With the idea of an outdoor room fully ensconced in the new design vernacular, tossing a few fold-up chairs on the patio just doesn’t cut it for outdoor decor anymore.
“Look at the garden as an extension of the home,” says Hilary Farr, co-host of Love it or List it (Mondays, 9 p.m., and Thursdays, 11 p.m., W Network.)
Whether you’re hosting fun family barbecues, romantic dinners for two, or anything in between, Farr says embracing this trend doesn’t have to bust your budget.
In fact, she says, most dingy-looking outdoor furniture “can often be revived simply by cleaning.”
“I recommend getting out the bucket, the sponge and the rubber gloves. Use cleaning products that are appropriate for the material,” says Farr, who admits to being “manic” about cleaning her eight-year-old set.
“Instead of looking at it and saying, ‘That looks hideous, I need to buy new’ . . . I recommend cleaning it up first.”
Your newly spruced up set can then be dressed up with new outdoor fabrics and cushions, suggests Farr, who adds she’s gotten a bit bored with the popular dark browns, whites and neutrals, so she’s opting instead for pretty blues.
“I’m not a huge fan of crazy patterns, because then it tends to take away from what’s going on in your garden,” says Farr, suggesting classics like geometric patterns, simple stripes or retro-inspired fabrics.
As for where to place your furniture, create a spot for entertaining near the entrance of your home, to help facilitate food delivery, and preferably on a little patio area, as you don’t want visitor’s high heels getting stuck in the grass.
If you don’t have a solid area, such as a deck, she suggests laying a few pavers to help create your own indoor-outdoor space “without a muddy or messy transition.”
For those who fear stone will get too hot during a steamy summer, Farr advises checking out some of the new artificial grass products, such as carpets. They “look so cool, like patches of grass,” she says, and “you can leave (it) out all summer without having to worry about it.”
A few planters can also go a long way in reviving your space on a budget. While the idea of giving outdoor accents a lift with a can of spray paint is nothing new, Farr says this season she’s smitten with coats of vibrant oranges, greens and blues.
They’re “absolutely stunning, and it changes the whole look of your garden,” she says. When choosing your hues, consider the plants you’ll be using, for example pairing strawberries with a pot in Mediterranean blue.
Or try a little herb garden in pots by your seating and cooking area, as it will look pretty, smell great and come in handy when you’re grilling.
“You’ve got a still life painting sitting in your garden and you can eat it!” she says of the project.
The final component, and one too often overlooked in outdoor spaces, is lighting, which can “define one space within your garden as a room.”
Farr suggests investing in some beautiful lanterns — this season’s favourites have an exotic, Morroccan twist — which merely require a candle to cast a welcoming glow on your backyard or balcony.
“There’s nothing more romantic than candlelight coming through the fretwork or glass of a storm lantern,” says Farr, adding it “also looks beautiful during the day when it’s not lit up.”
Solar lights are another low-cost option for those without outdoor electrical hookups, and they’re now available in increasing varieties in big box stores. Farr says they’re great for illuminating little parts of the garden that you’d like to highlight, such as a water feature or pathway.
So, with a little elbow grease, spray paint and a little light, says Farr, “Suddenly, you’ve got a garden that looks pulled together with very little effort.”
No comments:
Post a Comment