An Australian summer is best spent outdoors – whether entertaining friends and family, playing a few rounds of backyard cricket or just soaking up the sunshine, having an outdoor living space that works for you is essential.

With summer on the horizon, now’s the time to think about how you can improve your outdoor living space, ensuring you can enjoy every inch of it over the coming months. Here are our top tips.

CLEAR AWAY WINTER’S DEBRIS

To make any improvement, you’ll first need to get your garden back to square one. It’s time to clear away any dead plants, weed your grass or garden beds, prune any living plants and remove unwanted/broken pots. If winter took a toll on your plants, head down to your local nursery to pick up some more to fill in the gaps!

It’s also worth mulching and fertilising all your greenery – this will put them in good stead for the rest of the summer.

REJUVENATE FLOORING AND FURNITURE

Is your deck or patio area looking a little worse for wear? It’s time to give it a mini-makeover or clean – not only will this ensure it sparkles over summer, it will also ensure the longevity of the material. If you have decking, remove everything on it, sand back the wood and re-stain. It will look as good as new in no time!

If you have tiling or other wipeable surfaces in your entertaining area, either pull out the mop or for stubborn marks, hire a high-pressure washer for a couple of hours.

While you’re in a DIY frame of mind, have a look at your outdoor furniture and fix any issues that might have arisen over winter. If the damage is beyond repair, invest in some new pieces – they are going to be an essential part of your outdoor entertaining over the coming months!

TEXTURE AND COLOUR

New textures and colours can make a huge difference to your outdoor living spaces. The good news is you can introduce both with minimum effort and cost! Source soft furnishings such as cushions and throws to inject a pop of colour and new textures, or introduce bright accents through statement pots, pictures to hang on the wall or other simple decorations.

VARIED SEATING OPTIONS

When it comes to seating, most people focus on the outdoor entertaining area. However, a fantastic outdoor living space will have a variety of seating options scattered throughout the space, with each designed to accommodate a different situation.

If you have a large garden area, consider installing a bench or small table and chairs where you can enjoy your morning coffee in the sunshine. A hanging wicker chair could become the spot to relax as the afternoon sun streams in, or an outdoor couch could be perfect for dessert when entertaining. The options are endless!

LIGHTING

One of the most effective ways to introduce ambience in your outdoor living space is through lighting. From hanging fairy or string lights across your walls or fencing, to installing affordable solar lights in your garden, a few simple additions can dramatically transform your garden. Citronella candles are also a great option for your entertaining area as they have the added benefit of deterring mosquitos.

source：https://www.edinabuildinggroup.com.au/2020/11/12/how-to-improve-your-outdoor-living-space-for-summer-2/