Now that my outdoor living spaces are planted and done, I can’t wait to take you around for a backyard oasis home tour. So grab a cup of coffee or tea and come tour my home.

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Welcome to My Outdoor Living in Summer Home Tour

As an avid gardener, I enjoy creating beautiful outdoor living spaces that incorporate lots of plants, flowers, and organic elements to create a cozy and relaxing atmosphere for my family and friends.

Throughout spring, I was working on these spaces by planting container gardens, setting up outdoor living furniture and creating new beds to enjoy.

Now that my planting and decorating efforts are coming to a close, I want to share how it all looks this year!

Have you been getting ready for summer too?

The Complete Guide to Roses Care
My backyard gardens

Where I Live

I live in a quiet suburban neighborhood in New Jersey. We are about an hour from NYC, an hour from the Poconos, and an hour from the Jersey Shore.

We can get the best of everything here depending on what direction you travel.

My husband and I bought our home 23 years ago and have made SO MANY changes to it!

We’ve pretty much updated every square inch of our home.

And it all started with ripping the roof off of our 3 bedroom ranch to build a 4 bedroom center hall colonial.

One of the earliest home improvement projects that I have no pictures from, is the deck renovation where my husband built our two-tier deck.

He’s pretty amazing.

Spring Forward with My Rustic Farmhouse Spring Home Tour

I updated and painted our kitchen by myself. It looks so amazing! You can see the full transformation HERE.

Wait until you see what it looked like before.

We recently renovated the main floor bathroom and laundry rooms. Spruced up the living room, dining room, and front entry.

We even just did a total closet makeover!

To tour the inside of my home CLICK HERE.

Now that you’ve seen some of the updates and toured my home, let me show you the outdoor living spaces.

Because they’ve come a long way too!

backyard garden

Outdoor Living Spaces in Summer Home Tour

If you’ve been following me for a while you know how much I LOVE my outdoor living spaces.

These spaces didn’t always look this great.

I made a lot of mistakes along the way.

Because I love plants and flowers, they fill my outdoor living spaces in both the gardens and my deck and fire pit areas.

Outdoor Living and gardening for hummingbirds

Outdoor Dining on the Upper Deck

As I mentioned earlier, we have a two-tiered deck that my husband built about 20 years ago.

The upper deck has always been used for dining.

For many years, we could never sit out here and enjoy it because the hot summer New Jersey sun made it unbearable for most of the day.

But a few years ago, I found an awesome gazebo like this one and it’s been life-changing.

We are out here all the time now!

Summer Dinner Party Ideas
Outdoor Living in Summer Home Tour

Enjoying Sunsets on the Lower Deck

For many years, we significantly underutilized this deck.

Sad, I know right?

We had a cute outdoor wicker set similar to this one, but just didn’t use the space much.

I recently gave it a makeover by adding THIS conversation set with gas fire pit.

And now?

We are out here all the time.

As much as I love our real outdoor fire pit, it is so nice to be able to enjoy a quick fire without the fuss.

Backyard Living
backyard living on the lower deck at sunset

The Fire Pit Garden

This area used to serve little purpose after we dismantled our kids’ playhouse. It accumulated lots of debris and brush.

And just looked terrible!

Not anymore.

A few years ago, my husband built this fire pit for Mother’s Day. We purchased a pallet of stone and he dry-stacked it in place.

Since building it, we’ve enjoyed lots of cozy nights in front of the fire with our family and friends.

And last year, we added these solar string lights to help light up the fire pit garden better.

Lilac by the Fire Pit Garden

I never took these lights down since putting them up last year.

It’s been almost a year now that they’ve been up and they still work AWESOME!

It is so convenient that they just take care of themselves, turning on and off at dusk and dawn.

And if you’re curious about the lanterns, they are my favorite. You can get ones similar to them HERE.

Thanks for stopping by my spring home tour.

If you’d like to walk the gardens too, CLICK HERE.

I hope you’ll come back and visit again!

Be sure and stop by my friend Jennifer from Cottage on Bunker Hill who is the next stop on the Bloggers Best Summer Home Tour.

Want to See More of My Home Tours Throughout the Seasons?

I love a good home tour, don’t you?

The best part about these home tours is they feature both my former and new homes. And the difference between my two homes is the decorating style. While both are geared toward farmhouse style, they have a different feel to them.

My former home had a rustic farmhouse vibe. But the new house? We are moving towards rustic elegance with cottagecore style.

Wait until you see my homes throughout the seasons with these inspiring house tours.

front porch gardens in front of 1850 farmhouse with walkway and stone wall
Outdoor Living in Summer Home Tour
Outdoor Living in Summer Home Tour

Thanks for stopping by the blog today!

Enjoy your day! xoxo

Stacy Ling logo

About Me

Want to learn more about me?

Get the inside scoop about my background, education, and experience, as well as why I started blogging.

new jersey home and garden blogger stacy ling cutting white daffodils in her zone 6a garden

The bricks \'n Blooms guide to a beautiful and easy-care flower garden book by stacy ling
The Bricks ‘n Blooms Guide to a Beautiful and Easy Care Flower Garden
  • Have you never met a plant you couldn’t kill?
  • Have you dug around in the dirt with nothing to show for it except a sunburn and a sore back?
  • Do you currently enjoy growing flowers, but are looking for more tips and ideas to level up your gardening game?

Then the Bricks ‘n Blooms Guide is for YOU

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61 Comments

  1. Pingback: Simple Summer Décor - Sand Dollar Lane
  2. I think that backyard garden pic at night is my fav all-time of yours!! Such a perfect shot!! I do love that fire pit area too; it’s great!

    1. Thank you so much – that is my favorite pic too! THat lilac just glows in the dark! Have fun in Waco! xo

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  5. I so much enjoyed slowly scrolling through your post enjoying every single picture. Your yard is an outdoor paradise.

  6. Your outdoor spaces are a gorgeous as your indoor spaces…just lovely!!!
    Thanks so much for sharing all you have done to your space:)

  7. Your outdoor spaces are amazing! You’ve done such a great job creating them!

    We’re the same way, we spend as much time outdoors as possible!

    1. Thank you so much! I noticed that! As much as I love the 4 seasons, I would love to be able to enjoy the outdoor living spaces year round. xoxo

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  9. I just love all your pretty outdoor spaces! The new conversation setting area with the firepit is perfect. So fun touring together this week friend. 🙂 Pinned!

    1. I agree Jennifer! I wish you did too because I’d love to walk your farm!!! How awesome that must be! xo

  10. You know I love your green thumbs and beautiful gardens. What a fantastic place to sit and watch the sunset. I’m curious… Has anyone ever asked to have a wedding in your backyard? I totally would! Or at least find it to be party central. 🙂

    1. Thank you Cindy! We have three girls and would LOVE for them or someone else to get married here! xoxoxo

  11. Stacy, your outdoor spaces are amazing! They all look so inviting for summer nights–pinned! Blessings, Cecilia @My Thrift Store Addiction

  12. Your gardens and yard is stunning. Your hardworking has definitely paid off.

    Having the right plants on the right spot is half the battle.

    The other half in NJ is deer as you know

  13. Stacy, wow! You have the most beautiful gardens my friend! I always enjoy stopping by for a peek. Thanks for joining me …pinned!

    1. Thank you so much for hosting such a great hop! and I’m looking forward to seeing what’s to come! xoxo

  14. So many pretty areas in your yard, it’s hard to pick a favorite. I do love the conversation area and the part of the yard where the fire pit is. That space looks so dreamy! So nice to be on the tour with you!! Here’s to a great summer!

  15. Everything is so beautiful, Stacy, but my favorite is your stunning gardens. Those nighttime and sunset views are breathtaking!

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  17. So much loveliness in your summer outdoor living area… no surprise! Love that you added and are enjoying the firepit so much! The area looks so cozy, and what a view! Pinned!

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  22. You have the most incredible outdoor spaces Stacy. Your have created quite an oasis. It looks so relaxing. Maybe someday I’ll be having a glass of wine with you around the firepit.

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  30. Your outdoor spaces are stunning! I love the gazebo and dining area, it’s very cozy and the garden with lanterns and lights looks beautiful! Now I have to see the inside!

  31. Beautiful tour, Stacy! The gardener in me was drawn into your gorgeous outdoor haven. Fun hopping with you again!

  32. Every 5-10 years we take a trip to New York… Next time I might just find my way over to your backyard as part of the trip!!!! I would love to stroll around your gardens and talk flowers and decor! Your backyard oasis is gorgeous.
    Ju

    Enjoy your summer!

    1. If you visit NY Amber, I’d love to see you in person! I’m about an hour from the city! Please let me know if you head north!!! And thank you! xoxo

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