Creating an Outdoor Oasis with Pier 1 Imports {$25 Pier 1 Gift Card Giveaway!}

I participated in an Influencer Activation on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Pier 1 Imports. I received a product sample to facilitate my review and promotional item to thank me for participating.

In the same way that I can't picture it being warm while it is the middle of winter, once summer arrives it seems as though I just can't remember the cold, blustery days of winter.

Instead, kids are out of school, the sunlight lasts all day, and we have more chances to invite friends and family over for fun, food and laughter in the backyard. After all, it doesn't matter if you are Martha Stewart or not, you simply need to pull together some food, drinks, a comfortable place to sit and your closest pals, right?

However, as much as we love entertaining and having people over, the open layout, ample seating options and fully-stocked playroom in our house makes hanging out indoors quite easy. But once you step out the sliding door? Just not all that thrilling.

I have dreams of filling the empty, blah-ness with decor that combines a class, neutral and casual feel with bursts of bright colors in things like accessories, pillows and decorations that are pleasing as well as welcoming.

My new favorite place to shop for just the right pieces, big or small, is none other than Pier 1 Imports and their unique and beautiful furnishings and decor for indoors as well as out.

Little Sister B and I hadn't even set foot inside Pier 1 before we were excited by the selection of outdoor furniture, umbrellas and pillows that were on display.

The comfort! The colors! The way it easily comes together and makes you want to sit back and relax!

After we successfully tried out just about every chair and cushion, we walked inside and, as usual, my eyes weren't sure where to look first.

I've previously stopped in to Pier 1 to browse the selection of items available or to see which products were currently being featured in another of their amazing deals, and already I was far from disappointed on this trip.

This summer, Pier 1 is highlighting three great decorating trends and it was easy to spot them throughout the store:

• Living Alfresco — Make your outdoor space an elegant living space worth sharing. Pier 1 Imports offers pretty neutrals and subdued patterns that can make your space the ultimate place for summertime.

• Summer Brights — Shine bright this summer with vibrant furniture, pillows and accessories that pop in new, vivid colors and trendy styles. This bold statement is sure to always keep it a party outdoors!

• Costal Views — Oceanic blues and glorious greens will take you away to a luxurious seaside hideaway.

As I'm a fan of all three of these trends, I hardly knew where to begin browsing!

There were many more colorful pillows and well-made furniture in beautiful wood shades that would surely make anyone's outdoor space an extension of their home and perfect for gathering...

...and the variety of tableware and accessory options made it clear that, no matter what your taste, Pier 1 would make it easy to find a way to set your space just as you wanted.

They make it so easy to embrace your table as a main focal point and combine great accessories, such as handcrafted trays, detailed lanterns and a colorful bouquet, to create a cheerful setting that instantly feels like summer!

Not to mention that I had to hold myself back from filling our basket with every item off of the displays of outdoor lighting and chic, colorful accents!

So many gorgeous options to choose from!

But when it came time to finally make a decision, the quality furniture, comfy cushions, colorful umbrellas and more was the proven way to bring fashion to our outdoors (for less)!

After browsing them all, we took into account the amount of space that we were trying to fill and our need for being able to collapse and store our items during the long, cold, Midwest winters. It wasn't long before we settled on a wonderful citron-colored umbrella, umbrella base, striped bistro cushions and an adorable crackle lantern.

Once we had our items home and in place, it only took a little more creativity before my new Outdoor Oasis was in place!

In fact, with the holiday weekend only days away, it couldn't have been more perfect timing to invite a few of our favorite families over to enjoy our new outdoor space with us.

The combination of food, water toys, our trampoline, the sandbox and a beautiful day made this a perfect day for all of us — the kids had a blast playing...

...while the adults were (mostly) able to sit back and relax in the shade with a glass of lemonade, a popsicle or some ice cream. That's my exact definition of an Outdoor Oasis!

Lesson learned: don't leave the Oasis.

By the end of the afternoon, the clouds were rolling in and the rain was just beginning to fall, leaving me thankful that it had held off until our guests were leaving. All in all, I really couldn't have been happier with the great time that was had by all and the way that Pier 1 Imports made it so easy to design a comfortable and inviting Outdoor Oasis that will continue to be enjoyed by family and friends all season long!

If you are ready to turn your outdoor space into something more, Pier 1 Imports' summer collection is full of personality and allows anyone to let their decor reflect the best in summer — easy, fun and vibrant.

Or, if you're not hosting a gathering this summer, find the perfect present for anyone on your list and you'll feel good bringing a gift to your next gathering that wows the hostess.

Pier 1 has plenty of options that can be used immediately at the party, such as Stackable Goblets, a Hamburger Condiment Spinner, wine charms or a candle with a light, summer fragrance for a practical, yet fun gift!

Even better, Pier 1 customers have several convenient ways to shop:

• In-store — See it, touch it, feel it for yourself, and get answers to any of your questions from their in-store associates.

• Ship-to-store — Browse from the comfort of your home, and pick-up in-store.

• Ship-to-home — Visit Pier 1 Imports online and browse, order and pay from the comfort of home.

• In-Home Delivery — Order furniture and large items on pier1.com, and have them delivered right to their door, or even have items assembled, within one to three weeks.

How will you update your outdoor space? Be sure to visit Pier 1's website and browse their outdoor collection and you'll find out just why I had so much fun shopping and creating my own oasis! You'll also want to connect with Pier 1 on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest so that you stay up-to-date on their amazing products.

Plus, thanks to their generosity, one person will be even more prepared to pick up their favorite Pier 1 items as well, because...

One lucky person will win a $25 gift card to Pier 1 Imports*!

Entry-Form

*Entrants are only eligible to win one Pier 1 gift card from the various blogs that are currently holdings giveaways.