Outdoor Living Is Not A Trend - It's A Lifestyle

A friend recently related the story of her homesick daughter in London who hosts wet and wonderful braais on a very cramped balcony, so cramped and wet that only the designated "braaier" can venture outside. This again made me realise how we South Africans enjoy outdoor living and unlike other countries, where they re-discover the great outdoors as "this season's hottest trend darling", we define our wellbeing by this way of live.

Outdoor social gatherings with loved ones are such part of our frame of reference that it is virtually impossible to create a mental picture of summer without it. However, as stand sizes shrink and homes become more compact, homeowners need to adjust their outdoor spaces. Today our patios are outside rooms and we need to garden more in less space, on patios, decks, in containers and even on rooftops. Vertical gardening is here to stay, growing either up or down from balconies or on patios. Dwarf-sized annuals, perennials and shrubs are now specifically bred for small spaces and petite vegetables allow gardeners with the smallest plots to have homegrown favourites in containers or mini-beds.

Size does not always count! Living large outdoors is a luxury everyone should embrace! Let's look at a few nifty ideas to maximise your outdoor experience.

Perfect Patios

Décor Elements

Patios are transitional spaces that blend the best of indoor and outdoor life. To make the most of these areas especially small patios repeat some of your indoor décor elements in this area. This creates a natural flow from indoor to outdoor and lends a familiar consistency to your decor.

Bamboo Screening

Give your patio a touch of added privacy with versatile and inexpensive roll-up bamboo blinds. These can be raised and lowered as needed to control sunlight and views.

Curtained with Style

With the many new choices in outdoor fabrics and furniture, it's easier than ever to create inviting outdoor spaces. Outdoor fabric is used to soften the patio and also to filter the sun's rays.

Patio Garden

Don't forget the power of fragrance. When you're relaxing on the patio at the end of the day, enjoy a rich aroma or subtle perfume. Consider planting a fragrant path that leads up to the patio from the garden.

Container plantings are a timeless, classic accessory. Whether made from wrought iron or wood, they're a charming patio accent. They are easy to move and water, adding color as needed throughout the patio.

Drawn to the Flame

Fireplaces are popping up in the most unusual places these days. Beautiful slate-sheathed fireplaces are taking their place as the focal point of many a patio. Warm and inviting, outdoor fireplaces transform ordinary patios into extraordinary outdoor living rooms.

Designer Patio Floors

Get creative on concrete! Concrete stains and dyes are available in many exciting hues at most home improvement centers. The most reliable and durable way to color concrete is to purchase a powdered dye that is mixed into the concrete while it is wet.

Brighten a dull patio floor by painting a rug effect or inspiring pattern directly onto the floor of your patio.

Another way to enhance concrete is to create a texture or pattern on the surface. Stamps and moulds are available to give concrete the look of cobblestones, individual pavers, fieldstone, and slate. It may take a few tries to master the technique, so you'll need to practice before doing the real thing.

Illuminate!

Add some nighttime pizzazz to your patio with effective and creative lighting. Choose solar products or low-voltage, energy-efficient bulbs to conserve resources and protect the environment.

Here are some illuminating lighting ideas:

Candle Power: Putting a collection of slim candles in a bucket of cubed ice set in front of a mirror adds reflective power to the candles. Sparkling glassware, light-coloured flowers, and a white tablecloth maximise the glow.

Like the Stars Above: Outdoor rooms, especially patios, benefit from the heavenly glow of a candle chandelier. Sturdy iron shapes in soft curves create the perfect backdrop for any outdoor evening get-together. Add a few decorations to the chandelier giving it your personal touch.

Follow the Well-Lit Brick Road: Another bright idea for guiding guests to your patio from the garden is incorporating lights into the pathway. Don't want to fumble for a switch to turn the pathway lights on every evening? Look for a style with a solar sensor that turns the lights on when the sun goes down.

Campfire Chic: Some nights, especially near the pool, can become a little too cool for comfort. Enjoy the warmth and flicker of a campfire right on the patio table, with a bio-fire. Glass sides protect the flame from blowing out and curious fingers from getting burnt.

Create Your Own Focal Point

There are so many tasteful garden items that can be used to individualise your space and create an interesting focal point.

Pot Power

A quick and easy way to create a striking focal point is to fill large pots with a burst of brightly coloured seedlings and place them along the edge of your patio or along your entrance pathway.

Re-invent

Recycling no-longer-used items can be used to create a rustic focal point. Try hanging old galvanised metal buckets from country styled hooks on your patio and fill them with beautifully scented plants and annuals for an instant burst of colour.

Peace with Water

There's something about water that's serene and peaceful. Be sure to add it to your patio. Enhance those relaxing moments with a patio-size water garden. If you are looking for something a little more daring, why not incorporate a brightly coloured mosaic water feature in your garden as a focal point?

Birds Bliss

Attract a variety of birds throughout the year by adding birdfeeders to the perimeter of your patio. Put out different types of feed to attract different birds. Here's the chance to invite nature right onto your patio!

Wind Chimes

Enjoy the sounds of music on your patio. Wind chimes are a traditional, yet stylish part of the outdoor lifestyle. You can find wind chimes made from bamboo, teak, and stainless steel to create the windy, musical melody that best fits your home.