Boost your outdoor living space

July 24, 2015 - 2 min read

Want to improve your outdoor living space? While your front yard is your home’s public showpiece, the backyard is all your own! There’s no better way to end a big day of work than with a bit of fresh air and a glass of red by an outdoor fireplace.

Whether you want a Bali-inspired hut or a cosy deck area, the possibilities are endless when it comes to this part of your home. Is your current outdoor area less than impressive? From utilising multi-purpose furniture to creating a centrepiece, we’ve got a few tips that’ll help boost your outdoor living space.


Direct foot traffic

To give your outdoor space some proper structure and boundaries, you need to establish clear foot traffic patterns. This includes creating easy-to-see walkways (shifts in hardscape materials used) and creating borders using plants or fences.


Fire it up

Without a fireplace, the winter weather can make your outdoor living space seem very uninviting. If you’ve got the budget, we suggest investing in a full-size fireplace; perfect for keeping guests warm on a special occasion or curling up with a book and a cup of tea on your own. Strapped for cash? An outdoor heater or a firepit could make for a great alternative.


Focal point

Every well-designed outdoor area will be focused around one element. Whether it’s a sculpture, water feature, pond or a colourful garden design, this will be the centre of attention and all your furniture should be placed strategically to better complement it.


Choice of seating

Breaking up your outdoor area with different seating will make it much more versatile. You can have a table for when there are guests over for dinner, a couple of bar stools if it’s just you and a mate or little chairs if you want to encourage the kids to come outdoors. Be careful not to over clutter with furniture and disturb the traffic patterns.


Multi-purpose

Spare room in your outdoor area can be a precious resource, so if you want to maximise the space, purchase furniture that can also double as storage areas.


Indoor-outdoor

By including bi-fold doors, you can easily integrate your outdoor area into the rest of your home. This will create a more open feel to your home and encourage frequent use of the outdoor living space.