iwantiwantiwant.com.au Blog

Mar

2012

Outdoor rooms

Posted by Ria

With the exception of yesterday we have had so many lovely days in a row that it’s been wonderful spending time outdoors. Creating your own outdoor room is a fantastic thing to do to make the most of our beautiful weather.

The key elements to an outdoor room are comfy chairs, a sheltered space, and pretty accessories. If the outdoor chairs you have are uncomfortable…then get rid of them! If you have something in an area that does’t work…then the area won’t work, and uncomfortable chairs are just stupid. (The same rule applies to all the insanely uncomfortable sofas out there in holiday homes. I have no idea why everyone puts their most uncomfortable furniture in the place they most want to relax…) Also…there’s loads of waterproof options out there nowadays. So mattresses, cushions, even rugs can be left out if there’s some degree of shelter.

Seating that has storage in it is a terrific option for an outdoor area…then the cushions etc can be stowed away during the wet months. It doesn’t have to be huge…but an outdoor room is a crucial part of the house. We only have about 3-4 months of the year where it’s comfortable to be outside…so we need to make the most of it with really appealing areas that we can’t wait to chill out in. Some images from the sweet to the sublime to inspire…

I would like to see some great Moroccan painted tiles here…

Good lighting can make all the difference to you using your area after sundown. If you have one harsh spotlight….turn it off or direct its focus up the nearest tree! For romance think fairy lights and lanterns…for fun check out multicoloured string lights like these..