Although us Aussies love nothing more than a relaxing summers day, the inevitable winter shouldn’t stop us from enjoying our outdoor living spaces. Reviving your backyard or alfresco area for the ultimate winter entertaining space is key for enjoying your home to the fullest.
Warm Lighting
Ensuring you have enough light in your outdoor area is the first step to help you enjoy the winter outside. We suggest you opt for ‘warmer’ lighting, for example, a LED light in the range 2500K to 3200K. If you want to go the extra mile, fairy lights can create a beer garden vibe or can be used to mask fencing. You could also string the lights across the canopy of your space if you have the framework to do so – this looks beautiful and is a great way to help you distribute light around your outdoor area.
Pick The Right Outdoor Setting
This task isn’t too tricky as it really depends on the space you have to work with. If you’re living in a small house, villa or townhouse that has a limited outdoor area opt for a smaller configuration like a 3-4 piece setting, or even a modular lounge that will fit nicely into a corner. If you have more abundant space you can definitely go larger with your lounge choice, you can even opt for a setting that includes a lounge and accompanying chairs to fit those plus-ones. If you’re looking for more of a beer garden feel, lean towards a high table and stool combination.
Cosy Furnishings
Complete your outdoor area by adding some cosy furnishings that will make your guests want to curl up and chill out. Place pillows or cushions and plenty of warm blankets on your outdoor setting. Velvet, flannel and faux fur are always winners when it comes to comfort and cosiness. Choose items that will pair well with the colour of your outdoor settings, for example, if your couch is dark grey you can play with brighter colours that will bring a bit of life into the space, wicker furniture also works well with the right colours but can also pair really well with natural colours like soft creams and beige.
Just remember to keep flammable items well away from any fire pits!
The Finishing Touch, A Fire Pit
Is any outdoor winter entertaining space really complete without a fire pit? Not only a great practical asset to keep you and your guests warm on winter nights, but they can be enjoyed by everyone, from toasting marshmallows with the kids to providing the perfect backdrop for a date night at home. We mentioned in a previous blog that you can pick up an affordable fire pit from Bunnings, but if you’re looking to make it a permanent staple for your outdoor entertaining, a built-in fire pit can elevate the space and be custom built to suit your vision.
Donna Etchells - McGrath Estate Agents 