Tips & Tricks

A Backyard Makeover For Our Outdoor Pavilion (Before + After!)

August 31, 2022

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When we first moved into our home almost two years ago, the yard was a bit of a hot mess and it was clear it needed a backyard makeover.

It looked like it was full of nice flower beds and manicured bushes decades ago, but it had been let go for so long that we ended up having to rip most of it out and start the landscaping all over again.

Nestled into the yard was a small pavilion that had that “forgotten” vibe as well, and I wasn’t sure when we would actually have time to get to that, based on all the other projects we had to do. But guess what?? It’s done!

We made over the carport at our last home to be a beautiful outdoor covered area, and we really loved having a covered space with comfy seating where you could cool down in the summer and enjoy a fall day by the fire table.

So, we decided to make our pavilion serve as the same thing for us here, and it’s such a cozy vibe that it was totally worth the wait.

Check out the rest of my before + after home tours, like my …

’70s Pink Living Room Makeover (Before + After!)
Laura’s Dining Room Tour (Before + After!)
Pink and White Kitchen Makeover (Before + After)
Lola’s Room Tour (Before + After!)
Laura’s Pink Star Bedroom (Before + After!)

While the structure of the pavilion hasn’t technically changed that much, we did remove the rotting side boards, and installed more sway support up into the beams of the rafters so that we could leave the sides open for a better view.

We also had the pavilion uniformly painted a faded warm black to modernize it a bit and painted the whole underside of the roof, which was just plain plywood before. It looks so much better when you are hanging out inside the structure.

The shingles on the roof were a multi-color brown and we painted them black to match the rest of it. Did you know you can paint shingles? I’ll share more about that process soon …

We also added a stone paver walkway to the pavilion, and I love how it makes it feel like you are stepping into a cozy little cottage now.

We loved having an Article sectional in our last space, so we chose this corner sectional from them for the pavilion, and it’s perfect for the space.

I love that it has built-in Acacia side tables so you have a place to put your drink (or a few small plants) and it’s the perfect size to spread out and lounge when I read, or have a few friends over to sit by the fire table.

The modular cushion design makes it feel more modern with the sleek powder-coated frame and the light cushions are easy to clean.

Since we were painting the structure black, I wanted to add in some bits of black to the furniture as well, so I chose this rounded lounge chair. It’s the perfect addition to the space.

It’s big enough that we can sit in it with our daughter for snuggling and the synthetic wicker accents are weatherproof, but add a bit of natural looking material as well.

What’s an outdoor seating area without pillows? I chose this set of larger pink pillows and this lumbar set of orange pillows to add a pop of color and make sure we could lounge in comfort.

For a more natural material, I added in woven round pillows (similar here) to match the chair wicker details. I like how all the pillows work together.

I wanted to add a little more color with the rug, so I chose this pink outdoor rug that fills most of the space. These terrazzo planters are beautiful—I love that they come in a large and small size.

They have some speckles of pink in them as well as blues and grays to add some textural dimension to the decor. I’ll probably bring them inside in the winter because they are too pretty to leave outside empty all winter long.

I also added a little more pink by hanging some of these planters in the macrame plant holders I had (similar to these, although these are cute too). Adding some greenery to the upper space helped balance out the plants on the floor.

Outdoor spaces are all about mood lighting, so I added these LED string lights that we had at our last house to the rafter beams of the pavilion. I love that if you add this you can dim them (to whatever you want) to set the mood.

I also had these lanterns that I put in the space, and I like the natural look they add—and they are battery powered (similar ones here).

And I feel like I can never again have an outdoor space again without a fire table, and this one is perfect for the space. The white concrete is really pretty with the light-colored cushions on the furniture.

hot chocolate and snack on side table of an outdoor couch

It’s a good idea to protect your outdoor furniture to make it last, so we have a sectional cover to go over the couch, and a cover for the fire table to use when it’s off season or if there’s inclement weather in the forecast.

Have outdoor furniture? Get our tips to take care through all seasons so it lasts!

Overall, the cleanup and fresh paint for the pavilion, the perfect furniture, the added mood lights, and the landscaping we’ve worked hard on have really made this feel like a cozy space that’s been brought back to life.

I hope that you agree! If you need me this fall, I’ll be out here by the fire table, hot chocolate in hand … xo. Laura