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It’s My Favorite Time of Year, and Here’s the Home Project I Think Everyone Should Take On

Sarah Everett
Sarah EverettAssistant Editor of Home Projects at Apartment Therapy
I’m from Columbia, Missouri, a journalism town (okay, technically a college town with a big journalism school). It’s also home to one of my favorite things: True/False Film Fest, an international documentary festival. So I’ve been inspired by journalism/journalists/nonfiction storytelling for, I think, forever? I have an MA and BA in journalism from the University of Missouri and Belmont University, respectively. While in school, I worked for city magazines (and also started working part-time for AT!). I learned to love clever, voicey content that’s helpful, whether it’s recommending something to watch or read, helping you get involved in your community, or helping you decorate your home. As Assistant Editor of Home Projects, I cover DIY and design, and I organize the Before & After series. (If you’ve done a cool project, please send it to me!) Outside of work, I love doing the crossword, chatting with friends, drinking iced lattes, and going on little walks and sometimes longer runs. If there were a job that combined those things, I would do that. But for now, I'll do the next-best thing, where I pretty much do chat with friends, read, drink lattes, and go on little walks — with lots of writing, editing, and looking at cool homes mixed in.
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published Sep 8, 2024
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outdoor patio blank beige wall no seating
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The beginning of September offers my absolute favorite weather — the kind where you can wear a sweatshirt on top and shorts on the bottom, where you can turn your humming window unit AC off and sleep with the windows open, and, of course, the kind where you can spend lots and lots of time outside, either solo or with friends. 

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That’s why I’m celebrating this home project, previously posted in 2022, as one of my favorites this week. It’s a true masterclass in outdoor living. In the project, homeowners Courtney Scott (V. James and Co) and her husband, Nathaniel, transformed their bare backyard with a boho-painted dining area, a DIY chandelier, and, of course, two raised gravel beds: one for some planters and one for a DIY fire pit and seating. 

You can read more about all the juicy DIY details here; Courtney and Nathaniel made all their changes for just $2,500.

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Courtney and Nathaniel’s fire pit is made from pavers and a metal insert, but even if you aren’t that ambitious — or, if you, like me, don’t have a yard of your own — you can still be inspired by their project. The one project I think everyone should take on at the beginning of September is prep your space for fall outdoor hangouts, whatever that looks like for you. 

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Here are some ideas to get you started.

  1. Make a new outdoor pillow or cushion with outdoor-friendly fabric.
  2. Clean off your existing pillows and cushions to make them feel new.
  3. Add a bistro table and chairs to your outdoor area.
  4. Give a pre-existing piece of furniture a fresh coat of paint.
  5. Create a DIY light fixture for your outdoor space.
  6. Hang some cozy string lights on your back deck or balcony.
  7. Add a Solo Stove (or similar) to create a fire-pit feel in a more compact way. 
  8. Treat yourself to a new park blanket. 
  9. Buy a new game to play outside. (My personal favorite is KanJam.)
  10. Fill a new planter with your favorite flowers for fall. 
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What’s the first project you’re tackling for fall? Let us know in the comments.

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