With summer right around the corner, it’s time to get your backyard in order. Here at Target headquarters in Minneapolis, we don’t exactly have a sprawling backyard, but we do have Target Plaza Commons, an indoor/outdoor space created to encourage innovative thinking and collaboration among our various teams. To get in the spirit of summer entertaining, we invited Target Home Style Expert Emily Henderson in to use the space as her studio to show off the new lawn and patio collections from Threshold, Project 62, and Opalhouse—and she did not disappoint. We invited Target team members over for a behind-the-scenes look at exactly how Emily turned the space into the ultimate summer backyard inspiration using the owned brand collections.
We sat down with Emily to learn more about her inspiration for the design, how guests can recreate the space in their own backyards and more. Check it out!
Tell us about the designs you created at Target’s Headquarters!
My team and I came up with three lawn and patio looks using Threshold, Project 62 and Opalhouse pieces. We styled them out on the patio area, which is such a beautiful open space and the perfect backdrop to showcase the newest collections.
This look was inspired by the coastal vibes of the Mediterranean—I focused on natural materials, like wood and terra cotta, and chose pieces with neutral and blue tones from the Threshold collection for a fresh and inviting feel.
For the second look, I wanted to create a modern, minimalist vibe with graphic black and white pieces from the Project 62 collection. This style would look great in a small home or a city apartment terrace!
I styled a third look to evoke an urban oasis, mixing textures and prints from the eclectic Opalhouse collection. I completed this look with a ton of great accessories—like hanging planters and baskets—and created creative seating ideas with hammocks and poufs.
Which Target patio items did you choose to anchor the design?
For each look, I used either one key piece of furniture or another statement item to anchor the design. For example, I styled the Threshold concept around the Fernhill loveseat and chairs. I love how simple and easy these pieces make it for guests to incorporate their own personal style using colorful pillows and other accent pieces. When I saw the hammocks within the Opalhouse collection, I knew I wanted to work them into one of the designs because they are just so fun.
What about the accent pieces you chose? How do those contribute to the overall look?
To complement the core patio items, I incorporated lots of potted plants (which are an excellent way to dress up any outdoor space!), fun seating options and lanterns. I love the look of soft lighting outdoors, so I hung string lights, placed candles around the table, and used lanterns at varying heights to create a warm and inviting feel. This style could work for any summer patio and makes outdoor entertaining a breeze.
How can guests scale down the designs you created to make them work in their own outdoor spaces?
All three looks we created were designed to be replicated in a real backyard setting. If you have less of an outdoor area, I’d recommend going for a look that incorporates furniture suited for small space living—similar to our Project 62 design. If you are planning to entertain a lot, consider a look that more closely replicates the Threshold vignette that features more seating options that will encourage guests to stay and hang out longer. The Opalhouse design is perfect if you are looking to create a space perfect for relaxing.
Find everything you need for outdoor entertaining and more in stores or online at Target.com.
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