Alfresco affair Create a spot to enjoy the outdoors in a garden big or small

Be inspired to create a spot for you to relax and enjoy the outdoors in a garden big small

1 RING OF SPRING

Create a cottage garden anywhere you like with a wreath hung with a gingham ribbon. Make it attractive and aromatic with flowers and herbs – try chamomile, mint, coriander and elderflower. You can pick up a wreath frame at Spotlight.

2 COTTAGE CHARM

If you have an older-style standalone garage you’re not using for your car, don’t let it become a rundown junk trap – turn it into extra living space instead! French doors are the ideal way to open it up, while slate-look floor tiles give it instant country charm. Paint inside and out, then get down to decorating!

summertime and the living is easy... and also done outdoors in the land Down Under! From cooking on the barbie and eating under the pergola to lounging by the pool or having drinks on the deck, Aussies have always had a love affair with all things alfresco. And you don’t need a big backyard or big budget to create your own outdoor oasis, as there are lots of ways to incorporate the key elements you need – a way to keep drinks chilled, a comfy place to sit, mood lighting for night-time and a flower feast for the eyes. So check out these ideas to lush up and spruce up your outdoor space for dining, chilling, entertaining and more.

3 SPACE SECRETS

How do you make a compact courtyard feel like an oasis? By layering your plants to create the illusion of depth. Plant around your paved area, including a tree or two – potted works well – plus tall growers and groundcovers. Go for hostas with their lavender or white flower spikes, astilbe and pennisetums.

4 CLASSIC CLIMBER

A vine-covered pergola is a seasonal star, providing shade in summer and letting the sun through in winter. Spring brings new leaf growth while autumn puts on colour as it drops. Add a wooden table setting under your pergola and roses in terracotta tubs all around and your Aussie backyard will have Mediterranean style.

5 DECKED OUT

All you really need to relax is a quiet corner and a deck chair. You can easily find teak chairs online and canvas slings, too, if you want more colour than the standard striped or plain covers. Surround your chair with bright blooms, such as the orange pansies here that pick up the tones in the floral fabric.

6 SUMMER RUNNER

Give your outdoor table a living runner with an arrangement of hydrangea heads and summer fruit such as plums. Or use whatever you have in your garden and fruit bowl!

ON A DIY BUDGET? RUN UP A ROMAN BLIND AND COVER UP A BARE BULB WITH A BALL SHADE. FLANK YOUR FRENCH DOORS WITH POTTED TREES AND ANNUAL BLOOMS.

FOR LONG-LASTING, LOW-MAINTENANCE OUTDOOR FURNITURE, GO FOR POLYRATTAN OVER NATURAL MATERIALS.

SCREEN YOUR FENCES WITH GREEN SO YOUR COURTYARD LOOKS BIGGER THAN IT IS