SUMMER SCHOOL

CARVE OUT A CORNER OF YOUR OUTDOORS FOR LUSH, LAIDBACK LIVING

Now is the time for an alfresco affair! Create your own outdoor oasis anywhere – deck, patio, garden, balcony or courtyard. The size of the space doesn’t matter, just what you do with it. Whether you want a spot to lounge solo or a set-up for entertaining, there’s an idea here for you.

1 BALCONY LIFE

A tiered wooden shelf is a fab plant stand (try eBay) but can also hold books and bevvies – especially if your drinks tray has been taken over by your cat! Think trailing plants such as Helichrysum petiolare and pretty petunias for the stand, and zebra grass for floor pots.

2 EASY BREEZY

Keep an open feel in your covered patio with fresh white curtains that can offer privacy and shade as needed. So simple and stunning. And, note how the tropical-style plantings turn the side fence into a lovely, leafy view.

3 RESORT STYLE

Holiday at home with a tiki hut. It doesn’t need to have timber poles, as you can use reed screening, hanging lanterns and cushioned benches to get the look on your pergola. For a tropical feel, go for old man’s beard (tillandsia usneoides), monstera, staghorn ferns, begonias and spider plants.

4 COSY CORNER

You can zone any area for alfresco lounging by just laying down a rug. Woven synthetic is an ideal material, but check it is resistant to water, UV, mould and mildew to withstand our Aussie weather conditions.