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Outside chances: Put what you love on the patio
photos from The Home Depot
Both spaces reflect the trend toward using multiple shades of blue.ABOVE: Kevin O’Gara, the blogger behind Thou Swell, designed this outdoor space as part of The Home Depot’s 2016 Patio Style Challenge.AT LEFT: Katie Gavigan, the blogger behind Katie Gavigan Interiors, designed this outdoor space for the challenge.
By Corlyn Voorhees
Globe Correspondent

Springtime means escaping the stuffiness of the indoors and getting fresh air on your deck or patio. From barbecues and outdoor parties to simply lounging outside in nice weather, it’s important to have a space that fits your needs. Sarah Fishburne, interior designer and the director of trend and design for The Home Depot, shares her tips for decorating this season to get the most out of your outdoor spaces.

What are the main factors people should think about when they’re trying to decide how to decorate their outdoor space?

The first thing I always tell people getting started is it’s not different than how you start inside, and there are a lot of interior elements you can bring outside. I start with the basics and ask: “How are you going to use that outdoor space? Are you going to spend time outside with your family cooking and eating?’’ If you are, you’ll probably want a dining room table. If you’re going to spend more time lounging and relaxing, you’ll want deep seating. That’s typically a full-cushion set — imagine a sofa versus a dining room chair.

What are some smaller touches that can be incorporated that really make an impact?

If you’re doing a table set outside, you can add table lanterns with LED lights. Umbrellas offer not only shade but that pop of color. I like string lights for a little bit of ambient lighting, and then other pieces, like rugs, can really create that outdoor space, just like a rug inside can anchor a room. You really want to stick with an outdoor-graded rug, and a lot of times they’re a polypropylene, so they’re not going to disintegrate and get mildewed. Then you can have fun with outdoor accent pillows.

How about plantings?

I love coordinating planters as well as the plants you put into the pots around the deck. It’s an easy way to add color. Coordinate the planters with the furniture and the accents. When the weather gets cooler, you can update the plantings with more of a fall palette. Replacing your cocktail table with a fire pit allows you to extend your season.

What tips do you have for choosing furniture and decorations in such a temperamental New England climate, where we can get snow in April and have it be 70 degrees a few days later?

When it comes down to outdoor furniture, steel is heavier, but it doesn’t last as long as aluminum, which is lighter but withstands elements like saltwater. It will handle the corrosion. I’m a big advocate for aluminum. I think it lasts longer and is easier to move. I always encourage people with cushions to take them inside if you know there’s going to be heavy rain. Regardless, you can hose them off; they’re made to get dirty and rained on.

When it comes to decorating, what tips do you have for making the space look put-together without being overwhelming?

I think it comes down to knowing how big your space is, and I like to have a common color and weave that in. The colors don’t necessarily have to be the same, and they don’t have to be all the same fabric, like you have in your living room with the chairs and the sofa.

What are the latest trends that people should watch for this season?

One of the big trends right now is all shades of blue — navies and denims and mineral blues. We’re seeing the whole nautical and Americana palettes that are popped in with the blues, the reds, corals, whites, and even yellows. There’s another trend, inspired by earthtones, with some really natural palettes. Those are inspired by clay, moss green, celery, or terra cotta.

Do you have any other advice for putting together the perfect outdoor space?

My biggest tip would be find what you gravitate toward. Sometimes, [clients] don’t even know where to get started, and that’s where I go back to taking elements you love, the function, or the look inside, and trying to duplicate that outside.

This interview has been edited and condensed. Corlyn Voorhees can be reached at corlyn.voorhees@globe.com.