Let's Take This Outside
With a mix of snow, hail, wind and rain, 2021’s Spring here in London was not the best, but that didn’t stop garden furniture or outdoor heaters being sold out fast! Now we are finally allowed to gather outdoors again, we are treasuring catching up with friends and family. So for this post, let’s look at ways you could transform your outside space for entertaining, or even create a quiet, cosy and relaxing corner, just for yourself.
TREAT OUTSIDE LIKE YOU WOULD INSIDE
My top tip for creating a lovely outdoor area, is to treat it like a living room. Start with really comfy seating, there are huge ranges of outdoor sofas available at all price points… and build from there, add an outdoor rug, coffee table, some lighting and possibly a fire pit, and you can’t go wrong!
BUILD A PERGOLA
If you’re up for a slightly bigger project, a simple pergola does many things. It zones eating or seating areas, provides a structure to grow pretty trailing plants along, which in turn will provide shade, and it serves as a frame to hang lighting from to create a relaxing and cosy atmosphere in the evenings.
USE FABRICS, TEXTURAL MATERIALS AND COLOUR TO CREATE ATMOSPHERE
Using softer fabrics and materials outdoors is such a great way to create little private corners in your garden. Sheer, floaty fabrics work best for that by-the-poolside in Ibiza vibe, which I’m sure we’re all hankering after after the past year! Hanging fabrics outdoors is also a really easy way to decorate and add atmosphere for parties or special occasions.
Materials like bamboo will also add interest to your outside space, we love how it’s been given a modern take in the image (above right), by painting it all in white.
Colour in the garden can be a game-changer - below, coral has been used to create a gorgeous Mediterranean feel in the first image, and a clever colour blocking effect in image two. The third image is of our Richmond Project, where we suggest the client use a bold colour in the courtyard garden to add interest and a contrasting background for the greenery.
MAKE THE MOST OF SMALL SPACES
Even if you have a a small balcony, it can be transformed onto a mini escape. Plants in pots or planters are a flexible way of adding moveable greenery. A small comfy sofa or chair will make you want to linger and enjoy the space more, or a bistro dining set can provide a wonderful spot for eating al fresco. Privacy can sometimes be an issue on balconies, so adding fabrics or screens as mentioned above can help, and climbing plants, real or faux are always a good solution as they screen, and add much needed greenery.
GOING BIG?
If you’re planning a bigger garden project this year, why not consider a garden room. On many of out ‘whole home’ projects, clients are now requesting garden rooms designs to be used as home offices, gyms or over-spill living or entertaining space.
Images source via Real Homes article, as credited.
