Before and After: This Boho Deck Redo Creates a True Outdoor Living Room

The ideal outdoor space is one that feels comfortable and cozy enough to function as an extra room in your home. But when Lily Sawyer of Layered.Home moved into her digs, the outdoor space was… not quite there. The garden had previously been almost entirely converted to a deck, and that deck was covered with green algae. Plus, Lily says, “the back area was difficult to use with two flower beds full of stones, and the fences were old and falling apart.”

Lily wanted more from her backyard. “We wanted to make full use of the garden space,” she says. While they thought of removing the decks and replacing it with a lawn, the estimates hovered around a costly £5,000—and in the end, the backyard would have required lots more maintenance. “We wanted a low-maintenance cozy space that enables us to use this garden all year round,” Lily says.

Lily started by cleaning up the deck and painting it black, which made it feel way more modern—the perfect backdrop for her incoming boho decor. She also replaced all of the old, broken fence panels and painted the whole fence black, too.

She also purchased and assembled a shed to provide some sheltered hangout space that’s protected from rain and sun.

“The fact that we can hide away in the cabin and feel that we are in the woods or somewhere on holiday is amazing,” Lily says. “We can also use it all year round because we insulated the cabin.”

Decorating both the deck and the shed in a warm boho style helps the spaces blend together. Lily filled them not only with comfortable seating, but also cozy rugs and colorful artwork—even outside, where the pieces are mounted on the fence.

And of course, Lily filled both spaces with tons of plants for a natural touch. All told, the redo cost about £2,000.

Now, the deck is a relaxing hangout with glam stylings—and the space gets plenty of use no matter the time of year. Outdoor living room: achieved.

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