Improving Your Outdoor Living

From sheltered patios, to outdoor kitchens, additional rooms and beautiful lawns, we highlight a number of key features that will make the most of your exterior spaces.

OUTDOOR LIVING

No matter what size of garden, patio or outdoor space you have, you want it to feel like an extension of your home and still have that comfortable, relaxing vibe to it. Start with seating and thinking about how you’re going to be using your space. If you’re big on entertaining, a dining set could be a good choice.

With the changeable Irish climate, ideally any outdoor living and dining space should factor in substantial shelter from wind and rain to allow for year round use. You will also want to factor in heating and lighting options for versatility.

OUTDOOR KITCHENS

When staying in became the new going out over the past few years, lots of us started cooking more in our gardens. This sparked a move toward seriously stylish outdoor kitchens where once a squeezed-in BBQ sufficed. Now, a stylish al fresco kitchen gives you a practical outdoor living space and is a great investment that will add value to your home.

When it comes to placement, your outdoor kitchen should be a designated area with enough room close by for a dining table and chairs, where you can prep, wash and cook a variety of foods on different appliances, and include storage units and work surfaces. But it doesn’t have to be huge, so have a walk around your garden and consider what options might work where.

Think about how you’ll use your new kitchen. Will you be a fair-weather chef? Then moveable units on wheels that can easily be stored over the winter might suit. Or do you want to use your outdoor kitchen all year round? Then a permanent covering to protect it from bad weather is a must-have.