Make the most of your great outdoors by turning your garden into an extra room with our top tips
AS we start to emerge from lockdown and can now meet friends and family outdoors, the focus is on the garden . . . if you are lucky enough to have one, that is.
And lighter evenings and warmer weather on the way, it makes sense to turn your backyard into what is effectively an extra room.
From al fresco dining – including the ever-popular barbecue – to exercising with racket and ball games, the garden is the perfect space for rediscovering life’s sociable pleasures.
But if your humble patch of ground could do with some sprucing up, we have got plenty of ideas.
Check out Catherine Bennion-Pedley‘s top tips for outdoor spaces.
Go colour crazy
ANNIE SLOAN chalk paint, which comes in a variety of fantastic colours (£5.95 for 120ml) can be used on metal, tyres, plastic and wood.
Just make sure to finish with the Chalk Paint lacquer (£21.95 for 750ml) to weatherproof it if using outside.
Kettle into planters
GOT some old cooking pots with wonky handles and scraped insides that should really go to the tip?
Think about painting them, drilling some holes in the bottom and using them as quirky planters. Old photo frames can home potted-up succulents too.
Washing machine fire pit
CHUCKING out an old washing machine? You can upcycle the drum into a bespoke fire pit. There are several videos on YouTube to show you how. But if that’s too much effort B&M have recently launched a fab range starting from £25.
Before you throw out any other homeware, think whether it could be used outside – an old bookshelf or sideboard could be perfect for displaying picnicware.
Foldaway bar
ALEXANDRA FOX, who is a home design stylist at John Lewis, says: “Short on space? Try making a foldaway bar. Use wood offcuts or spare planks and mount them to a wall in your outdoor space.
“It creates the perfect little shelving area, and by adding a hinged door that flips down at the front, it allows you to fold up the biggest shelf when it’s not in use”.
Fuss-free foliage
FOR bursts of colour to last from spring to summer, try hydrangeas, allium, delphiniums and clematis” says Marcus Eyles, horticultural director at Dobbies. Fragrant foliage and flowers, jasmine and honeysuckle will fill your garden with colour.”
Potted herbs or freshly cut flowers make pretty displays.
Mirrors add spacious feel
ABOUT to chuck out an old mirror? Stop. Hang it on your garden wall or fence for a fab decoration and to help your space appear instantly bigger.
Plus it will add to the reflective glow from your lights, come sunset. An old mantelpiece can also be upcycled to create an eye-catching focal point in your outdoor space.
Movie screen
WANT to host a film night? Wickes’ Chris Moorhouse says: “Identify the best wall near your lounging area and grab a pot of Sandtex Pure Brilliant White (£30 for 10litres) to paint a solid rectangle straight onto the brick.
“This will become your new projector screen that is always at the ready and can be whichever size you like.” You can use this paint on other walls to make the garden feel instantly bigger and brighter and to help bring those Ibiza vibes.
Lighting
“A TIP for stringing lights easily is to thread them through the inside of your garden umbrella,” says Alexandra Fox. It also helps uplift older furniture because the lighting is lovely and soft, making any piece look magical come dusk.”
Meanwhile, tea lights in old jam jars make a pretty (and cheap as chips) glow for extra atmosphere.
Planters from tyres
IF it’s time to get your car tyres replaced, it’s also the perfect time to make a planter too.
Add a lining made of hessian or plastic to the bottom, with drainage holes added, then just paint the tyres bright colours and fill with the plants you would usually plant in pots – strawberries are a fab option for this.
Display ladder
AN old wooden ladder can easily be made into stylish outdoor shelves to display your plants and house an outdoor speaker and solar lights too.
Director of timber, building, garden and decor at Wickes, Chris Moorhouse, says: “Just give your ladder a wipe down before using good-quality medium sandpaper and adding a lick of paint, if you wish.
“Finally, place baskets within each gap in the ladder and secure with string to keep everything in place.”
OUTDOOR SHOPPING LIST IDEAS
THERE are just a few bits you could buy which will create that living room feeling.
From outdoor rugs to seat cushions and throws, here’s your extra room shopping list.
- Outdoor lemon lights, £11.99, lights4fun.co.uk – buy here
- 12-piece picnic set, £15, George @Asda – buy here
- Platter, £3, Bowl, £3.50, Dip bowl, £2, both Morrisons Home – buy here
- Bestway Inflate-A-Chair, £12.99, therange.co.uk – buy here
- Outdoor cushion, £4.49, therange.co.uk – buy here
- Jug, £12, John Lewis – buy here
- Margarita glasses, £5 for four, B&M – buy here
- Chicago fire bowl, £25, B&M – buy here
Most read in Fabulous
- Floor cushion, £14, Matalan – buy here
- Seat cushion, £12 for two, Matalan – buy here
- Outdoor rug, £19.99, homescapesonline.com – buy here