15 Outdoor Accessories

Here in Logan, Utah it is officially the time where it feels like heaven to be outside. The temperature is perfect and since we’re spending more time than usual at home this year, might as well spruce up the backyard! We started with a big project of cleaning up the yard, but I’m also loving building on top of what we did last year. I’ve been itching to add more outdoor accessories to make the space feel cozy and intimate and cute.

For example, yesterday, I repotted the pots from my rainbow terra cotta hanging garden. Last year I did herbs, but didn’t actually use them for cooking. So this time around I thought I’d just make it pretty. Can you tell I tried to coordinate the blooms with the pot color?! It’s hard to see in this picture, but in person it’s a fun detail! P.s. I used these hooks to hang affordable pots that I painted.

swing stand / swing / vertical herb garden / pots and pillow no longer available

15 outdoor accessories

While I’ve been searching for fun outdoor accessories to make my backyard patio space cuter, I thought I’d share with you what I find! I’ll also be doing some DIYs for this space too, so watch out for those. In the meantime, here are 15 different items you can buy now that’ll really make any outdoor space feel special.

1. wind chimes

Is there anything more relaxing than listening to wind chimes while enjoying time on a patio?! I love chimes because they’re double purpose- they look good and they add to the sound ambiance.

2. lanterns

The best thing about lanterns is that they look good in the day and then really up the ambiance at night! Staying out late during summer nights is so magical, might as well add some lights in a cute lantern. Above, you can see how I hung two in the outdoor patio space when we rented. They’re just as cute sitting on the ground or flanking a door too.

3. hammock

We have a hammock on our back patio and each night, after working all day, I climb on with my son and we read books together. I always thought I’d feel like I have “made it” if I could have a hammock to swing on. Honestly, I’m so grateful for it and do feel that way! It’s really relaxing.

Side tip, I flip the hammock over when not in use. That way, when I’m ready to hop on, I can flip it back over (so the right side is up) and it doesn’t have dirt on it.

4. pots and planters

Here’s my number one tip for making an outdoor space cute- fill it with plants in cute pots. They’re the ultimate in outdoor accessories! Plants add literal life and lushness. And outside they’re the softness the space needs.

5. umbrella

Last year for my birthday, I bought myself this umbrella (which is no longer available), and I have ZERO regrets! I put it in a vintage table and added an umbrella stand and now I move it wherever I need shade. It’s used daily here because when we’re working on a project, it’s our shade outside. Cute and functional- yes please!

p.s. if you need an umbrella stand, this diy one is so sturdy! I actually prefer it to the store bought one.

6. Tableware

We do our fair share of outdoor entertaining. So, I bought one set of super cute and affordable melamine dishes. That way, they’re light weight and won’t break when being transported outside. Having outdoor tableware makes having dinner outside, even if it’s just with the family, seem special.

7. watering can

rainbow patio

I have a watering can that I always leave outside. It’s pretty, but obviously super functional. I fill it up with the hose and water the plants in my rainbow pots I showed above and in my mailbox. If you have to use something everyday, you might as well buy something that looks great. It really helps watering feel like less of a chore.

8. plant markers

Last year I made myself plant markers. These are a tiny detailed item that you can put in a pot that helps you know what the item is and it adds a pop of color. It’s all in the details!

9. bird house

I have a bird house obsession. I really want to add a big one outside my kitchen window this year. Growing up, my grandma loved birds and I’d spend time at her kitchen window looking for the ones that came to her feeder. She’d tell me what kind they were. It’s such a great memory and a nice way to enjoy nature.

10. trays and platters

A tray is great for an outdoor space because you can use it to transport items. We do this all the time- fill up a tray with plates, food, and drinks so we can take 1-2 trips outside to eat. They look cute, but mostly they make eating outdoors more efficient. For me, the easier something is to do, the more I’ll actually go to the effort.

11. outdoor pillows

Sometimes, an outdoor space can feel a little cold, especially if the patio has a concrete floor like mine does. To warm it up, adding softness through plants, rugs, and pillows really helps with the cozy factor. Make sure to buy pillows made in outdoor fabric so that they can stay outside all season long without worries that the occasional rain and the bright sun will ruin them.

12. doormat

rainbow doormat

Each door should have a doormat. And again, why not have a cute one?! This is just one more spot to add color and personality.

13. string lights

We talked about ambiance with outdoor lanterns above. And I want to reiterate it here- any light, especially string lights, make summer nights feel so special! We hung these on our tiny condo balcony years ago. I still remember going out at night and thinking how magical it felt! It’s like adding a ceiling to the space too. Now I need to add some to my current house!

14. decorative stool

rainbow fence / stool no longer available

I have a little metal garden stool that I move around to wherever I need it. It’s light weight, affordable, and looks good anywhere. It can serve as an end table or extra seat. When an item is versatile and cute, it’s kind of a no brainer to add it to a space.

15. citronella candles

At our Florida House, we had a bad mosquito problem at night. To combat that, we had to have citronella lanterns and candles going at night. They mostly worked and the light they put off was pretty too. The pineapple figure above is actually a mini tiki torch! Isn’t it cute?!

Ok! so there are my 15 favorite outdoor accessories to add to a patio! Which one is your favorite? Make sure to keep following along so you can see what I end up doing. I have a fun outdoor project planned this week that I can’t wait to share. Oh, and here are my favorites of what I linked above-