SMALL OUTDOOR SANCTUARIES

Extend your living room by creating a relaxing garden room

SET THE SCENE

A great-value compact modular sofa and coffee table transform an unused outdoor corner into a cool space to relax. Add linen cushions in muted hues and jute rugs to continue the laid-back look.

Modular corner sofa, £549; Modular coffee table,

£49; Jute round rug, £100; all John Lewis & Partners

HANGING OUT

The ultimate in space-saving lounging, a hammock can be hooked to walls in a courtyard and then rolled up and put away at the end of the day. Or for something a little more solid, go for a grounded hanging chair option.

Peach hammock, £79, Cielshop. Indoor/outdoor slim hanging chair,

£399, Cox & Cox

SPACE SAVER

Choose furniture that can be folded neatly away when not needed but is easy to get out again as soon as the sun starts shining. Metal bistro sets will pack flat and come in an array of shades to add a cheerful pop of colour. This one even has a built-in planter to display pretty succulents.

Trough two-seater bistro set, £150, Habitat

SHELF LIFE

Just as putting up a shelf creates interest on an indoor wall, they can also be used to add a focal point outdoors. Display plants, garden candles and ornaments, or keep for crockery by a dining area. Add a simple canopy made from a length of cotton to shade the space from the sun.

Augusta six-seat dining set with benches, £440, Habitat. Curated Melamine tableware, from £2 for a side plate; stoneware planter,

£15; Solar caged lantern (on table), £15; Curated Living solar caged bulbs (hanging), from £6; Personal cool bag, £8; Curated Leaf scatter cushion, £12; Faux rounded bay tree in wooden pot, £45; Fleece picnic rug, £8; Solar grey large lantern (on floor), £28; all Sainsbury’s Home

BE A FIRE STARTER

A firepit will extend the time you can make use of your terrace or patio, keeping you toasty when the temperature drops. Position chairs around the fire, adding cosy throws to snuggle up in.

Pittsburgh firepit, £79.99; Lantau lantern, £19.99; Cape Cod chair, £169; Natural throw, £24.99; all Dobbies

HARMONISE YOUR DESIGN

Beds and pots filled with simple grasses and foliage, look great teamed with benches, rugs and parasols in neutral woods, woven seagrass and plain cottons.

Premium umbrella, £289; Burnham Natural bench, £325; wide stool, £185; cushion covers, £35 each; Kubu mirror, £150; round jute rug, £125; Helford rug, £225; all The White Company

SOFT TOUCHES

Use outdoor rugs to define a laidback lounging area and ensure the ground is super-soft for bare feet. Layer them up for a boho vibe and team with oversized floor cushions to introduce a splash of colour and flexible seating – the perfect spot for a doze on a warm afternoon.

Eco braided rug in recycled plastic, from £39, The Braided Rug Company. Round Medallion floor cushion, £20, George Home

MAKE IT MOVEABLE

Trolleys that can easily be moved from inside to out make dining on the terrace a breeze.

Moreton Kubu trolley, £395; mini baskets, £15/three;

Parham ceramic vase, £35; seagrass long oval tray, £25; Symons china, from £14; all The White Company

NATURAL BALANCE

Seamlessly extend your living space out into the backyard by using a similar colour palette. If it’s all chalky white walls and pale wood inside, carry this out on to the terrace; paint brick or stone walls in a matching tone using a matt masonry paint and run a similar style of wood flooring out to form a deck.

Burford table, £499; Burford benches, £220 each; Burford chairs, £260/pair; sheepskin, £45; glass jug, £15; Ro collection No.24 vase, £229; all John Lewis & Partners

SOUND & VISION

Invest in a quality speaker to enjoy your music in the garden. The robust Bose Portable smart speaker is water resistant and has 360 degree sound. Or bag yourself a seat in your own private cinema with a projector – it must be over 3000 lumens so you can see the screen in daylight.

Portable Smart speaker, £329.95, Bose. Optoma HD29HE HDR Full HD projector, £649, John Lewis & Partners

BACKYARD PIZZERIA

Nothing beats a wood-fired pizza and the compact Ooni Karu is ideal for a smaller garden. Just position on a table or on top of a custom-built work surface.

Ooni Karu multi-fuel pizza oven, £299, Dobbies

PLAY WITH COLOUR

A lick of paint on a wall or fence elevates even the tiniest courtyard. Choose pinks or oranges for summer warmth and blues and aquas for holiday-inspired spaces. Add furniture in contrasting colours for extra wow factor.

Wall in Ashes of Roses 6 intelligent masonry paint, £71/5L; table in Phthalo Green 199 intelligent exterior eggshell, £73.50/2.5L; chair in Dorchester Pink 213 intelligent exterior eggshell, £73.50/2.5L; all Little Greene

EASY AFTERNOONS

A corner sofa will give you the maximum amount of seating in a smaller space. Choose a design with a matching dining table so it can be used for both eating and lounging. Go for slim-profile legs and arms so it appears to take up less room,

Hosta corner living and dining set, £699; tile rug, from £55; all Next Home

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