With summer just around the corner, now is the perfect time to take a look at your outdoor area and get it up to scratch for summer BBQs and Christmas day celebrations. We turned to expert renovators, Josh and Jenna, to get their tips for creating an entertainer’s paradise.
ON PLANNING
There’s no point having a stunning outdoor entertaining space if you can’t use it because the hot summer sun comes beaming in. The first step before designing your outdoor entertaining area is to consider your orientation. It is important to understand what the orientation will do to your entertaining space and how you need to practically design it to combat these issues.
For example, if your space faces west in Australia, you will receive the hot summer afternoon sun. If this is the case you will need to consider awnings, extended eaves or plant deciduous trees in front of your space to protect you from the harsh sun but allow the light to shine through during winter.
Top Tips:
North facing is always preferred as the sun is lower in winter and sits high above the roofline during the hot afternoon summers.
East will capture the gorgeous morning sunshine so if you’re wanting to use your space for a morning coffee, this is something to consider!
South facing doesn’t receive any direct sunlight so if you’re planning on sitting outside in the sunshine, you may need to rethink your orientation if possible.
ON CREATING AN INSIDE/OUTSIDE CONNECTION
To create an indoor/outdoor flow, select materials that can be used inside and out to create a seamless connection between your open plan living and outside entertaining space.
As a flooring option, you could use timber boards inside and decking boards outside that run in the same direction and are similar in colour and tone.
For the walls, if you’re wanting to draw your eye out towards the entertaining area, use Scyon™ Linea™ that runs horizontally. It can be used to create a classic weatherboard look or mixed with other materials like timber or stone for a modern coastal look.
You could also try the vertical panelled look of Scyon Axon™ 133mm smooth inside and out as the vertical lines will enhance your ceiling height. We recommend to paint your Scyon product the same colour throughout to create a seamless flow to your entertaining space.
TIP: Scyon can be used on your ceiling too!
The long lines of Scyon cladding can draw your eye along the length of the board to create a visually larger space. Clad the ceilings of you undercover alfresco in Scyon Stria rather than plaster to add visual length to your entertaining space. You can also try continuing these lines to the inside to connect your alfresco to the inside of your home.
ON LIGHTING
Outdoor lighting is just as important as the inside. You’ll likely use this space as an extension of your living/entertaining area so you want to ensure it functions well and creates ambience.
We love using string lighting outside as it creates a gorgeous soft glow, it’s DIY and affordable. It really sets the scene for a party vibe!
Garden uplighting is a great way to highlight feature trees or if placed along a pathway will ensure you can easily and safely get around your garden, day or night.
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