GET A ROOM!

Since living, working and entertaining at home is becoming the norm, exploring the creation of outdoor “rooms” in our backyards provides plenty of scope for imagination

- Donnay Torr

Aussies have many reasons to love the alfresco life, not least of which are our country’s sunny weather, breathtaking natural landscapes and the sheer sense of potential carried on a warm summer breeze.

However, the COVID-19 lockdown changed the way we interact with outdoor spaces and the people who share them with us, and we’re now focusing more than ever on evolving our homes and backyards for better “at home” living.

Alfresco dining and living areas, outdoor bathrooms, and meditation nooks aren’t just a “here today, gone tomorrow” trend. Australia’s climate and culture are both well suited to “living” outdoors, and this has become an automatic extension and integral part of architecture in the modern-day home according to Dean Herald, managing director and principal designer at Rolling Stone Landscapes.

Dean notes that the social impact of the recent pandemic has made backyard upgrades even more popular: “There’s an understanding that your property and your backyard is probably one of the last remaining places you have full control over. You can invite whoever you want whenever you want.”

Entertaining at home is also more affordable for growing families and has added practical benefits. “When the kids get bored, they can entertain themselves outside or inside, and adults can continue to have a nice quality conversation — that’s a very attractive environment,” Dean says.

Feeling ready to jump into your own outdoor room project? Start by keeping these important planning details in mind.

MAKING A WISH LIST