7 Ideas to Get Your Outdoor Area Summer-Ready
The festive season is right around the corner, and now is the perfect time to prepare your outdoor spaces for gatherings with friends and family. To help you get ready, we've put together this list of 7 ideas for outdoor areas that we hope will turn your home into the place everyone wants to be this summer season. From spicing up your outdoor furniture and furnishings to beautifying your backyard patio with some foliage, Brighton Homes has you covered with this article.
Spruce Up Your Outdoor Furniture
If you’re decorating your patio on a budget, a cost-effective way to get the most out of sprucing up the outdoor furniture you already own is by giving them some much-needed TLC. Before you replace the old with the new, try giving your outdoor furniture a dusting or pressure wash to clear any debris, cobwebs or general muck that might have built up over the years. To get your deck ready for summer, it might be worth taking the time to restain the surface and bring out the rich colours and textures hiding underneath those old stains. You can also restain your furniture to give it a refresh.
Update Your Soft Furnishings with Some Vibrant Colour
Adding some colour through your soft furnishings can give your outdoor areas that visually appealing pop. This is your chance to play around with different, summery colour schemes and textile patterns that match your outdoor aesthetic. You can amp up the style of your outdoor patio decor by updating your soft furnishings with vibrant, custom cushions, an outdoor rug resistant to the elements and some summery blankets.
Have a Clear Space for Entertainment…
Summer in Australia is the perfect time for family and friends to come together and enjoy the sunshine. Make your backyard Christmas ready by designating a space for entertainment, starting with a quality alfresco dining table. This can be the perfect centrepiece for your outdoor dining area, and further complemented by a bar or kitchen, a pergola and of course, some Christmas decorations to tie it all together.
…And for Relaxation
Another great idea for your outdoor area is creating a cozy space that invites guests to sit and stay awhile when the party slows down, providing you and your family with a nook for relaxation. Can you picture it? A comfy lounge chair full of pillows where you can set time aside to relax and enjoy some downtime with a view of the garden. Add in a fire pit and you have the perfect focal point to gather around on warm summer nights and enjoy the company of a marshmallow or two.
Be Sure To Have Plenty of Seating
If you love to entertain your family and friends, you’ll want to have plenty of seating but also offer a unique variety that matches the different spaces of your outdoor area. For your entertainment area, chairs that match the aesthetic of your dining table are a great design choice, as well as some deck chairs to fill that space around an outdoor coffee table for more casual seating. For your relaxing areas, you can’t go wrong with some plush chairs or lounges but if you really want to switch things up, a hanging chair is the way to go.
Up the Ambience with The Right Lighting
Not only is lighting essential for entertaining on cool summer nights, it's also the best way to establish the mood and create some atmosphere. Adorning your outdoor spaces with some fairy lights or festoon lighting, either with a long strand across the patio or multiple throughout the whole garden, is a great starting point to up the ambience thanks to their soft glow. If your outdoor area doesn’t feature any ceiling space with integrated lighting, carefully placing lanterns can provide a soft contrast between light and shadow that is perfect for dinners on the patio.
Make It Feel Organic with Some Greenery
No outdoor area would be complete without some lush greenery in the form of pots, planters and even hanging plants. The great thing about these types of decorative plants is that they can easily be moved around your deck or patio to match both your personal preference and the overall décor of the outdoor area. Plus, you get the added benefit of giving your space that stress-relieving sense of calm every time you step outside.
And that's it! We hope we've got the creative wheels turning, and you can start using these ideas to bring your outdoor area to life and ready for summer. For some more outdoor area inspiration, check out our inspo gallery or Pinterest!