A few weeks ago I had a family reunion planned at my parent’s house in Southern California. I knew there would be more people than normal and seating would be scarce. I teamed up with Arhaus to make the experience both efficient and comfortable for the space. Because my parent’s beach town is pretty much paradise, the indoors/outdoors experience is in strong force. I wanted to focus on leading people outside, which would aid in indoor traffic flow. I mean, who doesn’t love spending time in perfect year-round 75 degree weather?!
My mom has created a South of France feel for the backyard with the lovely stone and overgrown landscaping. All it needed was some soothing neutral grounding pieces like Arhaus’ Wyatt sofa and their coordinating paired Hamptons chairs. These turned out to be the perfect choice, both in comfort level and look. Seriously, they are just SO comfortable. As soon as the pieces were delivered we immediately began lounging outside. It’s the first time since my parents moved there that they were spending time outside! Plus, my mom is a huge fan of whites and neutrals so I knew these pieces would be right up her alley AND it would allow her to have fun with the accessories that she already had in her house.
To get the boho outdoor seating vibe:
I decided to dress up the neutral foundational pieces with a vibrant boho vibe, using a palette of warm colors (reds, deep pinks, oranges, persimmons). This lovely rug I found brought in the color palette and acted as a scene setter for the rest of the vibe. Additionally, my Mom already had some bright colored floor pillows in red. These happened to be perfect not only for additional seating but also for bringing in pops of colors. Some stuff ottomans I found were also sprinkled in. Lastly, the sofas were topped off with some brightly colored throw pillows and yes, even throw blanket, because even Southern California can get a bit nippy at night!
For lighting, I decked out the space with some amber globe light strings. A space is instantly taken from boring to brilliant with these globe lights, dontcha think? Additionally, I placed some candled lanterns in varying sizes throughout the space which added an extra cozy vibe.
How to create your backyard setting:
- I started with a clean palette with just the sofa and chairs from Arhaus
- Add in the rug
- Add in the side tables
- Add in the coffee table
- Top off the sofa and chairs with the throw pillows and blanket
- Add in the poufs and floor pillows surrounding the rugs so that it creates a circular motion, perfect for conversation.
- Add in an umbrella for height and shade.
- Top it off with drinks and food and you’re ready to party!
1. Wyatt sofa with dunes snow upholstery 2. Hamptons teak lounge chair
Photography by Jill Facer | Styling by Brittany Jepsen
This post is sponsored by Arhaus. Thanks to the brands that keep Lars thriving.