Spring temperatures have finally made their presence at our Woodland Cottage! We’re looking forward to enjoying spring and summer in the great outdoors. We have a large L-shaped deck off the back of our cottage that is the perfect size for lounging and dining. To prepare for the new spring and summer season, we planned some deck updates. We wanted to update a few of the furniture pieces and design the deck to feel like a cohesive space with the interior of the cottage.

What Wasn’t Working: “Before” Photos

When we purchased the cottage, we were able to negotiate the deck furniture and grill as part of the sale (shown above). The furniture held up for one summer season but last summer began to show signs of wear. The table and chairs were made of a rattan material which was difficult to clean. Especially with three little kids eating countless meals, snacks, and homemade ice cream outdoors.

Small pieces of food would inevitably become wedged into the rattan lattice. Removing the small pieces of food became an enticing game for squirrels and they ultimately destroyed the rattan on the top of the table. The chairs faired much better than the table. Last summer I removed the rattan covering off the top of the table and added a new finish (shown below).

To add a fresh look to the space, we brought in a new outdoor rug, and added plants. These simple deck updates added some color, pattern, and texture to the space. At the end of the season, we knew we would need to update some of the furniture soon and choose items that were more weather-friendly and cleaning-friendly.

Cottage Deck Updates: Mood Board Design

Our cottage is in the Poconos, and people escape there year-round to enjoy the great outdoors. The landscape is covered with beautiful trees in various shades of deep green, brown, and tans. The Poconos also boasts countless lakes and streams, and rich shades of blue pop beautifully in the surrounding areas. When choosing our design details for the home, we wanted the house to be filled with colors that were inspired by the outdoors. When designing the deck, we wanted the outdoor space to feel like an extension of the interior space in the cottage.

Here’s a look at how we updated our cottage’s outdoor space!

Conversation Area: “After” Photos

We zoned one section of the deck as a conversation area. We were able to reuse two chairs and one small table and added to this space a new mint green metal bench and two ceramic lattice gardening stools. These new items are easy to wipe clean, should handle rainy and dry seasons well, and provide flexible options for seating. The gardening stools can double as additional seating or small tables as needed. Our outdoor rug helps to define this seating area and make this a welcoming and inviting space.

Dining Area: “After” Photos

The dining area features our new 4-burner propane gas grill and our acacia wood outdoor dining table. The table measures 69 x 32.25 x 29.5 inches and easily folds in half when disassembled. The table’s wood top and dark brown metal legs compliment our rattan chairs. 6 chairs are able to comfortably fit around the table. We also appreciate that the table is rust-resistant, weather-resistant, and scratch-resistant. The table can be stained at the start of each season or can weather naturally.

Cottage Deck Updates: Beautiful Outdoor Space

We’re excited to enjoy these deck updates in our cottage outdoor space. The deck now feels like a multipurpose space for entertaining and dining. It also feels like an extension of the interior of the cottage and compliments the beauty of the surrounding yard!

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