family eating dinner outside with garden in background

7 Easy Updates to Refresh Your Outdoor Living Spaces this Spring & Summer

Spring is well and truly upon us here in Australia, and summer is fast approaching, which is why it’s the perfect time to start thinking about how you can refresh your outdoor space to get it ready for those beautiful warm days which are just around the corner!

Don't worry! Elevating your outdoor areas doesn't have to be a massive job. As you'll see, sometimes the smallest of updates can transform your outdoor living space into a real retreat your whole family will enjoy spending time in.

Here are seven updates to refresh your outdoor living space for spring and summer:

1 - Clean and Refresh Your Existing Furniture

While your existing outdoor furniture might look a bit dull and dirty, don't just throw it out. You'll be amazed how much better it will look after a deep clean:

Metal and Plastic Furniture

For metal and plastic furniture, you can use a clean cloth to wipe away any dirt or dust that has gathered over the winter. To get rid of any pollen or grime that has accumulated on the furniture, however, you’ll need to use something a bit stronger. Mix detergent with warm water in a bucket, and then use a sponge to thoroughly scrub the surfaces.

Once you’ve completely scrubbed the furniture, use a hose to wash everything away. You can either air dry metal or plastic furniture under the sun or wipe everything down yourself with a clean cloth.

You can also use specialist cleaning products but make sure you test on a small area first to ensure no residue or marks are left behind.

Wooden Furniture

With wooden furniture, first check to make sure it hasn't got too much rot, decay, or insect damage. If it has, it might be time to replace it. If it's just dirty and faded, you can refresh it by wiping down your furniture with a damp cloth to remove dust and debris, then using a mix of specialized wood cleaner and mild soap to scrub the wood gently. Scrub alongside the grain rather than against it to avoid making scratches.

Then rinse the furniture with clean water and allow it to completely dry before using it. Once dry, add a fresh coat of protective sealant or wood stain to protect it this season from UV damage or moisture.

But if your furniture can't be salvaged, you could also...

family playing together in backyard

2 - Add New Furniture

If you’re going to add new furniture to your outdoor space, springtime or the beginning of summer is the right time to do it.

If your existing furniture is all in good condition and there’s no need to replace anything, think about furniture that would enhance your space further.

For example, do you have a cozy lounger that you can recline on? Do you have a hammock? Do you have any pieces of multi-functional furniture like a storage box bench or an outdoor coffee table with hidden compartments?

Don’t be afraid to ask questions like this and get a little creative!

It's amazing how much more you'll enjoy your backyard if you have a comfortable lounge or chair you can sit back and relax in!

outdoor plants around a bbq

3 - Create Character with Plants and Flowers

Nothing says "hello, spring" to an outdoor space than adding fresh plants and flowers. You don’t have to be an expert gardener to give your garden a bit of vibrant and seasonal color either.

Examples of plants that will give your outdoor space some character include:

  • Bamboo
    • Bamboo is fast-growing and will be perfect as a backdrop to your garden. It can also add a bit of privacy.
  • Dahlias
    • Dahlias come in bold red, pink, or yellow blooms. They’ll steal the show in any garden.
  • Hanging Baskets
    • Hanging baskets, with flowers such as fuchsias or petunias, are a great choice for adding small but noticeable bursts of color if your outdoor space is more limited.
  • Lavender
    • Lavender is an iconic plant with purple blooms and a soothing, easily recognizable scent. It has a calming effect on your garden, both in terms of its looks and its smell.
  • Primroses
    • These are tough little flowers that are perfect for early spring. They add a cheerful vibe to your garden and come in all sorts of colors.

4 - Incorporate Sensory Play in the Outdoor Play Areas for Kids

sensory play kids

Sensory play simply refers to activities that engage one or more of a child's senses, such as touch, sight, sound, taste, or smell. Sensory play is important because it helps children explore their surrounding environments and learn via hands-on experience that can stimulate these senses.

Research backs this up. Studies have shown that sensory play is crucial for a child’s brain development, as it helps build nerve connections in the brain's pathways that lead to stronger cognitive, motor, and language skills later in life.

So how can you introduce sensory play into your outdoor areas? There are several ways.

One easy way to introduce sensory play into your outdoor space is by adding a mud kitchen. Kids love getting messy, and a mud kitchen is perfect for that. Kids can use dirt, water, leaves, or flowers to create their imaginary meals.

Alternatively, you can use a sand and water table or a wooden sandpit. Both of these are super easy ways to keep kids entertained. In a water table, they can pour, scoop, or splash water, while in a sandpit they can dig roads for toy cars or build miniature castles.

5 - Update the Lighting and Ambiance

If there’s one thing that can totally transform your outdoor space at night, it’s lighting. It’s hands down the easiest way to make your garden feel more inviting and cozy once the sun goes down.

The easiest option? String lights. They’re affordable, super simple to set up, and instantly add warmth and charm. Just hang them between trees, along fences, or drape them over a pergola to create a soft, magical glow.

For a more functional yet stylish touch, add pathway lights. These not only guide you and your guests along garden paths but also add a beautiful ambient light to the space. They’re practical but still create a lovely atmosphere, making your garden look well-lit and welcoming.

6 - Create Shade

Shade is a must for the hot Aussie summer sun! This is one of the most overlooked yet important things you can do to make any outdoor space more comfortable, and it doesn’t need to be complicated.

One of the simplest options, for example, would be to add outdoor umbrellas. They are easy to move around, so you can rotate them to cover up the dining or seating areas.

If you’re looking for something more permanent, consider a pergola or gazebo, which is great for larger areas like patios and can be customized with climbing plants like vines for a natural canopy.

A more expensive but luxurious touch would be a retractable awning that you could install on the side of your home; when extended, it can cover your patio or much of your backyard space close to your house.

7 - Enhance the Dining Area

Something you could add to your dining area, if you haven’t already, is an outdoor rug. While it may not seem to be necessary, the truth is that a rug can serve as an ‘anchor’ for the space. It can add a little warmth and texture in the process. Something else you could do is to offer additional, comfortable seating around the dining area.

For example, you could offer benches or chairs with pillows and blankets on them. This is for two reasons: first of all, it means that you can have additional seating just in case if for certain meals or get-togethers you have too many people to sit at the table. Secondly, it would be nice to have comfortable seating for nights where you’d rather kick back and relax with some snacks or a glass of wine rather than formally sit down to eat.

Conclusion

As you can hopefully tell, refreshing your outdoor living spaces for spring and summer doesn’t have to be overwhelming. All that it really takes is just a few thoughtful updates here and there and you can make your outdoor space as appealing as possible to family and friends.


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