Despite it hailing today - and having worn a coat for the past week - I still haven't quite gotten over the gorgeous warm weather we had at the end of March.

There's no turning back, my heart thinks it's summer now and is yearning to be living outdoors... like this...

I love this cluster of hanging tea light holders, suspended with clear fishing wire to create a romantic, informal spot of light as the sun sets. (Photo by Thomas J. Story)


I dream of a beautiful garden hideaway like this for lazy summer days... it looks so peaceful, and I love how they have combined a fairly contemporary bench and fire pit with a very rustic, unmown country meadow. Just gorgeous.


If your garden is more "sandpit & swingset" than "peaceful countryside idyll" then perhaps this will tickle your fancy. I love remembering how exciting it was to build a den in the garden when we were kids, and this picture really captures that feeling. Obviously our dens were really just us hiding in the climbing frame, rather than a full-on home made teepee, but either way it's great! (Picture via JunkGypsy blog)


Finally, if your outside space is nothing more than a little concrete yard or a tiny city balcony perhaps this picture can inspire you to make the most of it in any way you can. I used to have a tiny shared yard in my old flat. It was distinctly unloved - with a few weeds and bits of litter the only decoration. After a while, instead of hurrying through as quickly as possible, we decided to give it a little spruce up with a few plants (a bleeding heart, a pot of geraniums, some dahlias and ranunculus) in pots, a coat of paint on the door and a warmer light than the big security one. We even managed to squeeze in a barbecue one summer! Even though it was a tiny space and shared with others, those little flowers and smart door made for a really warm welcome home. (Pic from the Living Colour tumblr)

I hope you have found some inspiration here for ways to live outdoors this summer, and changes you could make to your garden or outdoor space.

What is your space like at the moment? Are you planning to make any changes this year? What's your favourite way to spend time outdoors in the summer?

If you have any tips or green-fingered wisdom then please do share it in the comments section below!

Becky
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