Bringing the Indoors Outdoors – How we can Help you to Create the Perfect Outdoor Living Space!

Are you spending more time at home?

As lockdown measures start to ease once more, we are all excited at the prospect of being able to see family and friends again. Whilst the lifting of restrictions is welcome, we’ve been advised to be cautious when using our freedom for social interactions in the short term; new Covid variants are popping up and the remaining population are waiting to be offered their jabs.  With travel to exotic destinations during the summer looking set to be somewhat trickier than normal, it’s likely many of us will be spending a lot of time in the home once again this year!

Extend your home into the garden

After a tough winter under lengthy lockdowns, getting out into the garden is a welcome opportunity following months trapped indoors. Sometimes we just want a little extra space away from the hustle and bustle or to remove some clutter from inside the home. Meanwhile, advice consistently points to meeting friends and family outside as the best way to socialise in a Covid safe manner. There are so many ways in which our gardens can be adapted for outdoor living, with many of the activities usually confined to the house being brought out into the open air!

Our top ideas for creating a great outdoor living space 

Segment your garden into zones

Splitting your garden into zones can work wonders if you have enough space to divide it into areas that each have a different purpose. In the same way that you separate your indoor living space into rooms with various functions, making areas for activities such as relaxation, play, socialising and growing vegetables can help to ensure you get the most pleasure from your garden.

Install a seating area – If you are thinking of spending more time in your garden this summer, having somewhere to sit and put your feet up is pretty much essential. A host of garden furniture options are available from off-the-shelf to bespoke garden furniture including comfy hammocks or soothing swinging seats, loungers and benches to outdoor dining sets. To get the most from your seating area we recommend levelling off the place you intend to sit with a patio or decking. Our Qualdeck composite decking comes as single colour or HD dual twin sided lengths to help you create the perfect look.

Alfresco dining – What better way to relax after a day at work or to entertain friends and family safely than serving dinner outside on a warm sunny evening? Our Qualdeck composite decking can be used to make a delightful, low maintenance space to dine alfresco. Composite decking is more resistant to slimy algae than pure wood whilst providing a durable level surface for getting food to the table without embarrassing trips or falls. Finish off with a matching outdoor dining set, salad bowls and tongs for that fresh, summer feel.

Cooking outdoors – If you are a confident cook as well as well as an entertainer why not take some of your food preparation outside too! Installations can include barbecue, food preparation areas, outdoor ovens, refrigeration, cupboard storage and much more – you can even talk to your guests as you prepare the food or show off with a funky kitchen demo.

Create a magical play area – Depending on the size of your garden, you can create a fun filled play area for the kids. From sandpits and paddling pools to playhouses or adventure play areas the sky is the limit. A perfect way to get children away from the screen and exercising safely outdoors.

Install some shade – Whilst most of us love the sun, during the hot peak summer temperatures we are experiencing in recent years, it can be a bit intense. Think about where you can install some shade around your garden using clever planting or artificial shades, pergolas and parasols to provide extra comfort.

Soft furnishings – Gone are the days when stripy deck chairs or a plastic sun lounger define most garden furniture. Today you can choose from a range of day beds, outdoor sofas, loungers and water-resistant cushions that add a touch of class to your garden, extending the feel of your home into the outdoors. Many providers also sell complimentary furniture such as coffee tables or stools to complete the look.

Invest a hot tub – Whilst travel abroad, and perhaps some hotel stays, are a little less desirable in these unusual times, why not bring a touch of luxury to your own garden with your very own hot tub! A huge range of hot tubs are available from reputable installers across the UK with outer tub appearances that can blend into the rest of your garden or make a statement for visitors. Whatever design you choose, we recommend setting our Qualdeck [link] composite decking around your tub to provide a splinter free, durable and low maintenance surface from which to get in and out.

Erect a garden room – Over the past year we have seen a major increase in demand for garden rooms – and it really is no wonder with their huge range of potential uses. Our own Sublime Rooms [link to relevant page] can be tailormade to customer requirements making the perfect garden office, yoga retreat, playroom, home gym, garden escape, craft workshop and more. With so much going on inside the house from schooling to office work, having a little getaway or some extra space in the garden can make all the difference to your lifestyle.

Add some heating – When investing in your garden, consider adding a fire pit or electric heaters to provide comfort on chilly evenings and extend the time you can enjoy sitting outside into the cooler spring or autumn months.

With so many of us set to spend more time in our gardens this summer, we hope our tips have given you a little inspiration about how to take some of your home comforts outdoors. If you would like to receive a no obligation quotation or initial consultation regarding our Qualdeck composite decking or bespoke Sublime Rooms, please click here to get in touch