Outdoor Sitting Area

When we moved into this house 2 years ago, we spent 100 bucks at Home-Depot to buy outdoor furniture. It is a simple set, a small round table with a glass top, 4 folding chairs and an umbrella. Nothing exciting, but it does the job of providing a place to eat dinner outdoors. But this year we started thinking that it would be nice to have a place to hangout in the backyard. A comfy place to sit and chat, read a book, use the laptop- just be outside and not sitting straight up at a table.

This today we completed the new “sitting area” in the backyard:
And it was all done for $100.
-The chairs (each a three piece set- chair, footrest, table) were $30 each at the Christmas Tree Shop. I wanted them to both be blue- and searched through the stacks of boxes to find two labeled “blue”…well when I got them back to the house (500 miles from the store), one was blue and one was white. The store was very helpful, but couldn’t switch the white one out for a blue chair. However, they did refund the cost of one set. So I got both chair sets for $30 ($15 each).
-The cushions and pillow were 75% off at World Market this weekend. I’m still shocked (but pleased) John chose the flower print instead of the stripes. Two pillows would have been nice, but they only had 1 left (& I checked two stores)- but what could I expect when they were each $2.50.
-The umbrella is the one from our original table set. (not super pretty with the chairs, but necessary in the southern sun- and the "free" price was right) We got a new bigger, prettier one at World Market this weekend (also a big discount). The umbrella is stuck in a pot with some sand. I think we should switch the umbrella placements but you can't win them all. ;)


Now all our sitting area needs is a fire-pit. I’m a little annoyed because we just passed up two different ones at a Coleman store closing 75% off sale. Oh well, maybe next summer. Or this fall ;) mmmmmm…campfire s’mores sound good.

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In the interest of full disclosure – last year (when I just couldn’t take the heat anymore) we bought a mini pool. Not like a kiddie wading pool but one of the inflatable pools. The diameter is about 7 feet and it’s about 3 or 4 feet deep; just enough to chill out in with a (boat) drink. This year we just never got around to setting it up.

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Maybe, in keeping with our tradition of adding a new outdoor element each year, next year we’ll add a roller coaster. Chester would love that!