I am a World Market brand ambassador. This backyard refresh for mom is sponsored by World Market and their #MominParadise Sweepstakes. All opinions are always 100% mine.
Anyone that knows my mom will agree that she is an amazing woman. She excels at everything she does, and is such a great example of hard work, integrity, and kindness. For Mother’s Day this year I decided that I wanted to really wow her and give her a fun gift that she truly deserves… a surprise backyard refresh using my favorite outdoor items from World Market!
I wanted her yard to be ready for the summer fun that is coming soon! My mom and dad have an absolutely amazing backyard complete with a large pool, jacuzzi, a garden, some grass, and a couple outdoor tables and chairs and patio furniture.
The yard was pretty well furnished, but was missing a few small details to make it really stand out when entertaining. My mom entertains a lot in her backyard, so I knew that she would love some new “outdoor friendly ” plates and cups that the grandkids couldn’t break! 😉
I love how easy it is to freshen up a space. It doesn’t have to cost a fortune because you are using what you already have, but just making it better and adding to it.
Here are my top 5 ways to refresh an outdoor space and get it ready for entertaining during the summer:
1. Bright colored pillows.
Most outdoor spaces already have some kind of furniture. Whether it’s a table and chairs, a bench, a chaise lounge, an Adirondack chair, or wicker furniture, adding brightly colored pillows gives existing furniture a pop of color that really makes the furniture stand out and gives it an updated, finished look. Plus, it makes your outdoor seating much more comfortable and inviting, and makes guests want to stick around for longer (which might be a good or bad thing)!
Mix and match coordinating solid colors and patterns for a look that is pulled together, but not too matchy-matchy. Chair cushions and bench covers also add comfort and color to wood and metal benches. I bought two of these outdoor orange throw pillows for my mom’s two lounge chairs to give them a boost of color and some added comfort.
2. Add accessories.
When putting together an outfit, many times it’s the accessories that tie the whole look together and give a “finished” appearance. It’s the same with a backyard! My mom’s yard had great bones, but it just needed a few accessories to finish off the space and pull the whole look together. I fell head over heels in love with these gorgeous nautical tabletop lanterns I spotted at World Market, so I bought two for my mom’s surprise backyard mini makeover, and then a few for my yard, too. Hey, mom can’t have all the fun, right? 😉
I picked up some white candles as well to go inside to add a little ambience to the upcoming summer nights that will be spent swimming, roasting marshmallows for s’mores, relaxing, and stargazing through their telescope. I love how just adding those lanterns to their existing table makes the space look more complete and finished, and was so easy to do! Outdoor lighting, outdoor rugs, and outdoor curtains are also a great way to get your backyard ready to entertain!
3. Outdoor plates.
I know from experience that you don’t want to use your heavy breakable plates outside, especially if you have kids. World Market has some adorable sea life waterfront plates that I picked up for my mom that I knew that she would love. There are four different patterns, so I bought two of each pattern so that she would have enough for guests. These look much much nicer than paper plates, and she won’t have to worry about broken dishes outside with the grandkids, either, since they are made of melamine.
4. Acrylic cups.
No one wants to step on broken glass with bare feet, so don’t use your glass cups outside! When you want to entertain and don’t want your cups to break, but you want something nicer than paper cups, acrylic cups are your best option! There are tons of varieties to choose from, and World Market sells carries practically all of them! You can choose from acrylic highball glasses, double old-fashioned glasses, tumblers, goblets, stemware, and even an acrylic pitcher!
5. Good eats.
What fun is outdoor entertaining without some tasty food? World Market has a large selection of gourmet food and drinks to choose from, including many items from various countries. I picked out some treats that I knew my mom would love and put them in a basket for her as part of her surprise.
My mom is a very healthy eater, so I found some items that I knew she would love that were all natural and would taste great. One of my favorite finds was this French lemonade that was clear! It had a nice, natural lemon flavor, and I loved the clear color. I also picked up some blue corn chips, some mango key lime salsa, and roasted edamame. My mom loved it all! And seriously, isn’t she cute?
For even more entertaining ideas, be sure to check out World Market! They really do have a great selection for the best prices, and they are always getting in new items, which I love. It’s like a brand new store every time I go, which is pretty much weekly. I’m kind of addicted!
Leave a Reply