The great outdoors

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Inside floor: Arena Grey Porcelain tiles, 120 x 120cm, £96 sqm. Outside floor including steps: Cortina stone, 120cm x 120cm, £90 sqm. Lightwell floor: Toledo Graphite 60x60x2cm, £90sqm. Stone & Ceramic Warehouse sacw.co.uk. Photo by arch.photos

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THE GREAT Outdoors

In an increasingly uncertain world, homeowners and tenants are seeking out ways to enhance wellbeing, from interiors that harness the soothing effects of nature to outdoor dens.

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Garden living

The pandemic forced us to spend a lot more time in our gardens when entertaining guests from other households, and the ‘al fresco’ life is here to stay.

We have discovered that extending our living space to the great outdoors creates that holiday vibe all year round. All that’s needed is good design, furniture and accessories that factor in the unpredictable British weather.

“The expectations for our outdoor living space now hold the same design opportunities as our home interiors,” says Marketa Rypacek, Managing Director of industrial lighting and furniture specialist Industville Ltd (industville.co.uk).

“There has been a huge trend for chic outdoor kitchens, entertaining areas, bars and garden terraces. To create the perfect summer entertaining space outdoors, combine versatile bench seating with plenty of comfortable cushions for an informal, relaxed feel. Add atmospheric lighting such as stylish metallic wall and pendant lights to set the ultimate ambience for your friends and family to enjoy.”

The outdoor den

Gone are the days of decks and patios that might be used to host a BBQ once or twice a year, according to Leslie Adkins, Vice Pesident of Marketing for Trex Company (trex.com). Now, homeowners are seeking outdoor living areas where they can relax, watch their favourite shows, host a movie night with friends, play games and truly live every day.

As a result, deck designs are taking on new shapes and styles, from mid-century to modern. Outdoor dens and sunken outdoor living areas – inspired by the popular indoor trend from the 1960s – are expected to see a resurgence in 2022, and they’ll be outfitted with all the comforts and conveniences of the indoors, from upholstered furnishings and fully appointed kitchens to bars, big screen TVs, surround sound and more!

“The concept of the den originally gained popularity for its ability to bring everyone in the home together in a relaxed, comfortable setting,” notes Leslie.

Above, Fashion Stone from RAK Ceramics, Light Grey 60x60cm rakceramics.com; Left, Brooklyn Outdoor & Bathroom Globe Pendant Light in Pewter from Industville, £80 industville.co.uk (image by @life. at.the.anvil) Below, Toka Regular Colour Changing Outdoor Ball Lights, from £35 iconiclights.co.uk

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“ The concept of the den originally gained popularity for its ability to bring everyone in the home together in a relaxed, comfortable setting.”

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Trex Transcend decking in Island Mist, along with Trex Signature railing and a Trex Pergola Balance structureuk.trex.com top right, ILIV Victorian GlasshouseSpruce fabric collection iliv.co.uk

“Bringing this concept outdoors and allowing homeowners to enjoy that same comfort and connection is the very definition and goal of outdoor living.”

Blurred boundaries

Creating a continuous flow from the inside to the outside gives an illusion of space and is a trend that’s set to continue, adds Jo Oliver, Director at tile company, The Stone & Ceramic Warehouse (sacw.co.uk).

“This is the ideal way to extend your living space seamlessly into the garden and enjoy outside eating, entertaining and family life,” she says.

Technological advances in recent years have meant that materials like porcelain – which come in a number of finishes and textures replicating wood, decking and stone – are now available in outdoor formats, allowing homeowners to perfectly match their indoor tiles to their outdoor paving slabs.

“Porcelain is the perfect material for outside as it is virtually maintenance free and, unlike other paving, it is non-slip as well as being quick and easy to install.”

Plant power

Biophilia – the approach to architecture and design that seeks to connect people with nature – has now transcended the parameters of trends and taken root to become a flourishing movement. From open-plan kitchens that breathe in the garden through their bifold doors to bringing the outside in with plants and sustainably sourced natural materials, incorporating biophilic design in our living environments has been found to reduce stress and blood pressure and improve mental wellbeing. Whether your home is a detached house or a studio flat, everyone can harness the power of biophilia.

Garden centre Dobbies’ Stylist Rebecca Stanton, comments: “This year, our focus is on how we can get the most out of our homes, whether that’s with a hanging herb garden in the kitchen, a mini garden on our coffee table, some hanging plants in the bathroom or a showstopping apothecary cabinet in the lounge. Regardless of space, there are plenty of ways you can breathe life into your home with houseplants and accessories.”

“If you were looking to build an extension, for example, using a natural and sustainable building material like timber is great for the environment and for strengthening that link between indoors and outdoors,” says Karen Bell, Creative Director for orangery, conservatory and garden room specialist, David Salisbury (davidsalisbury.com)

“Prioritising natural light is a must as well. It’s well documented that natural light is integral to our health and productivity, as well as our overall happiness.”

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Left, Hamilton Weave Natural Pendant Shade from Iconic Lights, £27 iconiclights.co.uk; right, James Hare Astor faux silk cushion and wallcovering, both in Okra colourway james-hare.com

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Herbs at hand

Julia Trendell, design expert at Benchmarx Kitchens (benchmarxkitchens.co.uk), explains that you can customise your kitchen to embrace biophilia as well as encourage a healthy lifestyle.

“Whether you have a growing desire to eat fresh and healthy produce, you’re a budding chef in need of easy-to-reach fresh herbs, or you simply want to bring more greenery into your home, incorporating an island planter is the perfect way to lift your kitchen.

“Design hacks like this should ideally be considered early in the stages of planning your kitchen, when you can really think about how best to customise your layout to get the most out of it. However, that’s not to say such a feature couldn’t be introduced once your kitchen is already installed, space permitting.

“To create a uniform look, carry through the same frontages as your kitchen, using the same worktop to frame the unit. Alternatively, for added interest, opt for the same kitchen range in a complementary colour – for example, pairing neutral stone grey with a more striking midnight blue or forest green.”

Green for serene

From subtle sage to vibrant emerald, the colour green is arguably having its biggest moment in home décor since the 1970s avocado bathroom suite.

“With the pandemic reigniting our love for the great outdoors, not to mention the well documented wellbeing benefits of nature and biophilic influences, green has been trending for the past couple of years, but its popularity shows no signs of waning,” says James Watson, Managing Director of 1838 Wallcoverings (1838wallcoverings.com).

“Green is a versatile, calming shade that can really help to bridge that gap between the inside and out. If you’re looking to add a touch of green into your home there are so many options that you can explore in eucalyptus, forest, or mint greens – from foliage inspired patterns, watercolour effect florals and abstracts, subtle geometrics to bold, emerald green infused designs.”

A soft green on skirtings next to a neutral coloured wall is interesting without being overpowering, adds Justyna Korczynska, Senior Designer at Crown (crownpaints.co.uk).