With Canada’s monumental 150th birthday almost upon us, many people have planned a spectacular getaway to commemorate. However, for those of us who have decided to stay close to home in the city, it’s all about finding a way to celebrate in style this long weekend. In preparation for Canada Day, we’ve sourced some of our top picks for ways to design the ultimate backyard “staycation” for the holiday.

Sunnylife inflatable tropical drink holders; available at sunnylife.com. $15 – $20USD.
When you can’t get to the tropics, Sunnylife brings the tropics to you! These playful floaties solve the classic pool party dilemma of how to effectively manage your beverage while water bound. From pineapples to flamingos to palm trees, the Australia/ LA based lifestyle brand  has all your tropical desires covered while providing the poolside’s most essential service.

Falster outdoor dining table and bench seating; available at IKEA, $499.
When we think about long weekend entertaining, having a space to gather and eat together is paramount. The streamlined silhouette of the Falster series is a space saver, yet the benches allow flexible seating. Polystyrene weather-resistant materials allow for easy care and worry-free outdoor living. Set comes with one dining table and two benches (note: two sets shown in photo).

Blush Shibori throw pillow; available from Haven Textile Company, $200.
When warm weather finally hits, it’s all about bringing the comforts of the indoors, out. Creating spaces to lounge and relax are made easy with a collection of throw pillows – I love the muted global inspiration of these locally designed and produced one-of-a-kind pillow covers from Haven Textile Company. With the brand’s focus on natural materials and sustainability, these make a beautiful addition to your outdoor decor that you can get all the good feels about. 

Canada 150 Everyday Essentials Lantern; available at The Real Canadian Superstore, see in store for pricing.
Nothing creates ambiance more beautifully than lighting. As part of the celebratory Canada 150 Collection, the Everyday Essentials lantern is a super easy way to add mood lighting to your long weekend; battery operated, the lantern is family-friendly yet sets the nostalgic backyard feel with it’s classic camping silhouette.

Marshall portable speaker; available at Vancouver Special, 3612 Main St. Inquire within for pricing and availability.
No birthday bash is complete without a stellar playlist. To set the party mood for your Canada Day celebrations, the Marshall ‘Stockwell’ portable speaker meets all your needs. Compact in size, the speaker easy transports from indoors to the backyard to the beach, all while embracing the renowned Marshall standard of sound excellence. Bluetooth enabled, this little party favour easily connects to your phone’s playlist to keep the celebratory vibe on point. 

Acrylic jewel outdoor glassware; available at HomeSense. Prices vary.
Patio parties and your fancy wine glasses are definitely not a match made in heaven. When you want to serve up bevvies in style but don’t want to risk a vibe-killing broken stemware scenario, look to acrylic glasses as a playful alternative. These jewel-toned replicas of your grandmothers coveted crystal add a pop of colour, a serious dose of style and a party-proof makeup.

Plaj Towels ‘Texeda’ towel; available at Nineteen Ten, 4366 Main St. $68.
Turkish cotton towels have long been a scene-stealer  with interior design, but for summer we are seeing the versatile textiles make a run for the outdoors. Hand loomed in Turkey, these ultra soft towels will be your summertime secret weapon – from at home bathing to pool parties to picnics to that evening time extra layer scarf. Eco-friendly, super absorbent and lightweight, the Texeda makes outdoor living easy.

Tropical greenery; available at The Home Depot. Prices vary.
Nothing screams summertime like palm trees and tropical plants. If you really want to amp up the warm weather vibe for your staycation, stop by the garden centre and stock up on ultra easy to manage tropical greens from Home depot. Instantly adding that sense of California dreaming to your home, plants like the Cycad give a sunny sense of life while also offering air purifying health benefits.