When deciding on how to style your outdoor space, it’s important to start by looking at what you have to work with. Sue McCoubrey from furniture design and manufacture studio, Block & Chisel, shares her top summer styling tips.
“First things first… do you have a covered or uncovered patio? A small or large or oddly shaped space? A lush or bare space in need of some greening? When doing up your outdoor space, it is important to consider who you are decorating or styling it for, how many people you want to host, and what your signature decor style is. Once you’ve got a clear idea of the canvas you want to paint, you can start getting creative.”
Choose the right materials
It’s important to consider the materials and how they respond to their environment when selecting furniture for your outdoor spaces. Some materials change with exposure to the elements, which might be a quality that you like. Others might not be suitable for uncovered outdoor spaces at all. Here is what you need to consider:
For a covered patio, natural rattan or cane outdoor furniture is always a smart choice that, incidentally, is highly fashionable this summer. It can be styled in a multitude of ways, looks equally at home in a sitting room or set out on a green lawn for a garden party, but just don’t leave it outside permanently at the mercy of the elements.
Another top pick for the covered patio are console, dining or coffee tables tables made of concrete merged with wood. These can look equally gorgeous bare or adorned with decor ornaments.
If your covered patio space is more compact, then incorporate a smaller rattan furniture set. Maybe one or two tub chairs paired with a few easily movable footstools and a set of nesting tables, and you’re ready to invite in the guests!
Both treated and untreated teak and UV-resistant PVC furniture are excellent choices for an uncovered patio. Their natural and synthetic materials pair exceptionally well to offer you a contemporary outdoor look that is also a durable update to any patio or backyard dining arrangement. Celebrate its character and enjoy living with a beautiful sustainable piece.
Weatherproof sofas like those crafted with an aluminium frame, combined with a synthetic rattan weave and complimented with loosely fitted cushions manufactured in sun-proof fabric, make great features for an uncovered patio.
If you’re looking for a solid surface to display drinks, snacks and candlelight on top of, the strikingly minimalist concrete console will do well as a permanent fixture in the garden – or even as a statement piece by the pool that you can dress up with towels and cocktails.
Play with colour and texture
Curate a beautiful scene by adding various colours and textures to your outdoor space. Add plump scatter cushions, rugs and textured hanging lamps.
Turn your patio into a lush conservatory
Create a feast of flora for the eye by adding an abundance of water-wise and lush faux (or real) foliage to your patio. Curate a beautiful scene with a collection of pots in various shapes, colours, glazes and sizes, filled with an array of greenery. Don’t be afraid to indulge in a variety of plants in different sizes.
