As the weather warms up, my exuberant plans to furnish the house I am nowhere near owning moves to the outdoors.  Through hours of browsing site after site of home furnishings, I can’t help but be drawn to the furniture made specifically to improve your outdoor living space.  A living room is no longer the inner portion of your house where the TV is stationed; rather,it is an outdoor sanctuary, complete with soft, pillow-y, modern sofas and sectionals paired with lounge chairs, fire pits, and so much more.

To help you in your quest to make your outdoor space a part of your living space, I’ve gathered some of my favorite pieces together.  A girl can dream!

From Top to Bottom, Left to Right:  Open-Frame Daybed Mattress from West Elm; Capri Round Lounger from Pottery Barn; Tillary Outdoor Modular Seating from West Elm; Resort Outdoor Sectional from CB2; Palmetto All-Weather Wicker Round Coffee Table from Pottery Barn; Square Metal Lounger from West Elm.

On top of getting married and going on a honeymoon, many couples experience the purchase of their first home together right around the time they get married.  At the very least, you are moving in to your own space together and want it to feel like home!  Check out the links below for tips on furnishing and decorating your new space.

-Pioneer Thinking has some tips for getting ready to furnish your house and make it feel like a home, even if you’re on a budget.

-If you’re looking for that special piece of furniture to be the center of your room, check out West Elm.  With modern yet classic lines, you’re sure to find what you’re looking for.

-For inspiration, check out decor8, a wonderful blog dedicated to fresh ideas to fill your space.

-Design *Sponge has a ton of tabs to click through to find DIY projects, unique design ideas, before and afters and more.

-If you live in New York, San Francisco, Chicago, DC, Boston or Los Angeles, become a regular reader of Apartment Therapy.  You’ll find shops and ideas you never knew existed!

A key element to any event is the mood and ambiance, which is often set by a combination of lighting, decor and music.  While I can’t help you with the music in this post, I can offer some great ideas for centerpieces and lighting that were sent to me by one of our very own staff members!

Rachel, a talented designer here at Wedding Paper Divas, found this gorgeous photo of candle centerpieces that were made simply by wrapping lace around various sized votive candles.  Placed atop a mirror to reflect light and surrounded by small details like these decorative rocks, this make a stunning centerpiece.

Inspired, Rachel adapted this idea into her very own outdoor lighting.  Using scalloped scissors, lacy doilies, and some tea lights, she turned these ordinary white paper bags into gorgeous lighting accessories.  You can also use flameless battery-operated tea lights to avoid any fire danger.

Here are her creations in action, lining the walkway up to the airy gazebo.

If you’re feeling even more crafty, follow in the footsteps of one of Rachel’s friends and etch your very own glass votive candle holders.  Although a much more intricate process, the end result is dazzling!