Design your outdoor space to make living easy — no matter the weather
As locals, we flock to the beaches, pools and each other’s yards for hours filled with liveliness, endless chatter and copious amounts of gees. To accommodate all the celebrations, a well-planned and durable outdoor area is vital — even more so throughout the seasons.
Light it up
If your outdoor area is ‘indoors’, such as an enclosed patio, a spacious garden room or entertainment area, then light is vital. “You would want to dine here all year round, so you need to take into consideration what could protect you from the elements throughout the year,” says interior designer Chantal Maree. For an outdoor room, she suggests blinds or folding/stacking doors (with glass panels) to allow light to filter in during the day while also creating a seamless harmony between the indoors and outdoors.
Lighting sets the mood too; candles and fairy lights can create a warm and cosy environment, while a floor lamp is key to enhancing the ambience. “All these combined create a gorgeous space during the night-time. And then, of course, natural sunlight in the space warms it up – creating shadows and dapples that are forever changing throughout the day. It’s a beautiful space to watch…” says Chantal. With light bulbs, she emphasises warm bulbs instead of cool tones to elevate the romance…
Sweater weather
While we revel in warmer nights, a little cold weather never stopped a braai! “If you are able, this room would be ideal if it had a fireplace — whether it’s a closed, wood-burning fireplace or even an open fire that could double up as an indoor braai. There is also the option to have a gas fireplace instead,” says Chantal. “It’s really important to have warmth in an outside room so that you and your guests will not be uncomfortable and therefore would linger for as long as you would like — I love it when my friends never want to leave.” On the other hand, to avoid stuffiness, windows and doors that open are lifesavers. And the blinds and stacker doors will allow you to control the harshness of the light or wind play throughout the room.
Prioritise flow
An outdoor dining area is typically connected to the home, the patio or even a built-on area that includes an indoor braai. No matter the layout, connecting these two spaces is first prize to ensure a natural flow. “From a convenience point of view, you don’t want to be carting everything to and from the main house. This doesn’t make the space easy and accessible to use and in the long term won’t be used nearly as frequently as it should be,” says Chantal. She suggests planning the space to include a second storage area — such as a kitchen, server or bar — so you have all your functional items ready for use. “You may not always have the luxury of this, but a stunning cabinet with glass doors, shelves and cupboards below could be handy here. Even a simple trestle could be elegantly curated too. Imagine a beautifully set up ‘make-your-own bar’ as well as your plates, knives and forks and an area to arrange your food to plate up a yummy meal,” Chantal enthuses.
Create comfort
Beyond the aesthetics, your outdoor space should be an environment in which guests (and you!) can feel relaxed and cosy. For an outdoor dining area, Chantal suggests upholstered armchairs or modular seating such as a small love seat for guests; and spare chairs or ottomans can be dotted about the space for the times when you’re hosting an event. Alternately, designating specific ‘zones’ for specific activities can also create a space for endless entertainment; a quiet corner for reading, a fire pit or braai, or a large open area for gathering. In many patio or gazebo designs, L-shaped seating creates ample space for guests or for days where you’d much rather lounge outside with a good book. Rattan benches with a low backrest are always in season, and deep-seated cushions made of all-weather fabrics allow for durability.
Add colour
A simple way to add colour is foliage. Climbers such as jasmine are marvellous along pillars, walls or even overhead — but indoor planting suffices on tables, shelves or panes. Chantal states that there are copious amounts of greenery available — while your choice depends on the size of your space and height of your overhead covering (be it a ceiling or canopy), your selection should be hardy and attuned to the green of your thumb. “Most of the time I love picking from my garden and having fresh greens in glass vases throughout my outdoor room,” says Chantal. “Indoor plants are not as easy to manage as you think, so choose wisely”
Besides foliage, colourful outdoor rugs, cushions, throws or painted furniture can quickly uplift the mood of a space. Among a neutral colour palette, a burst of colour can be incorporated through smaller details such as accessories or textiles. Mosaics are wonderful and sophisticated choices, while bespoke lamp stands or shades can also introduce vibrancy.
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Monthly tip
As much as we love making use of our exterior furniture and -fittings, the maintenance and aftercare of these items is just as important. Paying special attention to what you use is the way to ensure you get maximum usage, without all the dreaded wear and tear involved. Introducing the two products from the Woodoc Range, namely Woodoc DECK Dressing and Woodoc DECK Sealer. These are great for summer as they are specially formulated to seal and beautify your exterior decks. Woodoc DECK Dressing is ideal for decks and decking made from dense woods, such as Balau and Teak, that don’t readily accept a conventional penetrating sealer. For your soft, porous woods that readily accept a penetrating sealer, such as Pine or Meranti, Woodoc DECK Sealer works beautifully. Both of these products are easy to use, provide UV-protection, do not crack or flake, and are non-toxic once dry.
By: Saadiqah Schroeder
Photography by: Bureaux, Future content hub, Pexels
Text courtesy of Livingspace magazine
Also read: 6 lighting styles for your home
