There is something magical about evenings outdoors watching the sun set and the stars twinkle in the sky. OK, that line sounded like a cheesy one-liner straight out of a paperback romance novel but being outside at home is just simply comforting.  Consider your outdoor space an additional room to your home. Whether several acres of land or a small porch connect to your house, you should make a portion of your setting in the great outdoors a room for gathering outside of the house.

         While lawn furniture is on its way out of season in the retail world, we’re lucky enough in Tennessee to be able to take advantage of lounging on the patio or porch well into October.  With three full months of weather ahead working in our favor, why not take advantage of retail’s dilemma? Home furniture stores are moving out the lounge chairs and patio tables at a discounted speed to make way for new autumn picks and Christmas décor. Yes, I said Christmas.

        Now is absolutely the time to buy the perfect wooden patio table, chairs and fabulous green and yellow striped cushions you’ve been eyeing since March but couldn’t justify splurging on. Pottery Barn is running an outdoor living sale with popular pieces up to 60 percent off right now. Restoration Hardware’s website is worth browsing for comparable savings.    With discounts soaring, why not create a space aside from the typical table and chairs? Create a sitting area similar to your living room with rattan furniture, plush cushions and benches complete with a coffee table in the middle. My idea of the ultimate back-yard living room is pictured here with the wrap-around add-on wooden chairs softened with khaki cushions in the Chesapeake Collection on sale now on Potterybarn.com.

       The Santa Barbara beach-inspired collection pictured from Restoration Hardware at in the top left  hand corner takes a simplistic yet lavishly comfortable approach to outdoor living. Light wood and sage cushions have me dreaming of the beach.  What about a more unique piece for the entertaining area? Ever considered a patio bar? Not only will you enjoy serving Coronas in the heat, when it’s time for hot chocolate by the outdoor patio fire pit this fall, it’s going to be extremely convenient to have a drink station on hand complete with fixings for s’mores.

Quite possibly one of my favorite ways to create a setting on the lawn or on your porch is with lighting. Lighting can create a mood that is impossible to resist.  Do you remember when you were a child and the trees in the South became ablaze with the soft glow of fireflies? Re-create this image with small neutral dimly-lit lanterns strung across low-lying branches trees close to your sitting area. With citronella candles’ aroma filling the air and keeping the mosquitoes away, you have created a relaxing room outside to dine under or lie for months to come.

        Another way to create either a dramatic or calm lighting ensemble outdoors is with oversized beach lanterns and hurricane jars. Again, use citronella candles in these light fixtures and choose from decorating with them on tables, placing them on the ground, or even opt to hang smaller beach lanterns from the trees.

If you are truly going to create an outdoor space that exemplifies your personal style and comfort, you may want to consider speaking with a design consultant. Inside Out in Brentwood off of Church Street is going to be a good place to start if you are here in the Nashville area. With a knowledgeable staff and very favorable pieces for porches, patios, and the poolside area, Inside Out is the perfect place to get started on your end-of-summer outdoor get-away.

      If you currently have the same old furniture that you’ve had for the past five years or more, it’s most likely time to replace it. Unless you are protecting your pieces during the colder months by covering or storing them away each year (which I would highly suggest doing in the future) most likely, wear and tear have taken their toll.   There are plenty of stores still completely stocked with the finds you need, Why not start fresh this year when the time to buy is right? Your additional room to the house doesn’t need to cost tens of thousands of dollars to add on. It just so happens, it’s already there- right outside your door.