The festive season is finally here, the perfect time to come together for the Aussie traditional barbecues and many outdoor “catch ups” with friends and family. Public spaces can be mayhem this time of year and not always ideal, so our private spaces can work best to hold our social events and there is no better time to vibe up our outdoor space. We want to wash away the suburban surroundings and inspire you to create that dreamy outside, holiday vibe with some of the best trends and ideas. Well that’s the plan anyway.
Here are 5 easy tips to follow to get your perfect outsideR:
Creating space
Whether your outdoor area is large or small you can give it better definition and make it more functional by creating separate outdoor sections. Think of dividing your outdoor area into functional spaces – just as you would inside your home. Create places for eating, lounging, playing and cooking.
Inside-out
Use your interior style and continue it outside. Aim to be distinctive and timeless while staying true to yourself. I love when design reflects who we are. Durable outdoor fabrics and materials make furnishings more suitable for our Aussie weather. Create a super comfortable seating area using your personal style, with either new or pre-loved waterproof furniture. Be bold and bright for pop or raw and simple to create understated beauty depending on your style.
The Elements
Promote balance and relaxation by bringing in the elements. Fire and water features are catching on fast here in OZ. Water reflects the sky and makes for a calming, cooling environment. While fire warms us and draws us together for those cooler nights. Both of these elements promote relaxation. Water can be as large as a pool or as simple as a trickling water feature. An outdoor fireplace, fire pit or wood fire oven are all the rage and a lot of fun. If your budget doesn’t quite fit the bill this year, you can still create a similar vibe with candles, lanterns or small water features.
Light up
Outdoor lighting is essential for evening ambience. To create a calm feel and vibe use “warm white” globes, white light can be too clinical and harsh. Fairy lights are great for creating an inviting glow by wrapping them around trees or stinging them above or dinging area for a soft glow instead of using conventional lighting.
Cooking with gas
Outdoor kitchens are becoming more popular and let’s face it, who wants to be stuck inside on a beautiful day or a balmy night while your guests are all outside enjoying the serenity. Cooking al fresco connects you to the action. You can create an outdoor kitchen by simply adding some counter-style prep space around an outdoor bbq or even build your own wood fire oven, even better… buy one! If you have an available water connection, consider adding a prep sink. If you have power available, go one-step further and add a mini refrigerator. Nice!
Life is ever evolving for us all and I think our most important living areas should evolve as we do. Enjoy your new outdoor space with you family and friends this summer!
The outsideRs
