Make the Most of your Outside Space this Summer
After a long winter, your outdoor spaces may be looking a little drab and luckily there are simple and cost effective ways to inject a touch of fab to your garden and patio - all without breaking the bank.
19/09/2022
better homes and gardens magazine
The great outdoors and how to make the most of your outside space this summer
Summer is upon us,
which means more time outdoors. Think long
leisurely days by the pool and casual al fresco
dinners on the patio!
But after a long
and cold winter, your outdoor spaces may be
looking a little drab. Luckily there are simple
and cost effective ways to inject a touch of fab
to your garden and patio - all without breaking
the bank.
Aisha Pandor, co-founder and
CEO of SweepSouth, South Africa’s largest home
services platform, offers some useful tips for
making your garden and patio both fun and
functional this summer.
mother.ly
Patio Perfection
A patio is a great multifunctional space
- it can be used for entertaining, for relaxing
with the family or friends, entertaining and even for working from home,
which is why you want to make sure it is as
pretty as it is practical.
Start by
thinking about how you plan to use your outdoor
space. If it’s primarily for relaxing and
entertaining, make sure you’ve got comfy padded
seating to kick back on. A great way to save on
space yet still have plenty of room for seating
is to group furniture together in a L-shaped
seating arrangement, with a low table for drinks
or plates, bowls or container plants or decor
accessories such as candles or hurricane lamps.
house beautiful
A space that doubles up as an outdoor dining area definitely needs to have a table too. A long table with benches is great for bigger areas, while a bistro set is perfect for two. Do keep in mind comfort if you plan on doing a lot of entertaining at the dining table. Hard seating can become uncomfortable after a while so try to include padded cushions and your guests will appreciate the effort, plus you can use fabrics that will add colour, texture and pattern to brighten up the outdoor area.
interior design ideas
In the same way that accessories make a house a home, an outdoor space also benefits from incorporating things like plants, rugs, art and scatters to give it that inviting, lived-in feeling. The same applies to decorative accessories. If you want to create an atmosphere, you can use accessories that complement the occasion or event and don't forget to include citronella scented candles to keep mosquitoes at bay.
pinterest.com/pin/411657222160816903/
A Natural Garden
A top garden tip this summer is to think indigenous. Pop into your local nursery to select indigenous plants that are adapted to the soil, climate and rainfall in your region so that you can help your garden thrive and won't have to worry about dry weather or water restrictions.
Not only is it
more environmentally friendly to plant
indigenous - these are plants that can largely
fend for themselves - but as a water scarce
country we also need to think water wise when
gardening. Consider installing a rainwater tank
to make the most of one of our most precious
resources. After a couple of rainy days the
rainwater tank should be full and you can then
use this water to irrigate the garden, ensure
fruits and vegetables receive sufficient water,
or even top up your swimming pool.
How to keep cool is another key consideration for your summer garden. Shade is a must, be it naturally obtained from a large tree or with a pergola structure, installing a shade sail, or even with a freestanding shade umbrella. Umbrellas are great because they can easily be moved as the position of the sun changes through the course of the day and with some savvy shopping around there are always bargains to be found online.
metropole architects
Lighting the Way
With solar lighting becoming more affordable and accessible, it is now far easier to add lighting to an outdoor area - or an entire garden. The only requirement for solar lighting is at least 6 hours of full-on sunshine a day to recharge the integral batteries. With a full charge, the solar lights will provide ambient lighting for any outdoor event, used to light up features, or for safety and security on the property.
Creating a beautiful and functional outdoor space is about making the most of whatever space you have available, whether it’s a large garden or a small courtyard. And to enjoy the beauty of the outdoors, albeit in your own backyard, this summer.