FT NEWS

You probably can’t wait to fire up the barbecue and enjoy long, leisurely dinners al fresco, which means that your outdoor living space could do with some sprucing up, post hibernating in winter. Whether you are starting from scratch or just adding a few decorative touches, whether it’s a 4x4-foot space or a giant patio, here are some ways to dress up your outdoors before sending out those invitations.

Seat in style
The right seating can make all the difference. Large spaces can accommodate large, heavy furniture … but in a small space try individual wicker or cane seating. It is not heavy – neither on the pocket nor literally. The different pieces can be moved around with ease.

Light up the night
Good lighting is just as important outdoors as it is indoors. Lights are the easiest way to dress up a space and still make an impact. Not only does effective lighting allow your guests to move around safely, but it helps set the mood for cosy entertaining. For a festive ambience, fairy lights are a go-to in terms of ease and economy. They are also a convenient way to light up nooks and crannies where you can’t have permanent light fixtures.

Candlelight is a go-to for an intimate, mood-filled ambience, whether it’s party night or a rainy day. Take it a notch up by placing fat candles in metal lanterns and scattering them across your yard.

Use sheer curtains
Fluttering light curtains are evocative of summer just round the corner. Drapes turn your patio into a bonus room, an extension of your home; plus they give the space an intimate feel. Go with any colour of the rainbow or opt for pure white – a classic.

Make your own pergola
Umbrellas are handy, but even the larger ones have their limits when it comes to shading a large deck or terrace. That’s where shade sails and shade-cloth structures come in. Stringing up look-alike, purpose-made shade sails has become a popular and relatively inexpensive way of sheltering outdoor areas from the sun.

Here, the homeowners have used both an umbrella and a voile-like shade sail for larger coverage. An extension table and folding director’s chairs can handle a crowd, and can just as easily be scaled back when it’s just family.

Splash out with spring colours
Spring is all about colour, the more vibrant it is, the better. Here, many-hued cushions resemble a bed of riotous blooms fit for springtime. The blue-and-white marble inlay coffee table provides relief from the burst of colours. And while you are at it, why not stencil a procession of pretty ladies on the walls.

Rejuvenate with pots and plants
Spring is best experienced when surrounded by greenery. If your patio is bereft of plants, the onset of spring is a great time to bring some in. A couple of large outdoor planters with tall plants add great style to a patio. Planters serve to define a space and act as boundaries. The ones featured here are in white to match the furniture but it might be wiser to opt for neutral, black or dark-grey shades, as they show the least amount of dirt, wear and tear.

Add a rug
A nice-looking rug can give your outdoor space the feeling of a living room. They are an easy way to add colour and pattern to your terrace. Use rugs to define boundaries by placing them at specific sites, say under a coffee table or to ground a dining table and chairs. In this picture, the break between the rug and the floor is subtle, yet it connects the various furniture pieces together.