Endlessoutdoor living

MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR ALFRESCO SPACE AND TURN YOUR SUMMER HUB INTO A YEARROUND ENTERTAINING ZONE

Words CAROLINE BOTTING

Enjoying life outside can continue well beyond the end of summer. With a little planning and a few key pieces, you can make the most of your backyard throughout the year. Ramping up alfresco cooking options and specialised outdoor furniture can help reinvent a backyard, but even small changes mean you can enjoy time outdoors during the cooler months. It can also add value to your home by creating a usable backyard for every season, whether you’re entertaining guests, relaxing with the family or doing yoga!

Light it up

Great outdoor lighting is essential for producing a warm and inviting atmosphere in your outside space, says Marianne Zagaras of Lytworx. “Fairy lights are versatile – use them to create a dispersed, twinkling glow,” she says. “Trace them along awnings, pergolas and columns to frame an entertaining area or chill-out space with soft sparkling light.” Winding fairy lights around the branches of a tree can bring it to life at night. “This can add a welcoming, whimsical vibe to your garden,” says Marianne. Net lights can create a canopy over an uncovered patio setting, or be wrapped around tree trunks for columns of lattice-shaped light. Curtain lights work well as outdoor space dividers, or to turn a wall, fence or hedge into a sparkling feature. Warm festoon lights look wonderful almost anywhere, and provide a brighter, more punctuated effect. “Place them loosely for a fun, abstract vibe or in a straight line for a sleek, streamlined look,” says Marianne.

Many of these lights come in solar options, making it easier (and more affordable) to illuminate even the farthest reaches of the garden.

Eating under the stars

No matter the season, a barbecue is a must for any outdoor dining space. From small charcoal models to a full alfresco kitchen, an outdoor grill creates a fantastic atmosphere. It’s also great for those with limited indoor entertaining space and keeps cooking odours out of the house. While it’s designed for cooking rather than heating, there’s something wonderfully cosy about standing around a hot grill. To make this more of a feature, consider a woodfired pizza oven, so you can watch the flickering flames before your dinner is cooked.

Heatwave

There’s a huge variety of outdoor heaters to warm up chilly evenings, from freestanding propane heaters to electric patio models. But it’s important to consider the needs of your space before making a decision – for example, a heat source that’s within reach of small hands may not be the best option for families with littlies. And how big an area do you need to heat? Is it wired for electricity or plumbed for natural gas?

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An open fire adds an extra layer of appeal to an outdoor space, says Andrew Di Bartolo from Aurus Firepits. “There’s nothing like huddling around a cosy wood fire with family and friends,” he says. For smaller courtyard spaces, Andrew recommends a compact, low-smoke fire pit. “The dual walls and perforated base optimise airflow to all sides of the fire, which enables efficient burning and means less smoke is produced,” he explains.

Seasonal colours

To create a comfortable space, it’s important to keep your outdoor area clear of plant debris, which can be abundant in the cooler months. As the season begins, prune any dead or damaged branches, as well as any overgrown shrubs and trees. This will tidy up your plants’ shapes as well as help to keep their size under control.

Plants can also provide decorative colour and texture so, if designing a space from scratch, keep autumn hues in mind. Gardening writer Rachel Clare suggests choosing plants that respond to cooler weather by turning shades of orange, yellow and red before shedding their leaves.

Along with an autumnal colour show, deciduous trees help to regulate the temperature of a garden. Once their foliage has fallen, sunlight can filter through (and into your home) during winter; they also provide leafy shade for plants and people in summer.

Weather protection

Setting up an area in which family and friends can gather – with shelter from light rain (and glaring sun in summer) – is key, but adding further weatherproofing will help extend your nights outdoors. Cafe blinds come in a range of materials and styles to suit any outdoor space. They’re easily installed and removed, making them a versatile option for both entertaining and everyday use. Just be sure to check with your local planning authority before installing external structures like blinds or awnings.

Cosy comforts

Comfy rugs, outdoor cushions and good music will go a long way in warding off the chill and encouraging friends to settle in for a convivial evening under the stars. Make your space extra welcoming with an outdoor rug, and place warm throws in a basket nearby so guests can reach for one as the temperature drops. And you don’t need a fancy outdoor entertainment system – a portable Bluetooth speaker will do the trick.

Hot Stuff

Take your pick from a range of wood-fired outdoor heaters, but position them away from nearby structures or overhanging vegetation

Chimeneas Front loading, freestanding and designed to omit heat from their top, chimeneas are good for small spaces such as courtyards.

Braziers Self-contained and portable, braziers often stand on feet and feature a grill for cooking over coals or firewood.

Fire pits Whether they are dug out and lined with stones and bricks or placed as a freestanding bowl to gather around, fire pits tend to have more open flames. This makes an attractive feature but also requires extra caution as they need to be placed away from anything combustible.

1 Smart Home Products ‘Caladesi’ 300cm x 200cm outdoor poly rug in Natural, $159, I/N: 0393091. 2 Mojo 45cm cushion covers, $7.15 each, in ‘Leaf’, I/N: 0217882, and ‘Olive’, I/N: 0217889. 3 Heatstrip ‘Max DCR’ electric infra-red 2400W outdoor heater, $699, I/N: 0261165.

4 Jumbuck gas patio outdoor heater in Charcoal, $189, I/N: 3171024.

5 44cm plastic leaf rake, $4.91, I/N: 3350684. 6 Matador woodfired pizza oven, $649, I/N: 0177380. 7 Google ‘Nest’ audio smart speaker in Chalk, I/N: 0230789. 8 Lytworx indoor/outdoor low voltage connectable curtain lights in Warm White, $43.71/400 bulbs, I/N: 0201007. 9 Fiskars 24mm bypass pruner, $37.50, I/N: 0241666. 10 Jumbuck ‘Stardom II’

4 burner outdoor kitchen, $599, I/N: 0256477. Some products are not available at all Bunnings stores, but may be ordered.

Keep in mind…

n Make sure any lighting used outside is suitable for outdoors. Any hardwired electrical fixtures must be installed by a licensed electrician.

n Position fire pits well away from combustible structures including fencing, decking and overhanging trees. Always check your fire pit manufacturer’s safety and set-up advice.

n Burn dry, sustainably forested timber. Choose hardwood and don’t burn driftwood, wood that has been painted, pressure-treated or stained, plywood or particle board, as it can release toxins into the air.

n Check with your local fire authority if and when there are fire bans in your area or if you need a licence to light an open fire.

n Ensure lit fires are never left unattended, supervise children and pets at all times and have a bucket or water or hose nearby.