Do you have a front porch, courtyard or other outdoor space that needs a little life? Transform it with custom home decor products from Spoonflower! Join interior decorator Rachel Serene of Serene & Co. to see how she used Recycled Canvas pillows in her favorite designs to help turn a balcony into an at-home oasis.

Before and after images have been placed side by side. At left, an empty porch balcony along the front of a yellow house with white trim. At right, the same porch after a makeover, with a cream daybed on which are blue-and-white Spoonflower shams and a blue-and-white lumbar pillow. Large plants flank either side of the daybed. Three planters are hung above the daybed, each with a vine climbing up the wall. A blue-and-white blanket has been placed over the far arm of the daybed.
Before and after Rachel’s balcony transformation.

Rachel: My family and I recently bought a Key West style home in a Gulf Coast suburb of Florida. While the inside of the home had been fully remodeled prior to our purchase, the exterior was left lacking.  I recently tackled all the front landscaping, but the crown jewel of the project has been this front balcony.

Below is the house before we moved in. You can see the balcony has so much potential, but it felt forgotten.  I wanted to create an oasis for reading and relaxing year-round and really play up the chic, tropical vibes of the home.

A yellow house with white trim.
The front of the house before.

As it started out, the balcony wasn’t a space I wanted to spend much time in. It felt dingy and outdated, yet I had big dreams. So I put together a plan to paint the ceilings, door and floor; swap out the lighting for outdoor ceiling fans; bring in some outdoor rattan furniture; add pattern and color through pillows and blankets; and load it up with plants.

I chose a contrasting yet calming color for the ceiling and door—sort of a smokey mint. I love a stripe any chance I get, so the floor was painted in stripes for added pattern and fun. I then added a daybed that really completed my vision for lazy days reading out front.

Two images have been placed side by side. At left, an empty porch balcony along the front of a yellow house with white trim. At right, the porch after adding a cream daybed.
Before and after painting the balcony and adding the daybed.

Finally, I got to the fun part and started looking through Spoonflower’s amazing design options so I could bring in more of my accent color(s). The fact that Spoonflower has outdoor options, like Recycled Canvas, was a huge win for me. In Florida you can’t mess around with all the humidity in the air—I needed something that would stand up to the tropical elements. I knew I would be able to find plenty of designs I loved and, if needed, I might be able to have the colors customized to coordinate perfectly, as some artists will make changes to their designs upon request.

I ordered no fewer than 40 swatches from Spoonflower and got to work making my decisions. I worked with artist Danika Herrick to slightly alter her design’s colors to coordinate with my plans.  I’m always thrilled with the high quality and gorgeous colors when a Spoonflower shipment gets to my door.

I ordered an extra long lumbar pillow in Danika’s Pinecone 4 Custom Tree Green White and sewed two of my own Euro-sized pillows for the back of the daybed in her print Custom Soft Blue and Custom Tree Green Ikat. The Minky blanket in Danika’s Laurel Leaf Stripe On Light Blue will come inside from time to time, but it’s nice to have when there’s a breeze. The final result was perfect.

It’s a small space at less than 90 square feet but I’m happy to report that it now packs a big punch!

Two images have been placed side by side. At left, a cream daybed on which are blue-and-white Spoonflower shams and a blue-and-white lumbar pillow. Large plants flank either side of the daybed. Three planters are hung above the daybed, each with a vine climbing up the wall. A blue-and-white blanket has been placed over the close arm of the daybed. At right, a close up of large tall plants in the balcony's corner. One plant is in a blue-and-white planter and the others are in white planters.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the dimensions of Spoonflower’s extra long lumbar pillows?
Our extra long lumbar pillows are 14″ x 36.” You may choose to purchase the pillow cover and insert together, or purchase the pillow cover alone. In that case, we recommend you use a pillow insert one to two inches larger than the cover for a fuller look.
What are the fabric choices for extra long lumbar pillows?
Our extra long lumbar pillows are available in:
– Belgian Linen™
Cypress Cotton Canvas
Linen Cotton Canvas
Performance Velvet
Recycled Canvas
Is Recycled Canvas weatherproof?
Recycled Canvas isn’t post-treated to be weatherproof, but it is suitable for semi-shaded or covered outdoor areas such as the front porch or balcony. The average outdoor lifespan of a Recycled Canvas pillow is one to two seasons and that can vary depending on the design and level of exposure to the elements.

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