Exit strategy Melissa Penfold heads outdoors to deck out the terrace.

WHEN IT COMES to creating a great outdoor room, GO MONO A one-colour palette creates a serene think of your garden as a whole new space to decorate. backdrop and plays up textures in the garden. A dash of Design it as you would the living room, with lighting, black creates instant contrast, calls attention to the rugs, comfortable seating and places to put drinks. Keep garden’s green contours and makes everything else pop. it simple but make sure that the furniture is in proportion STYLE IT Now, put it together and mix incongruous and matched to the space. Suitability is everything. elements in the little touches: hurricane shades, the right CREATE OPEN AIR LIVING ROOMS No walls necessary: cushions and a pretty tablecloth will give your outdoors a covered outdoor space is an extra living room – a place the personal stamp – the rst thing people notice. you can relax, doze, daydream, cook, eat or entertain. GATHER YOUR POTS Terracotta pots with topiary will MINIMALIST PERGOLAS A garden without a pergola is add instant structure to your balcony, patio or terrace. like a room without a rug. Square outdoor areas call for REPLACE WALL LIGHTS It’s hard to go wrong with a vertical interest to break up the landscape and inspire wharf light or lantern that will complement all facades. new seating and planting patterns around it. Go for ORIENT AROUND ARCHITECTURE Grow climbers on a simple pergola silhouette using rustic timber poles. trellises against a wall. To anchor the house plant a low BANQUETTE SEATING These seat more people in a small row of trees against a terrace wall. But don’t let shrubs area, look streamlined, can be built-in and act as storage. grow over the windows; you’re the boss, not the bushes. THINK LIKE AN ARCHITECT Incorporate your garden EMBRACE SYMMETRY Balance, such as a row of shrubs, into the living space to increase your home’s liveable is visually soothing. Plants in rows against a wall of the square meterage. Maximise indoor-outdoor ow by house make outdoor spaces feel deliberate and restful. increasing the width of door openings. FIRE A re pit, or replace, is a lure because it creates DEFINE YOUR PALETTE For harmony, use the same tones, warmth and light. It scores extra points because of the colours and textures to create a theme. So, if you use a hypnotic quality of ame and crackling wood. bronze nish on furniture, don’t go for copper lighting. NO WALLS The ultimate luxury is a house that erases DON'T SPEND THOUSANDS Shop around for inspired the barriers between outdoors and in. Roll-away doors designs in all-weather rattan, bamboo, timber and metal disappear into the background so that your home and that would look at home anywhere in the world. the garden are connected seamlessly. Bliss! 1 Sika Design ‘Julian’ co ee table, $1350, ‘Charlot’ armchair, $695, and sofa, $1495, domo.com.au 2 Teak outdoor lantern, from $288, janusetcie.com 3 ‘Bolinas’ rope basket, $545, jamessaid.com.au 4 Bamboo sofas and chairs, photographed at Paxos, Greece, tinekhome.com 5&8 Set a summery agenda for outdoor rooms with easy updates such as cotton cushions, throws, rugs and woven lighting, hmhome.com.au 6 ‘Orson’ director chairs, $229, livingbydesign.net.au 7 Faux wood ‘Z’ stool/table, $1290, jamessaid.com.au 9 ‘Waits eld’ stainless-steel lanterns, from $358, janusetcie.com