THE GREAT OUTDOOR ROOM!
Don’t stay cooped up indoors! Create a liveable outdoor space with landscaper DALE VINE
It’s become a buzzword that real estate agents and interior designers are rather fond of, but the idea of an “outdoor room” is one that makes sense.
An outdoor room should be completely comfortable, and somewhere you feel drawn to from the moment you wake up in the morning until going to bed at night, says The Block graduate Dale Vine.
And it’s not just about entertaining, although for many this is highly desirable. Ideally, the yard is a place where you can relax, play, entertain and even cook or work.
The room should also enjoy generous views of the rest of
your garden, and preferably blend in harmoniously with it.
After all, its purpose is s to link your lifestyle to your garden throughout the year and draw you to nature for relaxation.
MAKING IT PRIVATE
For most people, privacy is high on their list of needs when designing a garden space. New estates and inner-city homes tend to have a lot of overlooking windows from neighbouring properties, and a lack of established trees, which can make people reluctant to spend time enjoying their outdoor spaces. Creating privacy using clever plantings is a simple yet effective option.
Try plants like lilly pillies, Japanese maple, Pittosporum tenuifolium [silver sheen], bottlebrush or clumping bamboo.
PERGOLA OF DELIGHTS
Don’t write off the idea of incorporating a pergola or other roofed alfresco area. Along with privacy, they offer a pleasant sheltered outdoor seating area from which to enjoy your garden, even during rain.
No matter how thick a canopy of big trees becomes, it will never completely shield you from the rain and wind in the way a pergola does.
If you want to get the most out of your yard, you definitely need to have places where you can sit out of the harsh sun and rain, and away from the prying eyes of neighbours.
A PLACE TO COOK
For many of us, it wouldn’t be a proper backyard without somewhere to cook a sausage or steak, so another prized outdoor feature is a barbecue.
When you’re using it, you want it to be out of the wind and rain. It should be far enough away from windows so it doesn’t splash grease everywhere, yet close enough to the kitchen so when you realise you forgot the paper towels it’s not a five-minute return journey to fetch it. The beauty of a portable barbecue is that you can move it around as needed.
Barbecues can damage lawns, so you want to make sure there’s a dedicated paved or decked area to set it up for cooking.
GATHER ROUND THE FIRE
In reality, fire pits are more about gathering around than heating. They make a great spot to sit around and talk when you’ve invited friends and family to your house.
If a fire pit appeals to you, it’s worth checking out some of the more affordable portable versions. That way, when you’re not using it, you can stash it out of the way in the garage or shed and use the space for something else.
You’ll Y ’ll need d a paved d area to put it on, as hot coals and bits of glowing wood will drop through or fall out, damaging any lawn underneath.
Having a stone or concrete surface as a base for your fire pit also makes it much easier to sweep up any soot and charcoal afterwards.