A Family-Friendly Outdoor Dining Yard

In our Style Challenge series, we ask some of our favorite bloggers from around the web to surprise us with their ideas to creat a stylish and functional space using Home Depot products when start.



This past fall, we had two plain-Jane concrete patios installed behind the house. One patio sits just off our dining room, and our hope was to turn it into a family-friendly outdoor dining yard. Our style is simple, modern and cozy, and we wanted the patio to show that. The Home Depot was kind enough to hook us up with a few pieces. I chose a table and bench with straight lines to go along with our “no fuss” style. What’s more, the table and bench are completely maintenance free. We’re a busy family and don’t have time to worried about needy outdoor furniture!



Keeping the furnishings from looking too matchy, I mixed the table and bench in with pieces we already had on hand and also in with a few new things. We are so happy with the results!



Now the patio is a great family hangout. We like to eat dinner outside whenever possible. When my two older boys are in school, I take my baby’s high chair out to the patio. She has a snack. I drink my coffee and catch up on email. It’s almost became my outdoor office.



One of the first things I did for the makeover was paint the french doors a moody inky gray to compare with the red brick.



I picked up a hanging basket, spray painted it gold and plopped in a bright green leafy plant to pop against the dark doors.



My favorite part of the patio is this little sitting area with the bench. The garden stool was one of those items we already have, but it was bright green and needed a new look.

Drawing inspiration from Ariele Alasko’s uh-MAZing work, I had an idea for a modern art piece to break up all the red brick.



I drew up a sketch of the design I had in mind and my husband brought it to life using wood salvaged from our interior renovations. So, not only does the outdoor art look great, it also holds special meaning for us.



It’s mounted on treated plywood and sealed to protect it from the elements. Luckily, this area is north-facing under a deep eave and doesn’t receive direct sunlight or rainfall. We attached the DIY art to the brick wall with concrete anchors.



I topped the outdoor dining table with a simple centerpiece of succulents and white containers for a cohesive look that flows with the adjacent dining room’s decor.



I love opening up the French doors if the weather allows. The two spaces together feel like one big dining room!



We still have some landscaping to tackle, so to make the boring concrete live, I planted different pots full of greenery.



When I was think up a plan for the patio, I knew I wanted to be able to string globe lights from the house for a festive night look. Sadly, there aren’t any outbuildings or trees in our backyard to attach strands of lights to, and I didn’t want to sink poles into the ground permanently. My husband and I came up with these DIY portable light poles together. They are fencing top rails cut to size, anchored in a concrete base and topped with a looped end cap. We ensured the string lights to the looped end with zip ties.

Honestly, we weren’t sure how the portable light poles would work, but they work amazingly well! They are sturdy enough not to topple or lean when lights are strung from them (or even during thunderstorms) yet they are light enough to move around. My fast-thinking husband even sank eye bolts into the concrete bases to tether them if needed but we haven’t had to resort to that.



After the kids are in bed for the night, we’ve been known to sneak out to the patio for mini date nights. The globe lights set a romantic mood and provide just the right amount of ambiance. We don’t even feel like we’re home!



Sometimes we have a late dessert or a sip of wine. Tea lights are always lit.



When the kids are out of school for the summer, we’d love to host an evening family party with our friends and their kids. Strings of globe lights = instant party. Cheers!




Patio Lights G40 Globe Party String Lights with coupon code PKRAOKNR = $22.79 with free shipping.