Totally agree with “cozy beats perfect every time.” I’ve worked on a bunch of backyard makeovers and honestly, the ones people love most are the ones that feel lived-in and personal, not staged for a catalog.
- Thrift store finds? Gold mine. I once picked up a rusty old bench, sanded it down, slapped on some paint, and now it’s everyone’s favorite spot to hang out. Nobody asks where it came from—they just want to sit there.
- Lighting is huge. I laughed at this:
I once forgot to add enough pathway lights on a project and the buyers nearly tripped their first night.
Been there... did a job last year where the client wanted “subtle” lighting, but after one evening BBQ they realized subtle meant “stumbling in the dark.” Ended up adding solar stake lights and some lanterns. Problem solved, mood improved.
- Mixing and matching looks better than people think. There’s always this pressure to get “the set,” but honestly, some mismatched chairs and a weathered table tell a better story than anything brand new.
I will say, sometimes less is more with string lights—too many and it starts to feel like you’re at a car dealership. But that’s just my take. The right amount makes everything feel warm without being over-the-top.
Funny how once you let go of that “perfect” image, the space actually starts to feel like yours. Weathered wood, scuffed planters, even those chairs that creak a little—they all add character. And if something gets ruined by rain or sun? No big deal, swap it out or let it age.
Honestly, the best outdoor spaces are the ones where you want to kick your shoes off and stay awhile... not the ones where you’re worried about spilling your drink.
Mixing and matching looks better than people think. There’s always this pressure to get “the set,” but honestly, some mismatched chairs and a weathered table tell a better story than anything brand new.
I’ve been struggling with this exact thing—trying to decide if I should just buy a matching patio set or keep hunting for individual pieces. Did you find it hard to get the different items to work together visually, or did it just sort of come together over time? I’m also curious how you handled protecting wood furniture from the elements—did you use any specific sealants or finishes that held up well?
Mixing and matching definitely takes a bit of patience, but honestly, it’s worth it. I’ve collected pieces over the years—some from flea markets, some inherited—and somehow they just started to “talk” to each other after a while. If you stick to a loose color palette or similar wood tones, it helps things feel intentional, not random. As for wood protection, I swear by marine spar varnish. It’s not the cheapest, but it holds up through rain and sun better than anything else I’ve tried. Just be ready to reapply every couple of years... nature always wins eventually.
As for wood protection, I swear by marine spar varnish. It’s not the cheapest, but it holds up through rain and sun better than anything else I’ve tried.
That’s really encouraging to hear. I’ve been a bit nervous about mixing different finds, but hearing that your pieces “just started to ‘talk’ to each other after a while” gives me hope. I’m trying to stick with similar wood tones, but sometimes it feels like a guessing game. Haven’t tried marine spar varnish yet—thanks for the tip. I’ve been using teak oil but it doesn’t seem to last as long as I’d hoped. Sounds like patience really is key… nature definitely keeps us humble.
Mixing wood tones can feel like a leap of faith, but I’ve noticed that once the space gets some use and weathering, things blend more than you’d expect.
—that really rings true. Have you found any finishes that actually deepen the color over time? Sometimes I like when the grain gets richer, but other times it just goes gray.“just started to ‘talk’ to each other after a while”
