Create the perfect outdoor seating area with advice from Alexandra Campbell

Alexandra Campbell suggests some lighting and heating solutions for the perfect outdoor seating area.

THIS year there has been a huge emphasis on seeing friends outside, as the earliest lifting of restrictions meant you could socialise in your garden with a limited number of people.

Even as more socialising is allowed, some people still feel more comfortable outside where transmission of COVID-19 appears to be significantly less likely.

However, this has caused a rush on fire pits, pop-up gazebos, outdoor lighting and furniture, with some longer delivery times, too.

I still think it’s worth making outdoor spaces more comfortable.

There may still be some restrictions going into the autumn, and it’s also lovely to be able to sit outside late into the year, if you can keep protected from the weather.

If you’re thinking of a bigger investment, Waltons (waltons.co.uk) have a range of weatherproof awnings that can be fitted to the side of your house, from around £150 to £500.

A pop-up gazebo with open sides will protect you from the weather while being sufficiently open.

We bought a 3m x 3m gazebo from All Seasons (allseasonsgazebos.com, £139 to £300), which we’ve found excellent.

Factors to consider when buying a pop-up include whether it’s waterproof or just water-resistant, whether there is extra fabric reinforcement where fabric is pulled over the struts, and if it has “all surface” feet.

It’s also worth buying extra weights to stop your gazebo flying away in a sudden breeze, though you shouldn’t have a pop-up gazebo up when it is windy.

If you can’t run electricity to the area you want to sit, then solar or battery powered lighting is the ideal solution.

We’ve found that most string solar lights last for a summer and go on into the winter, but after two to three years most strings of solar lights stop working.

Expect to replace them every, or every other, summer.

Most garden centres stock a good selection, but you can also get them online. Crocus (crocus.co. uk) have an attractive range.

The other issue with strings of lights is that they are very pretty, but don’t give much illumination. You’ll need to add other lighting. You can get solar wall, path and spot lights at most garden centres, and the Solar Centre (thesolarcentre.co.uk) sells online.

A mix of lighting is always more comfortable than having just one or two very bright lights.

My easy solution is to put night lights into jam jars for the table. You can also get outdoor battery-powered lanterns and lights.

The Worm That Turned (worm.co.uk) has some good ones, along with a range of fire pits.

A friend of mine has found a fire pit very useful.

Although she doesn’t have any all-weather covering over it (which is a fire hazard!), four or five people can sit around it.

As well as providing some warmth, it’s a lovely focal point, and keeps people distanced while being able to chat.

I found a range of rather fabulous fire pits at Notonthehighstreet.com and a wide range at Wayfair (wayfair.co.uk).

Most of the high street chains also sell fire pits now, although many were sold out when I checked.

Most of the electric and gas patio heaters I checked were out of stock, although there can be new supplies at any time.

Personally, I find that a couple of blankets or rugs, one for the knees and one for the shoulders, have much the same effect! ■