INTER IORS
In s ide Out MAKE THE MOST OF THE WARMER WEATHER BY JAZZING UP YOUR OUTSIDE SPACE, READY FOR A SUMMER OF ALFRESCO DRINKING, DINING AND SOCIALISING
WORDS BY NICOLA FOLEY
indoor furniture outside with rugs and throws to stay warm, to utilising lighting to decorate our gardens,” she predicts. “Don’t feel scared to add indoor cushions, cashmere throws, or even sheepskin rugs to your table settings and relaxing areas, making it feel just as cosy as inside!” The idea of bringing the inside out ties into a growing trend for blurring the lines between home and garden; creating an appealing additional space, or ‘fifth room’, that can be enjoyed all year round. That means levelling up the cosiness with cushions, warm lighting and sturdy shelter – and it also means getting real about our climate. Bright white, Ibiza beach-club style might look cool, but the unpredictable British weather necessitates practical colours, fabrics and a heat source – be that a firepit (or a repurposed barbecue posing as a firepit) or some kind of patio heater. Then, of course, there are luxurious upgrades such as hot tubs and pizza ovens to consider.
ith ongoing restrictions and wariness around socialising indoors, our gardens have assumed a new importance
as entertaining spaces during the pandemic. Traditional dinner parties are out, and firepit gatherings, barbecues and alfresco drinks are most definitely in... come rain, shine or gale-force winds! Predictably, this has created a surge in sales of garden furniture and accessories. It’s something which, while very much welcomed in the retail sector, has created its own challenges, as Kate Reed from local furniture shop Angela Reed points out. “It has been problematic as we head into spring, considering worldwide issues with supply chains – and garden furniture has really fallen foul of that problem,” she explains. Her solution, if you’re having trouble getting hold of what you need, is to get creative with pieces you already own. “I think we will see much more inventive ways of outdoor entertaining, from using
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