Summertime is the the time for outdoor entertaining and the outdoor bar. And whether you have a patio, porch, deck,or balcony, these bar signs will set the proper tone.

Love to entertain in the great outdoors? Who doesn’t, am I right? There’s nothing much better after a long week of work than having friends over for an impromptu get together on the back deck. And if you are a regular entertainer, you probably have a bar setup outdoors so you and your guests don’t have to keep going indoors to grab a cold Italian soda, lime seltzer, homemade kombucha, pomegranate martini, craft brew, or what-have-you.

Setting the tone for your outdoor entertaining space is key. For many of us, this is our home in the summertime, because who wants to be cooped inside when the living is easy outside! So, if the outdoor bar is the ice cream sundae, then bar signs are the cherry on top. Decorating with the perfect bar signs creates that chill vibe that you want to create for yourself and your guests.

And of course, you could DIY your own or search the Interwebs for just what you are looking for to decorate your outdoor entertaining space, or you can let us do the work for you.

We’ve pulled together some fun, poignant, and chill bar signs that just might set the perfect tone for your outdoor space this summer. Hurry up and chill!

Bar Signs Perfect for Your Outdoor Bar

1. Welcome to Our Porch

It is all about the friendships, after all.

2. Whatever Your Bring

Your provide the space, your friends provide the vino, right?

3. No Workin’

Exactly. The weekend is time for friends and the great outdoors.

4. Toasted

A fire pit is an awesome addition to any outdoor party. S’mores, anyone?

5. Bar Rules

Every bar needs a list of must follow rules.

6. Paradise

Outdoor living anywhere is almost paradise for certain.

7. Light Up Cork

Keep it simple and lit up!

8. Phobia

Did someone say wine?

9. What Happens at the Bar

True that!

10. Best Friends

Every Friday and Saturday, naturally.

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The post 10 Bar Signs That Your Back Porch Needs this Summer appeared first on EcoSalon.

Turn your backyard into the oasis you’ve always dreamed of having with ten of the coolest – and easiest – outdoor DIY projects for spring.

We’ve scoured the do-it-yourself depths of the internet for several of our favorite and user friendly projects that should take no more than a day or two to complete for the most complex and just thirty minutes or less to put together for some of the simplest. There are also tutorials and examples provided in the title for each venture. We hope you enjoy our picks and get inspired for spring!

1. Branch Chandelier

Create a conversation piece for your next outdoor dinner party with an amazingly elegant and earthy halo-shaped branch chandelier. The key to this project, according to the tutorial, is to find trees with long, slender branches like the elderberry. And don’t worry if it’s already in bloom, the foliage and/or flowers will give it a lovely touch of color.

2. Small Fire Pit

Create the chic, modern, and super simple fire pit from the tutorial we’ve provided with just a few materials and a little patience. The instructions call for a traditional gel flame, but you can make it more eco-friendly by opting for the Ecoflame gel found here. It’s a completely biodegradable and non-toxic ethanol warming gel committed to sustainability.

3. Tree Swing

Every adult needs a tree swing, right? Right! So head on over to the tutorial for one of the simplest and easiest to follow DIY projects. Use a piece of salvaged wood to make this project more sustainable and follow up with the TriCoPolymer VOC free non-toxic lumber sealer for a finish that can withstand the elements without harming the environment.

4. Cinder Block Planter

Have fun with building blocks for big people – cinder blocks, that is! The small funky version of the concrete planters from the tutorial would look great tucked into a cute little corner. Or, if you’re feeling adventurous, create a larger version with protruding “mini planters” popping out sporadically along the wall’s span. Use what you can from leftover home projects or take the unwanted blocks off other people’s hands for a DIY that will cost very little.

5. Outdoor Orb Lights

Outdoor lighting can become super pricey in a heartbeat, but the clever tutorial over at The Art of Doing Stuff has solved that little problem for just a few dollars. With a few thrifted white glass orbs from old ceiling mounted light fixtures filled with Christmas lights, you’ll have a garden full of modern ambiance.

6. Wood Garden Edging

This salvaged wood garden edging project is super cute and looks hella easy to execute. With some wood, a saw, a few screws, and some non-toxic paint, you can have cute little picket fence-like border around your garden. Simply darling!

7. Simple Bird Bath

The bird bath tutorial in the link above is nothing short of thrifty genius. With wooden dowels and virtually any sort of shallow tray that you have on hand (she used one from Ikea), you can totally conquer this sweet, modern birdbath.

8. Cement Block Bench

With twelve cinder blocks, a generous helping of heavy duty concrete glue, four pieces of 4×4 lumber, paint, and some cushions, you can recreate the stunning and vibrant bench seen in the tutorial. This is perfect for spring and the colors couldn’t be any lovelier. Although it can be done, if you’d rather avoid having to add a “back” to this seat, plan to have a wall somewhere in your yard serve as the backrest.

9. Tire Table

A simple, yet completely functional outdoor DIY is this tire table project. Check out salvage yards, Craigslist, or landfills for old tires that you can snag to complete this project. Don’t have a large, thick piece of glass? Try locating one as part of a table at a thrift store or yard sale. Paint the tires, if you wish, and then pop on the glass, which you want to be heavy enough so that is does not tip over once it’s in place

10. Cabinet Potting Bench

Probably one of our favorites is this revamped china cabinet project that features a boldly colored hutch that’s been transformed into the perfect little place to tend to your plants and store your supplies. Have fun with this – from the color to the functionality details – because the possibilities are endless. Not into gardening? Then transform it into a mini outdoor bar slash serving area instead.

We hope you’ve enjoyed our (almost) instantly gratifying outdoor DIY projects for spring. Let us know which one if your favorite over at the EcoSalon Facebook page!

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Image of Hanging Flowers via Shutterstock

The post 10 (Almost) Instantly Gratifying Outdoor DIY Projects to Try for Spring appeared first on EcoSalon.

If your dog isn’t a city dweller and is lucky enough to have a backyard, he probably runs around on grass. Because, well, what else would you cover your backyard with, right? Luxury interior design Kari Whitman, owner of Kari Whitman Interiors LLC, has a different idea – ForeverLawn, an eco-friendly synthetic alternative.

So how is faux grass eco-friendly? And why is it better than the real stuff?

According to CafeMom, Whitman says instead of grass, she always uses ForeverLawn, which is made from recycled materials. Not only is it easier to maintain and keep green in comparison to real grass, it holds up to the extra wear and tear dogs bring to the backyard. ForeverLawn’s K9Grass is made specifically for dogs. The faux grass yarn is knitted, which allows for flow-through drainage and it has a antimicrobial agent to prevent stains, odors and bacteria. It’s also completely washable, all of which make it great ground cover for kennels and indoor dog parks.

Dog-lover Kristen Bell is one of Whitman’s celebrity clients that has a ForeverLawn covered backyard. Bell has plenty of eco-friendly habits – she’s a vegetarian, she has partnered with eco companies like TOMS shoes and earlier this month she dedicated her 30th birthday to Charity: Water. Plus, she lets all of her rescued pets run around on faux lawn: Lola and Mr. Shakes came from shelters, while Sadie was a post-hurricane Katrina rescue from New Orleans. That said, she also spoils her pups with an outdoor Moroccan tiled hot and cold water doggie bath.

I’m not exactly convinced that choosing a fake lawn is really a more eco-friendly choice – and my dog Leo (shown above) might argue that there’s nothing like a good roll in the real grass! Though the fact that the lawn requires little maintenance does have some green benefits. In effect it saves water, eliminates the need for fertilizers or pesticides, cuts out the gas and pollution associated with mowing and prevents erosion.

If you’re not ready to makeover your backyard you could try a patch of grass to see how your pooch likes it. Or they even make a K9Grass potty.

What do you think of K9Grass? Smart idea? A bit ridiculous? Or not green enough for your dog? Tell us in the comments below.

Images: gTarded, abfsra

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