Outdoor living

Now's the time, if ever, to enjoy your outdoor space.

Who said decorating was an indoor job?
This is a great example of how natures
color palette can be used to create
an artistic result in any outdoor space!

Just the chance to relax outdoors is a luxury, and even the smallest of spots becomes a haven of peace in which to take time out from our busy lifestyles.  Add an outdoor grill or BBQ to the mix, and it's a winning recipe for some enjoyable personal time.

So what can you do to improve that "extra room"?

Many of you will have invested in quality furniture, be it rustic wood, or the more modern metals and plastics. Even furniture that's lived a little can be licked into shape with the many great, easy to use products on the market today.

Done deed? Then let's move onto the surroundings...

If you've lucky enough to have a private outlook, then the job is to make the space luscious and abundant. The greenery used here should be all about creating an atmosphere of natural riches.

If you have a space with "neighbours attached" then the aim is to reduce "the non-invited" company, and concentrate on keeping your area your own. If your space is very small, then adding height to dividing fences may plunge you into permenant shade, but if you can get away with it, then there are all sorts of ways to "dress" a prominent wall or fence.

Color is one solution if you lean towards a modern look. A famous Mexican artist/designer often plays with strikingly bold paint to define, and transform unavoidable structures into veritable art work.

Keeping it natural:
If the material used is reclaimed or naturally aged, then all it will need is "dressing". Few things play on the eye as nicely as greenery backed by a wall of aged bricks. But if your structure is less than decorative, then use a form of trellising to help blend it in, or stand out, depending upon your chosen scheme.
This example shows how a dividing wall can become a talking point in it's own right!

Metal grills or grids can turn your space into a cutting edge industrial area, while wooden trellis, or bamboo spears soften the space and make a natural foil for climbing plants.

Look out for reclamation yards, who stock an abundance of unusual, pre-used materials with which you can get creative. This aged metal "wall" sets the scene for an original space!



A nod to the past: Think of adding a "changing screen" to your outdoor furniture! It can be a great way to conserve your privacy in a decorative manner and have some designing fun at the same time. Any hardware store will hold the basic materials: 2, 3 or even 4 boards/panels of some kind, and hinges to attach them together, then some inspiration to finish it off. Happy creating!

But no outdoor area is complete without planting.

Plant a ground-hugging herb
like chamomile close to pots, and every
time you walk past you'll be rewarded
by a burst of fragrance!

Think pots: but make them XXL. This is one area where size does matter! It allows you to prepare the planting layers correctly: plenty of drainage at the base, and remember, raising the pot off the ground slightly allows excess water to drain away from the pot easily. 
A large container allows you to under-plant the main specimen, then mulch any remaining exposed soil, which cuts down on water evaporation and keeps the moisture in, and the heat out. Bigger pots also let you really soak the contents, then "forget" about them for a little while, as opposed to small containers that dry out daily.




Preparation, preparation, preparation: As with everything we do around the home, good preparation pays off, so find out what "kind" of soil you have (garden centres will have a soil testing kit if you're not sure), then treat your beds/pots to  one of the many "soil boosters" that add the nutrients, and the "slow release" plant food that your summer blooms and greenery will need to thrive.

Choose your style: I love the "unplanned" casual look of a country garden, but I also love the uniformed look of the classical, symmetrical planting of the formal garden, with it's clipped bushes, raised beds and straight lines. It all depends on the surrounding buildings and the feel you're wanting to create. 
Both looks can be created on a small budget, as well as an astronomically large budget! The choice is yours.
Do your research! Once you've decided on making your outdoor space your own, there's nothing better than taking a pile of gardening books (begged, bought, or borrowed) into the space itself. I've passed many a pleasurable hour in a comfy chair, with a pot of iced lemonade and a pile of books, deciding what, and where, to spend the gardening budget.


Draw it! Keep a pencil and paper next to you and try out your artist skills, sketching in different heights and styles of planting. Think of adding color and texture (there is little difference in the basic principles of indoor and outdoor designing!) and even decorative touches.
Plan to surprise! Nothing is more pleasing than finding unusual and unexpected objects in an outdoor space, no matter what the size. I love using old gates, sculptures and even gnarled tree trunks and branches to give substance and interest to an otherwise "normal" area.

Whatever your choice of garden style, whatever the size of your space and your budget, I hope that you get to enjoy the process of planning and choosing the direction of your outdoor space.

It's as much a part of the pleasure as enjoying the end result.
So, Happy planning, Happy planting, and Happy relaxing!