The new year is here and perhaps you have some spare time as the holidays wind down. Sue McCoubrey from Block & Chisel, shares her top styling tips for your summer outdoor spaces.
When deciding on how to style your outdoor spaces, it’s important to start by looking at what you have to work with. 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? Decide 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 is 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 your covered patio, natural rattan or cane outdoor furniture is always a smart choice that, incidentally, is highly fashionable this summer.
Block & Chisel’s Cape Cane sofa collection can be styled in a multitude of ways. It looks equally at home in a sitting room or set out on a green lawn for a garden party, but we suggest if you do this, not to leave the ensemble out to face the elements. The sofa set will, however, last for years if you place it on a hard surface, away from direct heat, sunlight and rain.
Another top pick for the covered patio is our sculptural range of concrete tables, which looks equally gorgeous bare or adorned with decor ornaments. Acacia wood and concrete have been beautifully merged to offer you a unique range of console, dining and coffee tables.
If your covered patio space is more compact, we recommend the Kubu rattan range. One or two tub chairs paired with a few easily movable footstools and a set of Maggie compact 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 your uncovered patio. Their natural and synthetic materials pair exceptionally well to offer you a contemporary outdoor look. Outdoor PVC dining chairs are durable and contemporary, the perfect update to any patio or backyard dining arrangement. The natural look of outdoor teak chairs and feel of raw wood is what makes it unique. Celebrate its character and enjoy living with a beautiful sustainable piece.
Choose weatherproof sofa’s, such as Block & Chisel’s favourite Java Sofas. This sturdy range is crafted with an aluminium frame, combined with a synthetic rattan weave and complimented with loosely fitted cushions, manufactured in sun-proof fabric.
If you’re looking for a solid surface to display drinks, snacks and candlelight on top of, the strikingly minimalist Kesa concrete console in various sizes 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.
