It’s officially fall! I don’t know about you, but we’re ready for some crunchy leaves, sweater weather, and all things cinnamon. What we’re not quite ready for is to stop using our lovely outdoor patio for dinners and drinks with friends as the sun goes down. With that in mind, we’ve rounded up some great tips to help provide a little warmth and a lot of ambiance to an outdoor space well after the mercury drops.

Light a Fire

Add some literal warmth to your outdoor living space with a fire pit. Think about the kind of entertaining you do outdoors. Do you want something casual where people can cozy up with a cocktail or hot chocolate? Or maybe something with built in seating for guests to lounge around might be a good fit for your space. You’ll also want to consider if you want something that’s wood burning or gas depending on your budget and preferences.

Clockwise from top left: Gas Fire Pit via My Domaine  //  Steel Circle Log Holder from Terrain // Built-in Fire Pit by John Maniscalco Architecture  //  Iron Oval Fire Pit from Terrain  

String Up Some Lights

Hanging cafe or twinkle lights outdoors can easily add some serious ambiance to an outdoor space for twilight conversations in the yard. The best thing about them is that they are budget-friendly and you really only need a strand or two to make a big impact. Consider stringing them over an outdoor dining space or over a balcony railing.

Clockwise from top left: Vintage Drop Lights from Terrain // Patio inspiration from Decor8 // String Lights and Vintage Lantern from Local Milk // Autumn Dinner Party from Local Milk  // Patio Inspiration by Target

Warm Up with Outdoor Textiles

What’s cozier than a soft blanket and a warm rug under bare toes? Bring the warmth and texture of your living room outside to the patio or porch with thick, warm blankets and rugs made for outdoor living spaces. Worried about the rain? Bring items inside when the weather turns wet. Or if you love the look, but don’t want to deal with rolling up a rug, consider stenciling a pattern right onto the concrete for an all-weather design. 

Indoor/Outdoor Living Inspiration from Ballard Designs // Buffalo Plaid Throw from Schoolhouse Electric  // Stenciled Patio Inspiration via Mr. Kate  //  Cozy Texture Throw from West Elm

We’d love to hear how you entertain outdoors when the weather cools down. Share with us in the comments below!