Bring Indoor Zen to your outdoor Space

Written By Melanie McConnell

You have brought Zen to your indoor space by decluttering and reorganizing. Now you are ready to extend those good vibes to your outdoor space. The first thing to do is to separate the space by creating zones. This could include a dining area, barbeque, garden, deck, pool area, shed, and trash receptacle area.

Before you begin organizing your zones, clear all trash or other items that need a home. Then do an inspection for pieces that may need deep cleaning, repair, or replacement. Now, you are ready to tackle one area at a time.

Treat your outdoor space as an extension of your house to create a Zen environment by

keeping the overall look consistent and using neutral colors or adding blocks of color depending on your home style. Think about flow and what will be the focal point. Create flexibility by choosing furniture pieces that are easily moved around and reconfigured.

Maximize your outdoor space by doing the following:

Dining: Create dividers with colorful area rugs and gravel

Cooking: Store outdoor cooking utensils in a weatherproof table cart

Storage: Buy a weather-resistant bookshelf to display your outdoor decor

Gardening: Buy a potting bench to keep gardening tools handy

Shed: Place all tools together on hooks. Keep pool items in racks and balls in a ball organizer.

Lighting: Hang string lights and battery-operated candles to create a warm and inviting space

Camouflage: You can camouflage the garden hose, air conditioning unit, and trash receptacles. Don’t forget to cover the grill when not in use.

Creating an outdoor oasis beyond the back door is the perfect getaway.

Melanie McConnell is a Professional Organizer and the owner of Mello Spaces. She helps busy professionals and parents get the organized home of their dreams. Check out her website www.mellospaces.com and follow her on Instagram: @mellospaces

Florena Davies is a Professional Organizer and Owner of Organize by Flo. She uses her experience as a wife and mother of 2 to create real life organizational systems and changes for work and home that allow our 2 worlds to co-exist and 'Flo" together. Check out her website at https://www.organizebyflo.com/ and on instagram @organizebyflo.

Marybeth Welty helps women create calm and healthy homes and lives. With over 12 years of experience in organizing, interior design, sustainable building, and mindful living, Marybeth is passionate about improving your mental health, your work, your relationships, and supporting the life of your dreams by starting with where you live, your home. You can book a free meeting with her at https://sustainablelifestylesolutions.com/20-min-free and connect with her on Instagram at @this_sustainable_lifestyle.