I live in a small cottage of about 1400 square feet, so creating outdoor spaces is a must for me. I always look forward to spring and summer so I can bring to life something that actually gives me life. Research has shown that being outside and getting your hands and feet in the soil can bring many health benefits including the introduction of beneficial microbes that improve the immune system. The great thing is that it can be done on a budget!! It’s good for your health and your pocketbook! First, I will show you three items that I found in my alley…… two screen doors and one antique wooden door. I never leave treasures like that behind as I can always find a use for them somewhere outdoors.
Now let me point out the precious, vintage, plate border along the flowerbeds of the greenhouse!!! This is one of my favorite things!! I was rummaging through a garage sale one Saturday and ran across all these vintage plates….FOR A PENNY EACH!!! Yep, you read that correctly!!! For a couple of bucks, I bought all of the mismatched china that was there!! I simply got my shovel and dug a trench along the outline that I desired for the bed. I went about 5 inches deep. Then I placed the plates in the trench and filled the dirt back in. I have extras just in case I clumsily fling my weed eater into one. 😆
My next project was made from a chandelier that a friend was getting rid of. I took the electrical components out of it and screwed some heavy duty pots onto the places where the lights were. I spray painted it with paint I already had, and decorated it with crystals I found at a flea market for $5!!!
Front porches are so important as that is what gives visitors the first feel of what your home is conveying. You want it to be warm and welcoming but also neat and tidy. First impressions are important. You might even have an old dresser that could work on your porch. A friend of mine was wanting to get rid of a dresser. I didn’t have a place for it inside, but I knew I could use it somewhere. That somewhere was on my porch. I painted it some fun colors, and it holds some flower pots as well as some garden figures.
Finally, I want to show you what I did with the ugly cement that is home to my patio. I bought some concrete paint and took a small roller and painted the cement to look like faux bricks. It’s bright and cheery and is anything but boring!!! It doesn’t take much to bring a dull space to life even if it’s outside!!
No matter what your space is, always think out of the box! You never know what you can come up with.
As Charles Barnard said, “You can bury any number of headaches in a garden.”
And as I say, “I’ve decorated a life I love!”
And you can, too!!!❤️
The Pink Pixie 
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