Whether your place has expansive gardens or a pocket-sized courtyard, there are clever tips and tricks to help you enjoy it as much as possible. Interior designer and food stylist Gretchen Lowe has shared some of her expert know-how on how to style your outdoor living zone, using the latest looks from The Warehouse.
No matter how big or small your outdoor space is, the key to success is making the most of the space you have and being smart about how you use it.
“Good planning is really important when it comes to outdoor spaces. You need to think about how you and your family will actually use the area day to day. It's also really important to consider the flow between indoors and outdoors. Make sure there’s a clear path outside to make the transition easy,” Gretchen says. Visually link indoor and outdoor living spaces if you can – perhaps by choosing accessories from a consistent colour palette.
Gretchen says Kiwis tend to gravitate towards embracing a relaxed, yet functional style – one that’s versatile and caters for everyday family use and entertaining.
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Recently the Auckland-based designer styled this brand-new, three-bedroom, two-bathroom home by Classic Builders at Hunua Views. Even though its garden is compact, there’s plenty of scope to make the area multi-use, whether it’s enjoying morning coffee or hosting friends for a barbecue.
“What we’ve done here at this home is create zones. There’s one zone for dining, where we have the new Living & Co Alfresco Table from The Warehouse and then another zone for lounging, where we’ve put a comfy modular sofa and armchairs – the Living & Co Corfu Lounge Setting. With the mix of beautiful timber and natural colours, as well as a pop of the tropics with Living & Co Ngahere Outdoor Cushions, it all blends in seamlessly,” Gretchen says.
The aim is to create an extension of the home, whether you’re watching the kids playing or having friends over. “It’s really about creating flexibility, whether there's somebody cooking on the barbecue and people are sitting around the table chatting and the kids are in their own space playing or with their meals on their laps. Or it might be that you just want to pop outside and read the paper or even work outside with your laptop – it’s not just about entertaining,” she says.
Gretchen says modular outdoor furniture, or pieces that can be set up and moved around to suit, are ideal. Bistro table settings or other foldable or stackable furniture are great options. “Kiwis are a stylish and practical bunch,” says Gretchen. Be sure to choose items specifically designed to be used outside. “Timber furniture especially made for the outdoors is a good option, and outdoor cushions add interest and comfort.”
Even though New Zealand’s weather can be unpredictable, you’re not limited to using your garden during the daytime in summer. You might have shelter built overhead, and outdoor heating such as the Gascraft Area Heater from The Warehouse will help keep you toasty in winter or during cool evenings. Citronella candles and festoon lights will help add ambience (and keep the mozzies away) at night. And remember, kids grow up fast! Choose a moveable Wendy house rather than a playhouse anchored in concrete, otherwise you’ll find that unused kids’ play equipment takes up precious space that could be used for something else.
Get inspired by visiting thewarehouse.co.nz or check out the range at The Warehouse near you.
