Design & decorate: Outdoor rooms

Have a vision of your garden heaven, but not sure how to achieve it? Read on for top tips and advice on how to create your perfect outside space

Adding atmosphere

With the basics decided, how you finish your garden will determine its practicality, and also its ambience.


  • Seating Plot the sun’s path and plan your seating area accordingly as ‘you’ll find various microclimates in your garden’, says Peter Tomlinson, chairman of The Society of Garden Designers. Choose weatherproof furniture, or make the most of every inch with space-saving, built-in benches, which can also be used as storage for foldaway furniture. Raised beds can even double up as seating if topped with outdoor cushions.


  • Heating There are no guarantees with the fickle British climate, so it makes sense to introduce some sort of heating. Rather than a gas or electric patio heater, choose a more eco-friendly infrared version, or make a central feature with a fire pit or brazier.


  • Eating If you’re planning a built-in barbecue, think about where to position it in relation to the seating area, as you want to avoid diners being engulfed in smoke. Keep things sociable by allowing the chef to face guests, and try to make sure it’s not too much of a trek to the kitchen. Alternatively, up the ante with a complete outdoor kitchen area. ‘Inspired by our Antipodean cousins, we’re seeing a lot more marine-grade, stainless-steel appliances that can be installed outside,’ says Peter Tomlinson. ‘You could even consider having a fridge, sink and worksurface so you don’t have to keep dashing in and out of the house.’ For the freshest addition to your summer recipes, plant herbs within picking distance of the prep area.


  • Sound and vision ‘Music has become almost as important outside as it is inside,’ says Peter Tomlinson. ‘You can now buy weatherproof speakers and other audio-visual gear, so many people are using Wi-Fi or wiring up their garden in the same way as they do the rest of the house, complete with a remote control.’

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