DESIGN YOUR PERFECT OUTDOOR LIVING SPACE

OUTDOOR LIVING SPACES

Want to make the most of summer living? Follow our tips and create an open-air chill-out zone that’s built for soaking up those gorgeous rays…

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Hhave a bad habit of stuffing up your holiday plans. Let’s face it – the minute you sign those mortgage papers, there’s always going to be something more sensible to blow your pay packet on than flights to the Maldives, or even Majorca. It’s possible that the last time you hit Ibiza, Zoe Ball and Norman Cook still ruled the It crowd. Happily, you needn’t sacrifice that longawaited bathroom revamp to enjoy some alfresco chill-out time. By taking a ‘living room’ approach to your garden design, you can while away lazy Sundays outdoors in unprecedented comfort (once you’re done repainting the hallway, obvs).

Admittedly, the concept of creating a living room in the garden still sounds a bit continental, a.k.a. ‘Not British’. And we do have to tread with a little more caution when selecting furniture and fittings than those who don’t see a raincloud from one winter to the next. But months of unrelenting sunshine isn’t essential, or even that desirable (honest).

You’re aiming for a relaxing place to lounge outside, and there’s nothing relaxing about risking sunstroke. It’s wise to consider including a shady element to your scheme. There are lots of cheap and easy solutions like

Garden furniture, from a selection at Ikea

Garden lighting extends how long you stay outdoors in the evenings and sets the mood for relaxing or entertaining. Stringing lights under a parasol can add twinkle, while a group of lanterns will bring romance. Any electric lighting should be IP45 rated (Ingress Protection) for outdoor use. For extra design points, add uplighters under trees or shrubs and illuminate water features for a magical visual effect.

parasols and sails, but if you’re really taking outdoor living seriously, go for a more permanent solution. A wooden pergola with open rafters covered in evergreen wisteria and vines will add an air of Jane Austen-esque romance to the proceedings, and is a fairly easy DIY solution. Just make sure it’s securely bolted to the ground, particularly if you value your fancy new bi-folding doors.

Ideally your biggest investment pieces – the modular seating and out-sized coffee table – should be capable of weathering a few showers, but the key to successful outdoor living is softness and comfort. We’re talking rugs, cushions, even a few liberally scattered sheepskins. Do make sure you have somewhere to store it all overnight, though – there’s nothing like the smell of damp to ruin your joie de vivre. Many garden furniture ranges include storage under the seats, but a plastic box in the garage or understairs cupboard will do. It’s not beyond the pale to schlep your indoor cushions outside by day, then back in again when it’s time to get your Netflix hit.

Finally, don’t forget to decorate. You wouldn’t leave your living room walls bare, so dress your outdoor space up with metal signage, distressed wood prints and plenty of greenery in pretty pots. Anything goes – as long as it’s rainproof that is…

Ditch the lawnmower – faux grass will give you a lush maintenancefree lawn all year round. Proper installation is essential: without sufficient drainage and weed control, sogginess and unwanted plant life will soon set in. Softer pile designs feel more authentic but harder materials are best for high traffic use like the kids’ football pitch. It’s worth ordering a sample or buying in store to get an accurate idea of the colour. Avoid bright, acidic greens, as seen in your local butcher’s, and seek out olive greens that won’t look unnaturally verdant come winter.

Don’t toil in the kitchen while everyone’s outside enjoying the sunshine. A permanent outdoor kitchen with plumbing, drainage and electrics can cost thousands, but you can achieve a similar vibe by building around a barbecue and insetting a washing up bowl, with water from the garden hose, for much less. Covering in winter will help it last. Build using UVstable, frost- and flameproof materials, like stone, teak and marine-grade steel. Worktops and shelving will benefit from a gentle gradient to channel away rainwater.

Below Garden design by Landform Consultants. Try Sustainable Furniture for timber outdoor bar furniture

Left Cantilever parasol and outdoor accessories, all from Dunelm

Weatherproof and non-slip, an outdoor rug brings a welcome splash of colour and pattern to outdoor living. The best versions are completely washable (some can be pressure washed) and fade resistant. Synthetic rugs tend to be toughest, while natural fibres like sisal, jute and seagrass offer texture and sound absorption.

Get the party started with a fully stocked cocktail bar in your garden. Great for making light work of knocking up an Aperol Spritz (yes please), a bar area requires a lot less space than most outdoor dining table sets and can be used to serve buffet-style food, while still leaving plenty of room for dancing. Include an ice trough – an old sink will do – to keep the beers chilled, or invest in an outdoor fridge if you really want to impress.

For the ultimate in budgetfriendly shading, a simple shade sail is the answer. Choose one that offers UPF 50, which blocks more than 98 per cent of UV rays, and go for a waterproof sail (rather than just water resistant) if you want to leave it up all summer. Breathable sails let heat escape through the fabric without letting UV rays in, but they are less water resistant. If you don’t have a suitable anchor point, such as a sturdy tree or wall, you can buy steel sail poles, plus a steel holder that’s sunk into the ground. Suns Memphis six-seater luxury outdoor lounge set with adjustable coffee table, Out & Out

Opting for upholstered furniture? Choose products specifically designed for outdoor use as they’re built to cope with bad weather. Lighter colours are less prone to fading in direct sunlight, but if you go dark, check the fabric’s lightfastness grade – anything above five is acceptable. Read the care and maintenance guidelines before you buy. Some will require cushions to be stored inside overnight, while others are fit to be left outside. Choosing the location of your new outdoor living space based on views alone is a common mistake. It might not be impossible to achieve it all, but the ideal spot will be sheltered from the wind, take in the afternoon sun and be near enough to the house to avoid excessive schleps back and forth in search of nourishment or the loo. Prevailing winds come from the south-west and west, so try to locate any windbreaks or fencing in that direction. A retractable awning – try ManoMano – can shield a seating area on windy days without permanently obstructing the views.

Above Furniture and accessories, all Dobbies Left Seating painted in Brassica and planter painted in Calke Green exterior eggshell, both Farrow & Ball