We know, there’s nothing like lazing on your living room couch after a long day. But there’s no reason why you should have to be satisfied to leave the cosiness indoors. We say move the comfortable outside! Winter is receding, and spring is just around the corner, so to help you get a head start on making the very best of the outdoor area in your home, we’ve come up with a few useful pointers, tips and tricks to make the garden just as cosy as your bed or your living room couch, if not more. You’ll love it, promise.
Green dream
Your plants deserve a holiday, too. Pick up your tired indoor ferns or even the sad little basil plant from the supermarket, put them in pretty pots and bring them outside. Your plants will thank you, and the place will look that much better. The space needs more of a lift? Try with some cute and useful garden accessories like a watering can, string lights, or decorations to add a touch of whimsy, and you’ll see a world of difference.
© Cagin Kargi
Texture is everything
An outdoor rug under the lounge set makes hanging out outside infinitely better, trust us. As do cushions and blankets. Outdoor furniture can often feel quite bare and basic, so make sure you get plenty of soft, indoors-y fabrics and materials to cosy up in your fairy garden. Think about outside with an inside mind: tablecloths are not an obvious choice, but work wonders on a garden table, while a vase of fresh flowers can offer a fun, unexpected twist.
© Maria Orlova
Move meals outside
One of the best ways to make spending time outside an even bigger treat is, perhaps unsurprisingly, food. And drinks, of course. If you don’t have a dining table out, you are going to need one; large and sturdy enough to accommodate a lively dinner party. But you can skimp elsewhere — no need for fancy seating: ordinary garden stools will do. All that’s left to do is to throw on the barbecue, or set up a fire pit for toasting marshmallows, and get in the outside mood.
© Jonathan Cooper
Accessorize, accessorize
Little bits and bobs of stylish improvements here and there can really make a big difference. And, weather permitting, you can even borrow things from inside. Get a friend to help and move the sofa out, move your floor lamp for the evening, or do it up properly and invest in some outdoor lighting. Candles of all shapes and sizes work really well in a natural setting, too.
© Ferran Feixas
Go all out
If you’re bringing your living room outside, why not bring your bath out, too? For those daring ones really sold on a life under the sun (literally), an outdoor shower is a must. Make sure you’ve got decent coverage — no one likes the neighbor’s prying eyes — and set up a rustic corner of your garden for an invigorating, bracing splash. Optional: soap on a rope and/or body brush.
© Nicole Queiroz
