Let's Take This Outside.

Growing up in southern California, I have always enjoyed outdoor spaces. This probably stems from the fact that there are only a handful of days said outdoor spaces are off limits. So it only makes sense (to me) that in thinking about the new apartment I'm about to move into, my current fixation is almost entirely centered around this little outdoor balcony / patio we've got right outside the front door.

I've always believed an outdoor space gives good insight into a person's character. For example, my previous roommate had our current patio FILLED with plants, two full-sized BBQ's and incredibly odd things she found on the sidewalks that she was convinced someday would be useful. You could hardly walk around -and that was her personality, she just liked to keep stuff, no matter its condition -which made her happy, so all the power to her!

I, on the other hand, can't stand too much stuff. For me, it's all about space. So, in my search to find the ideal patio furniture, I've noticed some personal trends that I'd like to share. I'm by no means an expert in design or decorating, but I am an excellent google-er and thrifty-finds finder. So here are some common themes that, in my extensive internet-browsing investigations, I find myself going back to.

Adjustable. I found a nice patio set (on Pintrest, where all great discoveries are made) that could be fully compact and stored, but also meet the seating needs of 4 people. Once I saw that, I was hooked on this idea of your furniture adapting to your spacial needs and guest accommodations. But for me, I'm drawing the line at adjustable anything-but-chairs.  I'll explain why below, but here are two of my favorites:

Comfortable Seating. I'm not necessarily talking about lounge-chair level comfort, but rather seating that you don't have to keep shifting around in to find a comfortable spot. If I can't sit still in a chair for the length of time it takes me to finish a glass of wine cup of coffee,  then there is no point in having it. Even though perfectly matching folding sets look awesome, I just imagine sitting in a foldable wood chair and the whole appeal of sitting outside dissolves. What I do like is seating that can be washed down or easily cleaned and also fits the natural way we want to be sitting outside. Here's what I mean:

Plants and Pots. I get that some people LOVE the idea of cultivating their very own jungle in X-square-feet, and to them I say #thanksfortheoxygen. But for me, I want really cool plants in really cool pots with plenty of space left to walk around. The plants on my patio need to have one of two things, purpose (i.e. edible / medicinal / butterfly food) or beauty. My personal favorites are Coleus (beauty) and basil (edible, mosquito deterrent).

For the pots, I just want cool. I love ceramic anything, so naturally I gravitate towards ceramic pots, but whatever is pleasant to look at would do just fine. I love looking at patios and saying, "THAT is the coolest plant ever" and taking a picture of it just to remember what it looks like -a great app to find the plants that inspire this response in you (because I can't be the only one) is myGardenAnswers, you're welcome.

Light for Evenings. This can be a candle(s), string lights, or a single light. Whatever it is, it should be enough to see what color someone next to you is wearing. I don't know when or if Edison-style lighting will be a thing of the past, but let's hope it stays trendy for a while because I am the proud owner of Edison string lights. Something about them to me says, 'you can chill out and be comfortable here'. If you consider yourself mosquito bait like I do,  having a huge citronella candle in a nice ceramic pot to keep the insects away is a plus.

Artwork. This could be a painting, metal work, pottery, you name it. If you have space and the ability, artwork is such an underestimated element to a cool patio. Don't think that needs much more explanation, so I'll just show you here what I like:

My tastes are obviously not universal, this is just what I personally love. In the end, it's all about what makes YOU pick up a plate, or a mug, or a glass and say, "Let's take this outside".