The Secret to Arranging a Versatile Outdoor Space

I’m calling it. Front porch weather is here! Well, okay, it’s been here in South Carolina for a while already, but since we’re finally winding down the new house renovations, I can actually shout it from the rooftops and enjoy it.

Since Robert, Olivia, and I are still crashing at my parents’ house for a few more days while we wrap up the last few reno projects, I decided to go decorating-crazy on their porch. This summer, my parents are hosting a big family reunion… and I’m always down for a good excuse to style a space anyway.

For as long as I can remember growing up, this was the numero uno spot for all of my family’s shin-digs. My dad would grill up the best burgers on the planet and my mom would play hostess while all of our family sat and talked for hours on their porch.

So I thought it would be fun to play around with one of my favorite ways to make an outdoor space really really versatile.

There’s one secret weapon:  stools.

Not like step stools. Garden stools. Not the kind you squat on and wheel around along your flower beds (although, those are pretty fun to zoom around on).

These little guys…

They’re the most awesomest awesome that ever awesomed because they rock at several jobs. If you have a small outdoor space, multi-purpose furniture is your best friend.

1. Like being centered in a conversation grouping to serve as a coffee table (they’re attention hogs like that).

2. Or a spot to place your drink on as a side table.

3. Or a place to pop a squat on for overflow seating during a gathering since they are called stools in the first place, right?

They’re just the cutest and they probably know it.

I see these little guys in T.J.Maxx all the time, but I didn’t know until about two weeks ago that they have a website, tjmaxx.com, you can order from, which is where I found these white and wood acacia stools.

… and those blue print pillows and those very realistic-looking (black-thumb-evading) plants and a throw blanket perfect for cool spring evenings and a pair of lanterns for creating a cozy ambience.

What?! No, you have a shopping problem. Sheesh! 😉

I usually stop in to T.J.Maxx stores whenever I feel like wrangling a 4 year-old and offering briberies (translation: never as often as I’d like), but now that they have a website, the treasure hunt is on. They have free shipping on orders over $89 and have free in-store returns if I don’t feel like packing up my items in boxes all over again.

I’ve signed up for email alerts when they get in new arrivals each week, and it’s probably going to get me in a whole mess of trouble. They sell out of things pretty quickly though, so I usually have to jump on my favorites pronto.

I always try to link to sources I use since y’all sometimes ask, but since everything on tjmaxx.com usually only lasts for a couple of days, here are some that are similar:

• Throw pillows
• Garden stools
• Faux florals
• Blankets & throws
• Candles & lanterns

So now this porch is looking spiffy and ready for company. I’m thinking once the family reunion is over, all of this is coming over to our new house since we currently have a big back porch with nothing on it yet.

Lola agrees with me on this.

“Feed me treats and I’ll agree with you on anything, Mom.”

Do you have any secret weapons for making outdoor spaces uber versatile? Or furniture arranging tricks? What’s on your spring to-do list? Are you gearing up for any big outdoor get-togethers at your house soon? Or are you more of a I’m-keeping-this-pitcher-of-mojitos-all-to-myself kind of person? No judgements here.