Is your outdoor space ready for a season of tropical cocktails and DIY parties with friends? Whether you have a tiny urban patio or a full porch area that needs some new life, a colorful makeover doesn’t have to be extensive or expensive. In her recent interview with Domaine, Claire Thomas from The Kitchy Kitchen showcased just how important it is to think outside the box when creating the perfect (and budget-friendly!) outdoor space. Claire converted her drab carport into the ultimate spot for casual get-togethers, proving that sometimes the most unusual space can be transformed into a mini oasis. Check out the magical makeover below + find out how to GTL!

Claire and her hubs faced a problem that a lot of us do — their yard wasn’t big enough to host the kinda parties they want to throw. To fix the issue, they turned their carport, which ran the entire length of the house, into their new patio. Wasted and covered space = the perfect patio project.

First on her agenda was a picnic table with benches, a lounge chair and lots and lots of plants. Since the carport was mainly concrete, Claire wanted to give the space a “secret garden” feel. Five large ficus plants act as a hedge and then five more cover-up spots that needed extra camouflage, like in front of the water heater.

Claire used a mix of texture and layers to make the outdoor space cozy. One of the benefits of using a carport is that the space is completely covered, eliminating the need for expensive umbrellas and offering more protection for some unlikely outdoor furniture choices like a pouf and lots of non-waterproof cushions.

The blogger told Domaine that her vision was a space that felt like a living room that “accidentally found itself outside.” Style-wise, Claire went a little mid-century and a little boho. Since the house was originally built in 1964 and is very California-modern, she didn’t want the outdoor space to clash with that aesthetic. But she also didn’t want to go too retro, so she brought in tribal accents and funky baskets with boho vibes. And with the perfect balance of boho and mod, Claire’s outdoor oasis is definitely something to aspire to. If you are ready to get this look, check out our finds below.

We love the use of baskets instead of planters to add more natural textures. These graphic printed baskets from West Elm ($150) even come with a lid if you want to use them to store blankets for those cool summer evenings. A little side table is a must for creating a cozy lounge area, and this DIY metallic table is easy enough that you won’t mind putting it outside in the elements. Obviously string lights ($29) are a must for setting the mood, as are lots of tribal blankets ($42) — use them as blankets, rugs, bench cushions, etc. With a few tiny fixes like this, your outdoor space will become the magical, mod-boho patio of your dreams.

What little decor pieces have you added to your outdoor space? Tell us about your favorite finds in the comments!

(h/t and photos via My Domaine)

Kate Thorn
Kate Thorn is an illustrator, foodie, photographer, and blogger at Create & Kate. She loves creating art, traveling, and all things chocolate. A native to the Great Northwest, she is currently living in London and pretending to be a mature grad student.