Tips to make your outdoor living spaces more inviting

Tips to make your outdoor living spaces more inviting

It’s that most wonderful time of year in the Cotswolds, with Bank Holidays stretching the weekends out and the sun finally shining down on people’s homes and gardens. That means it’s time to break out the barbecue, dust off the patio furniture and embrace outdoor living season. If your garden looks more like a jungle than a welcoming alfresco extension of your living space, this blog is here to help. We’ll be sharing tips to make your outdoor living spaces more inviting, comfortable and cosy. Perfect if your plans for the summer involve relaxing and socialising at home just as much as heading out and about! Let’s dive in and get started so that your garden or patio is ready for those next warm sunny spring days…

Are you sitting comfortably?

If your ‘getting the garden ready for a BBQ’ routine consists of dragging some ancient plastic garden chairs out the shed, why not upgrade your seating this year? With the cost of living still so stubbornly high, why not spend some time researching on Pinterest or Instagram for ways to upscale old outdoor furniture or create brand new seating from pallets and other materials. Add scatter cushions designed for use outdoors to make sure everyone is more than comfortable enough to relax outside for hours – provided the weather plays ball!

‘Zone’ if you have large spaces to play with

If you’re lucky enough to have a large patio or deck in your garden, you might wonder how on earth to create obvious seating or dining areas. That’s where zoning comes in! It’s a way of breaking up a large living (in this case outdoor living) space into clearly defined areas. That might be by gathering seating around a coffee table as you would indoors. Or you might use low box planters to divide up areas or try grouping your seating around a stylish outdoor rug.

Accessorise to add your personal style stamp!

Just like you would decorate an indoor space, why not add personal touches to make your outdoor living area feel like home! That might be adding your favourite flowers in planters or growing a climbing plant, for example a clematis or rose, up a fence. Some people add outdoor kitchens, from simple grills with prep areas to full kitchens with outdoor sinks, fridges and pizza ovens, if they have the budget. Some people paint a wall white and use a projector screen to host movie nights or build a mini bar in their patio or garden. We’ve even spotted interior accounts on social media where people have added artwork to the wall or fence in their patio to really make it feel like a room… would you go that far?

Shade the sun and light up the gloom

When the midday sun is beating down you and your guests will want to seek shade to protect your skin and stay cool. An umbrella, sunshade or gazebo will make life outdoors much more inviting in summer, and they can double up to keep rain showers off… if they pop up. When the sun finally sets, adding some lighting will help you enjoy your outdoor space well into the evening. That might mean festoon lights – and there are some great options that run on solar power – or citronella candles that light the way and keep mozzies at bay.

Keep warm and cosy after nightfall

There are some British summer nights that are downright balmy, with the temperatures staying warm right up until it’s time to go to bed. But we get just as many evenings that are cooler and require some pre-planning to stay comfortable outdoors. We recommend some outdoor throws – these new ones from Liv Interior are perfect – for people to snuggle into. A fire pit can work wonders too, and that has the bonus of helping you toast some marshmallows for s’mores if you fancy a late night sweet treat!