Spruce up your garden patio in time for summer
The right furniture and accessories can transform your outdoor space and create an additional room for you and your family to enjoy.
Whether you’re planning a garden party or seeking some peace and quiet, we’re sharing our tips to help you create an oasis you’ll never want to leave – right in your own backyard.
Finding furniture
Furniture is the first and most important step to creating a great outdoor space; from a sofa made from rattan to a stylish table and chairs made from longwearing coated aluminium, there are dozens of styles and materials to choose from.
If you want to use your garden as a second dining space, tables and chairs or long benches are ideal because they are big enough to sit the whole family. If you want a more relaxed atmosphere for reading the paper or just enjoying the sunshine, a hammock, swing or sofa might be the perfect option for you.
Materials are another important consideration – they will impact the price, overall look and wearability of your furniture.
- Teak is a durable wood with a rich colour that naturally silvers over time; it is hardwearing and perfect if you want a rustic look for your garden or patio.
- Rattan is a woven material traditionally made from palm but now more commonly made with synthetic materials – rattan furniture tends to be inexpensive and very waterproof, perfect for the unpredictable British Climate. Rattan furniture can also come in a huge range of colours, making it easy to match your garden or create a certain look.
- Metal furniture typically comes with a powder coated aluminium finish to help it last longer and guard against rusting. Metal garden furniture also tends to be very lightweight, which is ideal if you need to move it around from one end of the garden to the other.
Furniture can range from simple, affordable sets to more expensive luxury pieces so consider your budget first. Argos, HomeBase and John Lewis are just three of the places you can find deals throughout the year.
Lighting
Installing lighting in your back garden makes it possible to use the space on the warm summer evenings after the sun has gone down – it’s an easy way to create atmosphere as well as make any steps or pathways safer for visitors.
Solar lights and outdoor fairy lights are two of the simplest options because they don’t require any special installation – fairy lights can be plugged into the mains and solar lights will use energy from the sun, making it easy to stick them all over the garden.
Outdoor wall lights are a little more effort to install, but once the work is done are durable, functional and useable in any type of weather.
Additional touches
Once you have the basics sorted out, take a look at your set up and see if there are any additional touches that will make your garden more enjoyable to use.
If you regularly barbecue and eat outside, plastic dinnerware and tableware will make mealtimes easy. If your garden gets a lot of direct sun, a parasol can provide shade and make reading and eating more comfortable.
If you like to sit in the garden in the evenings and enjoy the night air, a patio heater might be a good investment – these tend to range in price from £50 to a few hundred pounds and will fight off the chill. A small fireplace is another great idea – it will provide warmth and a lovely place to gather around.
Statues, garden ornaments and potted plants will add the finishing touches to your newly spruced-up space and can bring out your personality or add some bright colours to your patio space.
Do you have a decorated garden space? What pieces could you not live without?
Rachel - Silversurfers Assistant Editor
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