Top Tips For Prepping Your Outdoor Area For The Cooler Months

Top tips for prepping your outdoor area for the cooler months

- Matt Leacy

With winter on our doorstep, here are my top tips for creating an inviting outdoor space, even in the cold of winter.

WARMTH IS KEY

The key to using your outdoor space yearround is to bring warmth to it and introduce features and elements that make it an inviting spot. One way to do this is to increase cover and protection so that wind and rain become less of an issue.

You might look at introducing some enclosed walls around key outdoor areas such as external living rooms, patio areas and outdoor kitchens, which you want to be able to use year-round. If you’re considering built forms at the bigger end of the spectrum, backyard pavilions can be a great option, offering loads of covered space for tables, chairs, pots and plants — and lots of protection for outdoor entertaining.

Covered pergolas, retractable awnings and gazebos can also be really good autumn additions and you can style the space internally to inject warmth, then rethink the look and accents as you move into warmer seasons.

FIRE UP FOR OUTDOOR ENTERTAINING

With people spending more time at home than ever before, we’ve seen the request for firepits explode over the last 12 months. Gathering around a fire is such a great way to catch up outdoors — and the ambience it creates is second to none. We naturally expect this trend to continue as we move into the ideal fire weather of winter.

As temperatures drop, firepits provide a functional and stylish way to warm your outdoor space and keep it suitable for entertaining and relaxation. You can sit by the fire and chat with friends and family and cook food — and they’re great for disposing of branches that may have fallen from your trees.