In today’s economic environment, my family and I have become all about using what we have and making every dollar go as far as it can.  This includes how we update, decorate, and maintain our home.   A few weeks ago, I cringed at the economic cruelty of it all when one of my favorite home catalogs came in the mail.  In this particular issue of Frontgate was a beautiful backyard with lounging beds, pillows, game tables, fans, and a glistening pool.  It was like being slowly tortured as I looked at each page, wanting to redo my backyard into a place I could lounge luxuriously, play games with my kids, and converse with the multitude of family and friends that would be present at the lavish outdoor gatherings I imagined myself hosting.

This fantasy ended as I found myself whining about the fact that I also do not have a full staff to maintain this paradise picture being drawn in my mind.  Instead, I started looking around my house and in my garage for what I did have that could bring my fantasy to fruition.  A twin sleigh bed banished because it was too babyish.  A lone full size box spring.  An old foosball table.  Mismatched pillows.  A bin full of old sheets and blankets.  Hmmm.  I felt the tickle of inspiration.  I knew, given all these ingredients, even old out of date ones, I could make it look purposeful, if not downright stylish and comfy.

As though the universe heard my cry, calls, emails and odd discoveries started showing up.  “Old table linens and towels, do you want them?”  “A full size futon mattress, want it?”  “Ooh, there is a coupon for a fan at Costco!” “What ever happened to the volleyball net?”  “Where is that giant pool float?”

Enlisting a few strapping young lads, I moved my new outdoor treasures to the patio and into the backyard and began the process of making them fit.   It’s like a challenging puzzle – where does everything fit just right to make a whole?  The white sleigh bed looked great because the kids climbing structure was white.  The foosball table filled a vacant area I had been struggling with for years.  The full size box spring was the perfect compliment to the futon mattress. An old hand-me-down “butterfly” chair from the garage was, evidently, very comfortable, and waterproof!  The just-so-happen-to-be green-and-match-everything-in-the-backyard sheets I found in a large garage bin felt like a gift from the decorating gods.  A selection of table linens was gifted by a friend who was going to donate them anyway.  A wireless outdoor speaker I already owned added the hotel like element of music.  Mismatched pillows that were destined to be garage sale fodder, and the miniature volleyball/badminton net I purchased at Target for $18 completed my accoutrements.  And all of it came together to form a perfect little outdoor lounge for kids and adults alike.

When my mother came to visit, she remarked on “how interesting” it was to have a bed outside.  She tested it out and promptly fell asleep for two hours.  The kids had friends over and the foosball table was used and enjoyed for the first time in years.  The discarded box spring and futon placed alongside the butterfly chair and sleigh bed was the area of choice for all to hang out, talk, listen to music and eat ice cream cones.   I noticed that few seemed to be drawn to the “proper” outdoor furniture.

Using what I had along with some items that others no longer wanted, I was able to create a functional space that served the same purpose as the beautiful outdoor rooms that inspired me in the Frontgate catalog.    Only better – because this space was created with free, repurposed stuff – and I was not worried about food on the fabric (old sheets!) or sun damage or water damage (it was already trash in my mind).  I was grateful to have it, to use it, and to enjoy it – without worry.  Why didn’t I discover this “Freegate” way of decorating long ago?