As soon as the sun comes out, I love to get outside. I treat my outside space as an extra room. Whether you have a large countryside garden or just a small urban courtyard, you can do the same.
Make it feel part of your home
The most important thing is to make your outside space feel connected to your indoor space. Plan the space as you would any other interior design project. If you love the minimalist Scandi look, then your outside space should be clean and modern. If your house is bohemian and colourful, bring that eclectic look into your garden. Maximalist inside? Then go for it with cushions, throws and rugs outside. Make your outside space look and feel like a true extension of your home and it will work as an extra room.
Look at your layout
Plan your outside space depending on how you are going to use it. What you do you love to do? List what you want to do outside and make sure your space works for you. Think about activities like reading the paper, eating breakfast, sunbathing, entertaining your friends, cinema nights under the stars, cocktail parties or Sunday BBQs. Once you have planned how you going to use your space, you can make it useful in the day and night.
You also need think about the position of your garden – where it gets the sun at particular times of the day, what it looks out on and any awkward slopes or access issues. This will help you work out how to make the best use of your outside space.
Plan your structures
Get any structures in place first. Plan where your patio space should be and lay your chosen patio stones. A good tip is to choose patio stones that mirror the flooring in your home to create a seamless look. You can then look at building some cover to protect yourself from the sun or shelter from the rain. A built structure like a pergola works well to define an area and once it is covered with climbers will blend into the rest of your garden. If you don’t want to install a pergola, a portable gazebo can be a great option creating semi-permanent privacy. Gazebos provide shelter in the day, but you can wind fairy lights around them to turn them into a pretty chill out zone at night.
Invest in garden furniture
Don’t buy cheap garden furniture. It won’t last. Invest in furniture designed to be used outside.
Look for a stylish outdoor sofas and comfortable sun loungers that are comfortable but will also withstand being outside come rain or shine.
If you are going to be eating outside, it’s important to choose the right dining table and chairs. Make sure you pick the right size and shape table and chairs for your space. You need enough room to comfortably slide your chair beneath the table so as not to feel too cramped and make sure there is enough elbow room.
An outdoor dining area is better located in shade or half shade where its more comfortable to eat.
If you have a small courtyard garden or patio, choose folding furniture or bench seating that can be tucked away when not in use. Classic French-style bistro sets are perfect for small balconies, come in lots of bright colours and are relatively cheap.
A compact L-shaped sofa creates lots of seating for socialising. Add a coffee table and an outdoor rug and you have an outside living room.
If you love to read or sunbathe, buy a lovely comfortable sun lounger or a hanging seat to relax in on lazy summer days.
Remember to consider how you will store or cover any furniture during the winter. There are lots of outside storage benches which can also act as seating in the summer months.
