the Sunny Floral large and small plates, the matching serving bowl, and the stackable acrylic goblets. I also bought some matching chair cushions (in “spice”), a set of 6 sunburst hanging tealight lanterns to hang from the pergola, a tabletop Bombay hanging lantern set for the bistro table, and 2 pretty candle holders with matching rust pillar candles for the patio table. Color, everywhere!

Throw in some potted plants and pretty flowers and you’ve got an outdoor oasis! Wait for night to come and light all the candles and lanterns… relax and watch the sky… light up a fire pit… gorgeous. THAT is how we will be spending our summer 🙂

my outdoor oasis

To celebrate, we threw a party with family and friends on Memorial Day weekend. Everyone loved everything and were excited to hear that it all came from our local Pier 1 store! I think there were 3 favorites mentioned most during the evening: the stackable, colorful cups (so fun and handy!), the lanterns hanging from the pergola (pretty!), and the tabletop hanging lantern set on the bistro table (only $16?! and on sale right now for like $12!).

outdoor oasis with pier 1

The lanterns came with the chains and hooks, we just had to put a nail at the top of our pergola (we hid them in between the two top boards so you can’t even see them) and they look great! And check out that nice open space in the pergola now 😉 There are 5 openings between the support boards we left in so we put 2 lanterns each in 3 of the spaces, leaving the alternating 2 empty spaces for hanging plants.

We grilled burgers and brats, set up a bounce house for the kids, listened to a friend play his guitar and sing songs… it was all picture-perfect! Even my brother was visiting from Colorado with his girlfriend 🙂 That’s all of us below with my dad at our Outdoor Oasis party.

outdoor oasis party

So what’s next? Filling that space under the pergola with outdoor couches!!! Like the one below from Pier 1? LOVE IT. With cushions to match the ones I already bought for the patio table! Then it will truly be an Outdoor Oasis. I’d also like some of the tall floor lanterns to put near the sliding doors to our porch—we added some potted plants there, but it’s still a pretty big (gray) empty area—and some string lights. Our deck has built in bench seating around the outside so I think it’d be pretty to hook lights underneath those!

pier 1 wish list

Here are some tips for outdoor decorating and creating your own outdoor oasis…

  • Outdoor rugs tie everything together and really bring a space to life. Simply layer a rug with a beautiful seating collection and colorful cushions and pillows, and you’ve got an outdoor area that makes everyone comfortable and happy!
  • Mix and match with color and patterns and personalize your space with accents, such as outdoor artwork, planters, lanterns and more. This combination of accessories really transcends an outdoor space from simple to fabulous!
  • If your space is a multi-use gathering place, create a layout for entertaining that also has the flexibility for weekly family dinners or a romantic meal for two. Use sectionals to create seating in whatever arrangement fits best and pair with a stylish bistro table to give your space a sense of functionality.
  • A new brightly-colored accent piece is a simple, budget-friendly way to make a big impact. Quickly and easily change up your current look! For example, the colorful Rock Point Benches would look great on a patio paired with a more traditional dining set.
  • Embrace your table as a main focal point, and combine your favorite accessories, such as handcrafted trays, detailed lanterns and a colorful bouquet, to create a cheerful centerpiece that instantly feels like summer. No table, no problem! Serving carts bring the party to the action, whether that’s on the patio, in the garden or poolside.
  • As the sun goes down, create a welcoming and romantic atmosphere with a variety of outdoor lanterns and LED candles placed around your patio.
  • Anything goes! Get outside of your comfort zone and go bold!

Want to create your own Outdoor Oasis?! All of the products seen here are available at Pier 1 Imports and you can shop in-store, ship-to-store, ship-to-home, or even have in-home delivery. Enter below to win a $25 Pier 1 Imports gift card to get you started! Note: this giveaway is hosted on multiple blogs and entrants are only eligible to win one gift card.

I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting (#MC) for Pier 1 Imports. I received a product sample to facilitate my review and to thank me for participating.

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