Here comes the sun
Pep up the patio and brush off the barbie because...
WITH the warmest months of the year on the horizon, this is the perfect time to pep up your garden and turn it into the ultimate summer retreat. A few simple tweaks carried out now will help to make a big difference to any sized space, ensuring you can make the most it from dawn until long after the sun has gone down.
As far as I’m concerned, nothing beats starting the day outdoors with a cuppa. Sometimes I’ll wander round inspecting my plants but usually spend ten minutes contemplating the day ahead from my bistro set. The aluminium furniture has been placed out of the view of overlooking windows and catches the morning sun.
Based on the iconic two-seaters seen outside Parisian restaurants, bistro sets are ideal for creating dining areas within a smaller section of your garden. There’s a wide range of models available, made from all sorts of materials, including recycled plastic, rattan and cast iron. Collapsible sets are best for very tight spaces.
At the other end of the seating scale, an outdoor sofa set makes the perfect place to catch up with friends on a sunny day. Often consisting of a three-seat sofa, two armchairs and a low coffee table, they range from contemporary, powder-coated metal items to rustic rattan pieces. Most sets cost £200 to £1,000.
Place furniture on a solid, flat surface in a light spot, moving bits around until happy with the arrangement. As a rule, it’s best to set the longest piece with its back against a wall and to ensure there’s plenty of room to move around the remaining items. Provide respite from the sun with a parasol or overhead canopy.
Once it’s all in place, add a personal touch with rugs, throws and scatter cushions – items in bright colours will help to cheer up neutral furniture. My top tip is to pick stuff made from waterproof or water-resistant materials, avoiding the need to move everything undercover during an inevitable summer shower.
Of course, summer is all about eating outdoors, so create a place to dine in style. Ideally, pick a spot that’s far enough away from cooking devices to ensure diners aren’t engulfed in fumes, and kit out with a table and bench seats – make sure that whatever you choose is in scale with the available space.
A free-standing or lean-to pergola erected over a dining area will make it a more comfortable place to eat on a blazing hot day. Softwood, hardwood and metal pergolas, in a range of sizes and styles, are widely available to buy as kits. If you want to build your own, make sure there’s a head clearance of at least 8ft.
Evoke the look of the Med by clothing structures in climbers. Trumpet vines, honeysuckles and clematis will add summer colour, while trachelospermum and potato vines will provide a verdant touch all year round. A grape vine will grow quickly to form a shady canopy with its large, five-lobed leaves.
Elsewhere, use scented summer-flowering plants to give your garden an olfactory boost. Compact roses, shrubs and herbs are ideal in pots placed close to seating areas, while gaps in beds and borders can be plugged with lilies. Finish by setting fragrant climbers against perimeter walls and fences.
Rather than retreating indoors once darkness falls, introduce some ambient lighting. Fairy lights strung from the overhead beams of pergolas will provide a subtle glow, while pendant lights suspended from above will make a striking statement. A row of candles set on a table will help to create a cosy atmosphere.
Solar powered lights are effortless to install but electric ones will need hard-wiring into watertight junction boxes or plugging into outdoor wall sockets. Hire a registered electrician to install sockets or electrical systems.
Provide some heating to keep everyone toasty when temperatures dip. Electric heaters based on infrared technology warm people and not the surrounding air. For something more atmospheric, consider a fire pit, brazier or chiminea. One of the easiest ways to stay snug is to simply wrap up warm with a blanket.
Make the most of your space until long after the sun sets