Outdoor Decor Tips from Ralph Lauren for Fall and Winter

Today we have some outdoor decor tips from Ralph Lauren that I learned on my recent trips to Paris.

Hello everyone!  I arrived home from Paris last night, and oh, what a trip!  It was my eighth time in Paris, and I must say that this one was second best.  (My first trip as a newlywed for New Year’s Eve with my husband will always be my fave.)  My friend Missie and I were on the go every single day and even walked over 10 miles one day.  We toured museums, saw some iconic Paris sites, visited Versailles, took a cooking class, were escorted guests at the Armistice Day ceremony at the Arche de Triomphe, went to the flea market where I scored a great deal on vintage copper pots, had tea at the Ritz, went to mass at the church where Mary made two appearances, had lunch at Ralph’s, ate croissants and drank cappucinoes, shopped till we dropped, made a few purchases at my favorite Paris store, Hermes, and laughed a lot.  If you follow us on Instagram, you probably saw the stories I posted each day.   I will have several posts about our trip, and in a few of them I will share some great tips with you.  Today’s post is all about some tips I observed while strolling through the courtyard on our way to have lunch at Ralph’s in the Ralph Lauren store.

In order to go into the store or restaurant, guests have to walk through the courtyard, and I must tell you that I have had a crush on Ralph’s courtyard for years.  I have written about it a few times here on the blog.  This was my first time to visit Paris in November, and Ralph’s courtyard was decked out for fall/winter/holiday.  It was so darned charming and inviting that I just had to stop and take some photos to share with you.  The photos have some decorating tips I want to point out.  If you have a porch, courtyard, or covered entry, you might be able to apply some of these ideas to your own space.

Bring Out the Plaids

In the warm months, the cushions on Ralph’s chairs and benches are neutral with light colored pillows in different Ralph Lauren fabrics.  For fall and winter, he switched the look out to bright blue cushions paired with different plaids and even a leopard print.  Isn’t this look just the best?  Even though it is cooler weather, there is still the iconic little rose bush in a basket on the table.  I should add that it was raining when I took these photos.

Vary the Textures

First of all, the cobblestones really add to this space, but if you look closely, you notice all of the textures.  There is wood on the bench, stainless steel table tops, wrought iron chairs, woven baskets, and different types of fabrics.  Each element adds to the over all look of comfort.

Use A Variety of Plants

This courtyard is loaded with plants of all types, but the evergreens that he brought in give the courtyard a more fall/winter look.  Since the temperatures are still somewhat mild (50’s and 60’s) in Paris, he still has blooming flowers in the planters, but when the temperatures drop, they can be removed.  Again, notice all of the texture.  There’s even a copper lamp in the mix.

Add Some Wood

Even if you have a gas fireplace like Ralph, you can add some wood logs.  It’s another texture, and it announces that you are ready to get warm and cozy.  It doesn’t have to be a large pile of wood.  Our dining room has  gas logs in the fireplace, but I still have a brass bucket filled with wooden logs beside it.  They look as if they’re ready to be tossed into the fireplace.

Add Something Whimsical

A whimsical touch is always nice, and the faux deer heads that are on the wall always make me smile.

Here are a few other things that I noticed:

– The summer patio umbrellas were all open but had outdoor heaters attached.

– Use indoor furniture outdoors. An old sideboard with a marble top was ready to be used as a spot to hold extra food and drinks when serving.

– A basket was holding a pile of plaid blankets to use when the heat lamps weren’t enough.

I have been a Ralph Lauren fan since I had my first bottle of his perfume in my much younger days.  If I ever win the lottery (ha), I am going straight to his store to buy a whole. new. wardrobe.  Meanwhile, I will just visit his store for a nice meal.  We sure hope you enjoyed these outdoor decor tips from Ralph Lauren.  Stay tuned for some things we learned from our French chef during our cooking lesson.

Take care.