Inside Out
Having visited the Ideal Home Exhibition last year and saw what was available for the garden, outdoor living is no longer just a patio table and a couple of chairs, writes Tracy Hargreaves
Today, homeowners embrace their gardens and want them to be an outdoor extension of their homes, with the same comfort, convenience and style as they have indoors. You only have to look on Pinterest for the latest trends and you’ll see a plethora of ideas and products suitable for any garden and any budget.
The easiest and most visually striking way you can create an outdoor retreat is with your outdoor furniture, now available in a range of materials, from rattan, to wood, glass to metal, you can pretty much get furniture made from anything and what’s more with improvements in fabrics, you no longer have to store it indoors in the winter months.
If you want to entertain outside and impress your friends and family when you pour their Pimm’s, then patio bars are on the increase. Be as extravagant as you want with a pergola style, bar stools and lighting or go rustic and simply make your own out of wooden pallets, whatever you choose, you’ll be the envy of your neighbours.
Outdoor heating and fire features are increasing in popularity and the answer to those typical British evenings when there’s a chill in the air. Now you can have a stylish sunken fire pit within your patio table, or as a stand-alone feature, so you can enjoy those summer nights a little longer.
You know what it’s like when you get a last-minute visit from friends who pop round for a drink and you decide to sit outside, but you haven’t had time to cut the lawn. Artificial grass is one way of ensuring your garden looks tip top all year round and you’ll have a lovely spot in which to relax. Now available in different densities, it can also be great for small areas or if you have children or pets.
2018 will also see a growth in the solar market in the garden. Not just for ornamental lighting but for practical solutions too. Solar hubs with sheds allow gardeners the ability to charge their phone or power a light so they can stay outside for longer and of course it creates a perfect atmosphere to relax and unwind in.
Transform your outdoor space and make the most of your extra room.
