The nights may already be beginning to draw in, but there’s still plenty of time left in the year to make the most of your outdoor space. Thanks to outdoor heaters and wonderfully weather resistant furniture, those of us who are lucky enough to have a garden or back yard are able to enjoy being outside well into the autumn months and beyond.
Here we take a look at a few canny tips and ideas that will help outside become the new inside for you and your family and friends. Let’s dive straight in!
Get decked
If you haven’t already done so, adding a decking area to your garden will not only make you more likely to use it, it’ll also add value to your home, too, if done properly. The main thing to remember when adding decking is to ensure that it fits with the property.
Keep it simple, and make sure it feels more like an extension of the home rather than a stuck-on afterthought. It’s also worth spending a little extra on good quality decking, too. While they all may look the same when brand new, poor quality decking will not age as well as those at the higher end of the range.
Make your seating fit your space
Seating is one of the most important elements of a great outdoor space. Thankfully, there are now plenty of options available to us, so choosing the right style for your deck or patio shouldn’t be too difficult.
Look to incorporate your seating into the shape of your space in order to maximise the effect and allow you to enjoy a greater walking area. Corner day beds or built-in seating, for example, topped with beautiful white cushions can give you that Ibiza feel right here at home.
Bring the outdoors in and vice versa
While this may be a rather costly way to transform your outdoor space, it’s certainly one that can pay for itself if done correctly. Blurring the line between your indoor living space and your garden area is very popular in Scandinavia, and for good reason – it’s absolutely stunning when done well.
If you are not averse to major work, consider doing away with your old patio doors and opting for bi-fold floor to ceiling doors instead. These will open up your property and make the interior seem a lot more spacious whilst giving your garden the feeling of being more a part of your home than a separate area.
Improve the lighting
Getting the lighting right can have a dramatic impact on how you feel about spending time outside. If you have a large space, consider adding lighting along paths and walkways. For smaller areas, add uplighting to bring out the best in your garden’s features.
String lights needn’t be just for December, either. Why not add some tiny brilliant white lights to your trees to give your outdoor space a magical, fairy-like quality?
Be sweet on heat
In an ideal world, the UK would be a balmy 30°C all year round, but we all know that this is way off of what we are used to. Even the warmest of days can turn into chilly evenings here, so it’s important to put measures in place if you wish to stay outside when the sun dips below the horizon.
Outdoor heaters are now very affordable options, but they can be rather unsightly. Outdoor fireplaces or pits, on the other hand, can make a dramatic impact whilst providing you and your guests with some very welcome warmth. Just be aware that they’re probably not the best option if you have little ones running around.
Make a connection
Like it or not, technology is a big part of our lives these days, so adding a little connectivity to your garden will help encourage you and your family to make use of your outdoor space. Weather-proof wireless speakers can provide you with sounds, while solar USB charging docks will keep your gadgets full of juice.
If you or your loved ones can’t stay offline for more than five minutes, then an outdoor Wi-Fi antenna may be in order. Why work inside when you can be basking in the sunshine?
Are you currently gardenless?
If you are and would like to move into a property with its own outdoor space, we can help make that happen. Call our agents to find out what we have available and you might be enjoying the outdoor life sooner than you think!
Wanstead office – 020 8989 2091 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Buckhurst Hill office - 020 8504 5403 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
