Queensland Outdoor Living Styles
Living in Queensland must surely be a gift from the heavens. Do you ever sit and wonder how lucky we are to have a climate that allows us to spend a large part of the year outdoors?
Making the most of the space you have outdoors is the key to getting the most out of Queensland living.
I keep saying this, but you must consider the outdoors like another part of your home – make it as comfortable as possible. Comfortable seating will encourage you to spend more time outside and your outdoor living space should get just as much consideration as your indoor living spaces – the plastic table or wooden table with benches or hard chairs just doesn’t do it.
Clever lighting – a brilliant must for outdoor living. Indirect lighting, such as gentle lighting amongst trees and plants looks sensational and adds to the ambience – avoid overhead lighting, which is harsh and casts shadows. Use wall lights or floor lights for maximum effect. It is a good idea to put a dimmer switch on outdoor lighting, so you can control it to suit the mood.
Candles – candles look brilliant but make sure you put them in a jar or vase (votive) that is high enough to stop air movement from blowing out the flame. It goes without saying that you should avoid putting candles close to walls, ceilings, plants and any other flammable substance – and blow them out when you go back inside! Insect repellent candles are also good to have on hand, but don’t use them everywhere, they tend to pong a bit. Flameless candles are the latest and greatest – very inexpensive too.
Prevailing winds – apparently they come from the west or south west in the winter but we also see frequent wind from the south east and east, usually bringing with them moist air. If your only outdoor space is exposed to prevailing wind or rain can you protect the area to allow it to still be used year round? There are many, very innovative and useful products on the market, including roll down see-through blinds and extendable awnings.
Sun protection – all sorts of umbrella configurations are around and awning companies offer a huge range of products to protect you from the sun. These should always be adjustable to allow you to move or remove them at will. Get expert advice.
Although most gardens have plants in them, it is also a nice idea to have extra potted plants or flowers sitting on or near outdoor tables to add colour and life.
Outdoor mats – a relatively new product, but great for turning an outdoor space into a proper room. Similar to indoor living, having a rug anchors the space and creates a central focus to the room. The added advantage of having an outdoor rug is that is helps to keep the deck/tiles/pavers clean and is easy underfoot.
When entertaining outdoors, spend some time styling the space before guests turn up – sweep the area, light the candles, place the pot plants and fluff up the cushions (or bring some out from indoors). Cheers and here’s to another brilliant summer.