The period when one’s living area is limited to within the four walls of the building is long gone. We are now in the era where the trend is to extend your living area outdoors in a stylish manner.
People now appreciate nature more and seem to embrace nature for healing and meditation.
A person whose house has an inviting outdoor space will be considered a better choice, especially if they want to put up their space on Airbnb and for staycations.
Another trend that people seem to embrace is staycation. I mean, must you wait till you have all the money before you visit beautiful places and have your vacations?
Having a great outdoor living space is the beginning of a beautiful staycation. If you want to rent your house out for a staycation, having a well-designed outdoor space will make your house preferable.
Why should you spend time outside? You tend to breathe and sleep better, it reduces depression symptoms, improves one emotional well-being, and restores you mentally.
In this article, we will be discussing seven (7) things you must have in your UK Outdoor Living Area that will make it more comfortable, pleasing and functional.
7 Must-Have Features for Your UK Outdoor Living Area
- Cosy Seating Area
- Sheltered Space
- The All-Important Grill
- Fire Feature
- Outdoor Lighting
- A Touch of Nature
- Storage Solutions
Sheltered Space
It is called an ‘outdoor’ living space for a reason. This means that the living area is exposed to all weather conditions – rain, wind, or sunshine.
To protect your space, you need protective covers like gazebos, awnings, or pergolas. These protective covers will provide shade on a sunny day, protect the living area from rainfall and extend the season for outdoor use.
The All-Important Grill
Unless you are vegan, you will definitely be doing some grilling in your outdoor living area especially when you are entertaining guests.
There are different types of grills that you can install in your living space – charcoal, gas, electric, pellet, kamado, ceramic grill, etc.
Fire Feature
If you reside in the UK, then a fire feature is one of the most important things you must have in your outdoor living space, This is because most of the time the weather is really cold, and you need a means to get warmth while creating ambience.
You can build a fire pit, chimney fireplaces or firetables. However, before you consider installing anyone, ensure it is safe for your living space and that you can fuel the fire (e.g. wood).
Cosy Seating Area
What’s an outdoor space without a comfortable place to sit? It is preferable to go
for a weatherproof cushion so that it can withstand all weather conditions and can be comfortable to sit or lie on.
If you will be entertaining guests or just relaxing in your outdoor living space, then go for cushions with deep seats, sink-in comfort and pillowy cushions, and if you can afford it, one that has leg raisers so that you can lounge.
Other key elements of a cosy seating area include built-in cupboards, a sophisticated audio/visual system, chaise lounges and even a composite decking board.
Outdoor Lighting
During the day, you can make do with natural lighting in your outdoor living space. However, at night, you need an artificial source of light that creates a welcoming atmosphere or a cosy ambience.
You can use fairy lights, festoon lighting or strategically placed solar lights to create this inviting or welcoming atmosphere.
A Touch of Nature
What’s an outdoor space without a touch of nature? You must incorporate nature and plant life into your outdoor living space to add a touch of greenery and soften the space.
There are different ways to incorporate plant life – you can install planters, hanging baskets or a vertical garden, and you can plant native trees. This plant life helps to relieve stress, absorb sound and clean the air around the garden.
Storage Solutions
You will need to consider storage solutions for items in your outdoor living area. When the rain or snow starts, you will need a place to keep your cushions, throws, gardening tools, bicycles, and skating boards.
Even if not the rain, having a storage space helps to keep your outdoor living area clutter-free. Types of storage solutions that you can consider incorporating into your outdoor living space include storage benches, storage sheds, outdoor storage lockers, storage boxes, outdoor cabinets, etc.
To End With,
Installing all or most of the features listed in this article into your UK outdoor living area will make the atmosphere of the living space very welcoming and will create a cosy ambience.
When decorating your outdoor space, ensure to put a touch of your style into every piece of furniture, design, installation and painting. Let your outdoor space be a representation of who you are and let it meet your needs.
