Designing a garden room

Interior designer Birdie Fortescue offers advice

Where do you start?

Think about the plants you’d like to display and how to arrange them. Here, a low metal shelf shows off the palms, orchids and spiky red cordylines. In summer, geraniums in pinks, reds and whites can look chic, as can azaleas and pelargoniums. Olive and citrus trees will create an Italianate atmosphere.

And the furniture?

Rattan has a classic garden-room feel and, when it is in strong colours, it can bring a space to life, creating a more casual feel than upholstered furniture. I also like to mix old and new, here with a vintage rustic table, to add to the relaxed mood.

How do you choose fabrics and rugs?

Pick fade-resistant fabrics if you can and don’t worry too much—slight fading adds to the charm. You could swap cushions in and out, too. Mix floral and geometric patterns to create a relaxed look, working with one or two base colours and building on them to introduce other hues in fabrics, art and lamps. Add a rug for comfort and to demarcate a seating or dining area, preferably in a material such as jute, to complement the natural wood, rattan and stone.

Your tips for lighting?

I favour a hanging lantern or leafy tole chandelier to catch the eye, with lamps to build layers of light. Candles contrast with the darkness beyond the windows at night and can add a sense of magic and drama. Teras Rattan sofas, £600, side table, £150, sofa mattresses, £145, cushions, from £55 (01328 851651; www.birdiefortescue.co.uk)