Designing A Small, Functional Outdoor Area
Limited outdoor space doesn’t mean you have to entertain indoors. Even with limited space, you can plan a functional outdoor area through creative ideas and techniques. From gardening techniques to furniture arrangement, we’ve got the tips you need to create a charming outdoor entertainment area with minimal space.
Think Vertically
No outdoor area is complete without plants! Small balconies or patios can have luscious green or colourful gardens too! If you like gardening, make the most of your space by embracing a vertical garden; the difference of placing your plants up higher can really add an element of natural beauty. You can create this look by purchasing a modular plant kit, which can be found in most gardening or hardware stores. Fix to a wall and allow your imagination and creative spirit to run wild, adding all the colour and texture to suit your style. Hanging ceiling plants and screens with climbing plants can also provide more privacy and add shade to patio and balcony designs.
Take A Seat
Provide guests with somewhere to sit and relax in your mini oasis by using horizontal space for seating. Bench style seating can be inexpensive, stylish and a great way for friends to sit, relax and catch up. If you’re on a tight budget, simply use some crates with cushions piled on top to create the same ambience. You could even get some large, colourful seating cushions on the ground to provide extra seating. If you have a little more room, a cute table and chairs is the ultimate addition to a balcony or patio. If the area is covered from the elements, use a rug to define the seating area, adding colour and really bringing the style from your indoor rooms into your outdoor area.
Light It Up
Embrace the intimate nature of a small space by enhancing that cosy feeling with lighting. Hanging lanterns add height, warmth, interest and ambient light to the area, so the entertaining can continue long into the balmy summer nights. Try hanging different lanterns together at different heights to create a chandelier effect, or even drape fairy lights over a wall or railing to create a pretty curtain of lights. Outdoor lighting can be underrated, but it really helps set the tone and atmosphere of your space, no matter how small it may be
Tidy and Level
Get rid of uneven or mismatched flooring and level the area before putting down new pavers; this will automatically make the space feel larger. You also need to tidy up any grass or flowerbed areas that have been neglected for some time. The neater and more streamlined the garden is, the larger it will look.
Multitasking
Create a functional area for food preparation, eating, and outdoor entertaining by setting up an all-purpose island and add barstools around one or all sides. Using a narrow shelving unit or decorative ladder shelving adds interest to the space as well as handy storage to keep the space functional. Whatever furniture you choose, keep it around the perimeter. Leaving the space in the middle clear will give the illusion of a larger area.
The PJ Burns builder team can offer you direct one-on-one service to get the most out of your home. Contact us today for a consultation