Living in New York City, space is limited. Every little inch we get is utilized to its full capacity and if you have a corner of space outside, you capitalize on it. Now that the weather is getting nicer, the desire to be outside is growing stronger. Because I’m one of the lucky few city dwellers who has a backyard, I wanted to treat it nicely. While it’s lovely to have the area, it’s not very inviting. The chairs were here when I moved in and I spray painted them last summer in these cool metallics. Because I live in an area designated as an “artist community” there are a ton of murals all over the place. However, this particular one didn’t coincide with my ideas of what I wanted my backyard to look like. Take a look at my space before:Image may be NSFW.
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As you can see, there isn’t any greenery and I have a lot of concrete space to work with. I went to IKEA and got so inspired. The way they set up different spaces gave me some awesome ideas. I knew I wanted to put down something to cover the concrete so that I could step outside barefoot and not worry about potential dangers like rocks or stray nails. I chose this gray decking as my base. It’s SO easy to put together. Each piece connects to the other so that you can create a customized deck in under half an hour. I also put down a carpet that can withstand the elements. Image may be NSFW.
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Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
When it came to furniture, I fell in love with the ARHOLMA set. The pieces are interchangeable which makes it easy to create private seating nooks or longer lounging areas. I chose the couch and side table. I also felt like I needed a bench to serve for extra seating and storage. Throw in a bar cart for entertaining and I could already see my new backyard coming to life.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
I really liked this umbrella because it is angled in such a way that it can go flush to the wall to maximize space and still provide plenty of shade. Don’t forget about the fire pit. Placing it in the center adds heat and is a gorgeous accent piece. With plenty of colorful cushions and a nice fleece throw, now this space is downright cozy.Image may be NSFW.
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Image may be NSFW.
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The bar cart is so awesome. It has wheels on one end which makes it a breeze to wheel around my new space. I took a planter and turned it into a makeshift drink holder. Since it’s magnetic, I was able to stick a bottle opener on the side so guests can always open their bevvies.
Image may be NSFW.
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Check out our video to see more amazing configurations of the IKEA pieces I chose, plus a peek at how easy it actually is to put the deck together!
And why not sip a tasty beverage or two while your outside enjoying your new space?! Here are a few of our favorite summer-ready cocktail recipes:
*Watermelon Slushie
*Champagne+Popsicles
*Sparkly Sorbet Sippers
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Momtrends was not paid for this post. We did receive product from IKEA to use.
The post IKEA Before and After Backyard Makeover appeared first on MomTrends.