Before and After: This Patio Redo Features a Cheery Color Combo That Screams “Summer”
Looking for some color inspo for your outdoor setup this year? Try a hue that’s been trendy in kitchens for a while now, and bring it al fresco: light pink! That’s what Vanessa Aguirre did in this outdoor space makeover.
Whether your own outdoor space has room for an entire outdoor kitchen for hosting parties or just a small herb garden, this light pink color is a winner. It’s light enough to almost function as a neutral, meaning there are plenty of colors that go perfectly with light pink.
When Vanessa bought her property, she knew its backyard (which came with a pool and a putting area — perfect for the parties she hosts here as a vacation rental) had major potential. That was mostly due to how spacious it was. “It just needed to be cleaned up for the most part,” Vanessa says. “It had some work done to it in the early 2000s but was looking a bit drab with water staining along the walls, and the barbecue needed to go entirely because it was non-functional and basically falling apart.”
Vanessa and her husband got to work cleaning, and after that, paint made the biggest difference, she says. Vanessa and her husband had the fence in the yard painted pink — although in hindsight, they could have saved money and done it themselves with a paint sprayer, Vanessa notes. They painted the patio and deck areas gray (Sherwin-Williams’ Anew Gray) to make things feel brighter and cleaner.
Next, Vanessa replaced the falling-apart brick barbecue with a bright pink one, which is actually a mix of brick and concrete finish painted a bubblegum shade. Now it’s a guest-favorite hangout spot, Vanessa says, thanks to the added countertop and bar seating for six. “My husband actually chose the retro turquoise tile used on the bar top for an added pop of color,” Vanessa writes on Instagram. (It’s a vintage star-patterned tile in seafoam, a great partner for pink.)
To complete the hangout spots, there are pink metal barstools, blush dining chairs from Poly and Bark, and a poolside canopy chair from Target. Vanessa’s go-to al-fresco activity? “I love to host themed mixology classes at the pink patio bar!” she says. “This is a great way to use the pink bar-top and a reason to get friends together for something fun to do at home.”
You don’t need a massive party-hosting-sized yard to fold in some of Vanessa’s clever ideas. Remember: Fresh paint will do wonders in reviving a tired space, even if that space is as small as a raised planter or a tiny balcony bistro set. Follow Vanessa’s lead and choose a cheerful color combo for good vibes all summer long.
Inspired? Submit your own project here.