Make some room for the great outdoors ...
Summer is on the way ... so it’s time to ditch those drab deckchairs and let the lux in
WE know that when it comes to a Scottish summer, “make the most of it” is good advice. It’s been a decent run, however, and the June forecast is looking pretty high on sunshine day quotient, so when that yellow ball is in a blue sky get outside – and there’s nowhere better to be than your own garden.
For years designers have been encouraging us to make outdoor space a continuum of our living areas, but that takes a bit of time, planning and investment.
Those of us lucky enough to have patio doors that open directly on to decking, can do that easily on a sunny morning, but everyone can have elements in place to make sure that summer days can be enjoyed as soon as they hit, instead of using the decent weather to get the garden in shape – and then it’s too late to enjoy it.
Taking a step up from the garden hut, Aucht era rd er based JML has created stylish and sustainable garden rooms. Whether through choice or not, a greater percentage of us than ever are working from home.
That needs a dedicated space to inspire the required discipline to get the head down without a boss breathing down our necks, and to separate working and family lives.
There are many benefits to investing in a structure like this. Apart from the fact that it separates home and office, it also means that a room inside isn’t sacrificed to work.
The most heartening thing about modern garden design is the fact that it does now reflect how we furnish inside.
It’s not only water features that could have been a relic from Roman times or garden furniture that has a distinctly, swirly Victorian railing vibe. Garden furniture is now as contemporary as the furniture we choose for the indoors – and for those long days in the sun, can be just as comfortable.
We can tailor the look of our outside room to match that of inside, so those who still like a riot of colourful frills can festoon their borders with a rainbow of bedding plants, while minimalists can plan something of a Zen garden, with a few raised beds.
Bringing colour into the garden is easy, even when most fences, sheds and decking come in various shades of brown. Weather-resistant garden paints mean that back fence can be a dazzling Mediterranean blue and the shed a peaceful sage green.
Those with limited space and no lawn can bring colour outside through pots and troughs and even find mall folding garden sets that can be easily stored away or covered during the winter months.
Taking the indoors outdoors is simple. Plan how you want to use that extra space and plan it as you would any other room. Then it can be enjoyed all year round.