ROOM OUTSIDE
Whatever outdoor living space you have, here’s how to make it a lush and inviting picture
I N most newer houses the line between indoor and outdoor living space is a clear glass one, in the shape of sliding, folding or at least double doors. In older houses and apartments the view outside may be more restricted, with perhaps a solid door and only windows. It’s always worth thinking about opening up, provided you can do it without too much loss of interior space (important in smaller rooms) or wrecking the architecture.
An appealing prospect, however, doesn’t have to be a wall-to-wall one. Whatever the view from your living space, here’s an eight-point plan to make it inviting and, in less than wonderful weather, lovely to look at from indoors.
1. SHADE
If you have an open terrace some form of shade is essential, but it shouldn’t darken your indoor space too much. Consider building a pergola that you can partially cover with latte or reeds while your climbers grow. There are all kinds of elegant retractable awnings available now too. Visit solara.co.za.
2. COMFORT & CONVENIENCE
Comfortable seating and a table for meals are a must. Even the tiniest balcony can manage a small one for a tea tray! Key the colours to your indoor decor.
3. A GREEN FRAMEWORK
You might already have a head start in a lush garden or a tree beyond your balcony, if you’re one or two floors up. With a large garden beyond, patio planting can be simpler, even minimal, with a bold statement of a single large pot with a small tree or bamboo, sculptural succulents or the twisting stems of a climber such as wisteria.
If you look out to sky and not walls or buildings, frame it with a lattice of leaves. Walls can be greened over with climbers on decorative frames – widely available now at garden centres – or a vertical planting system.
4. FINE DETAIL
Add interesting detail with special plants and rarities in small pots and a few veld and beach finds – pebbles, shells, seed capsules, driftwood.
5. WATER
The gentle sound of water makes the outdoors especially inviting. It helps to raise the humidity of paved areas, which can be hot and dry, and also helps to reduce your awareness of neighbouring and traffic noise.
Even a small balcony can have a wall fountain; complete units are available that you can simply connect to water and power points. Or you can create your own with stone basins and wall spouts from the wide variety of concrete ornaments available.
6. LUSH ACCENTS
With a small garden – or no garden – the patio or balcony can be greener. Fine-leaved evergreens, perhaps clipped into classic spheres or cones, provide quiet anchors, but you also need some bolder leaves or sculptural forms. The two together will create depth and contrast.