Outdoor Rooms
Decking and Patio Solutions: Five Simple Steps for More Private Outdoor Areas
Privacy is a must when you live in a busy city like Sydney. But how can you make the timber decking or patio at your Sydney home as private as can be? A lot of the solutions to getting greater privacy for your decking or patio come down to careful planning, and not rushing into construction. Here are five steps for you to make sure your outdoor blinds in the living area is only for your eyes: 1. Make Your House Work for Your Patio or Decking: Stand out on the street, and look back at your house. Are there any areas of your backyard or house that can’t be seen from the street? These are the best places for you to start building your deck or patio. By using your house as a barrier, you instantly have more privacy for your decking or patio. 2. Taking Advantage of Your Fencing for Your Patio Privacy: If you can, stand on the other side of your garden’s fence - treat it as you did your house in the first step. Otherwise, stand as close to your fence as possible and imagine being behind your fence and what you would be able to see. Fencing can be a great privacy screen. If you haven’t got a fence, time to get one - solid wooden planks reaching a minimum of six feet high are the best to give you privacy. 3. Choosing a Garden for Decking Privacy: Trees are nature’s screen, so plant trees that are naturally leafy or overhang around your deck or garden. Some examples include Snowy River Wattle, Lime Magik, and Willow Myrtle. 4. Water Features and Patio Privacy: Privacy isn’t just about sight. What other people can hear is also important to making your patio or decking private. A basic water feature that trickles is an excellent way to make sure you aren’t overheard, as well as drowning out the sounds of the homes and people around your property. 5. Privacy Screens for Your Deck or Patio: If you want to go upmarket or try something a little more stylish in terms of privacy, why not consider a privacy screen? Privacy screens can double as block-out blinds, and will keep the sun and prying eyes away from your outdoor living areas. Related Tags: Exterior Blinds Sydney
Tips
Decking Overhaul: Colourful Tips for Outdoor Living Areas
Spring is all about vibrant colours, so why not brighten your Sydney home’s outdoor living areas for the season? Here are some tips to get your timber decking or patio ready for spring: 1. Update Your Decking Furniture: Since you’ll be spending most of spring and summer out on your decking or patio, it’s important that you’ve got some quality furniture. Throw away any chairs or tables that are broken, and refresh the rest of your outdoor furniture with a bright coat of paint, or some new fabric covers. 2. Never Underestimate the Power of Cushions and Blankets for Your Patio: Colourful and comfy cushions can cost you as little as five dollars a piece. Choose a range of bright colours and sizes, and spread your cushions about your patio chairs. Larger cushions can even be used as floor cushions to create a relaxed atmosphere. Blankets can add some much needed colour as well, and can be a perfect accent to a romantic night when the temperature starts to drop. Tartan is a great way to get colour and class all at once from your blankets 3. Plants for Your Deck: Spring sees many beautiful and bright flowers come into bloom, so it’d be silly not to take advantage of this when refreshing your deck. Top spring flowers include wattles, jonquils, and Spanish bluebells. Choose a range of flowering plants for both pots and around the base of your decking or patio. Jonquil flowers 4. Easy Decor for Your Decking or Patio: You don’t have to spend a fortune on decor for your patio. With a little imagination and creativity you can create some gorgeous little pieces. Got an old metal watering can you no longer use? Grab some paint and brighten it up with a primary colour, or even with a little design or two. Wanted to try your hand at mosaics? Buy some tiles and a terracotta square and start making a unique wall-hanging. The great thing about these sorts of decorations is they’re also an excellent way to keep the kids busy on weekends and holidays. A mosaic from the PACT Millenium Garden (taken by Keith Edkins) 5. Lighting for Your Patio: Sometimes the days can be too hot to go outside, but the nights are just right. Make use of the dark, and string coloured fairy-lights around your decking or patio - it’s amazing how something so simple can be so effective.
Patio & Alfresco
Small Outdoor Spaces: From Timber Deck to Rooftop Patios, How to Make the Most of Your Outdoor Living
If you think your block of land is too small for a timber deck or a patio, think again. Sydney is an ever-growing city, so space can be expensive, but there are ways you can make the most of the outdoor space you have when it comes to getting a deck or patio. Don’t fret if you’ve got a tiny block of land and you want an outdoor deck. Some careful planning can see that dream become a reality. Follow these three tips and you’ll be on your way: 1. Plan What You Want From Your Deck: Do you want to spend lazy Saturday afternoons reading a book in a quiet space all of your own? Or do you want to have big Friday night barbeques with all your best mates? What you want to do on your deck will help you start planning how much space you need. If it’s only ever going to be you and a few people, you can afford to only have a very small deck, but if you want to have a large gathering, you’ll need to get creative in your use of space, so your deck doesn’t take over your whole backyard. 2. Match Your Deck Up to Your House: You can solve a lot of space issues by making sure that your deck and your house meet up and flow into one another. Still keen on a big deck for parties? You can save some space by choosing to have your deck extend from your kitchen or dining room so the two smaller spaces become one big space. 3. Get Creative With Your Deck: You aren’t just limited to one level of your deck or one big open space. Let your creative juices run wild and experiment with different levels or dividing walls and plants to get the space that you want. What if decks aren’t your thing? More of a patio person? Easy. City living lends itself to rooftop patios very easily. And those three tips can help you get a rooftop patio or terrace underway. A boring and ugly apartment rooftop can very easily become a gorgeous getaway with a little careful planning and clever decorating. Space doesn’t have to stop you living the outdoor life you want when it comes to a timber deck or patio. Get creative and make the most of the space you have!
Outdoor Rooms
Queenslander Room Makeover - Transform a Sparse Porch with Simple Accessories
It’s not enough to just have a Queenslander room in your Sydney home. If you want to really be able to enjoy and to show that sunroom extension off with pride, you need to transform it into an amazing space. So how do you do that? You don’t need a million dollars to make your sunroom as perfect as it can be. By choosing simple but clever decorations and furniture you can make your sunroom the most desirable room in your house. Let’s start with the basic furniture. Your sunroom is a meeting place for the outdoors and indoors, and your furniture should reflect this. Wicker furniture with comfy cushions works best to continue this illusion as it can be used either indoors or out. Also, make your sunroom multipurpose by including both dining room furniture as well as lounge room furniture. This way you have twice as many reasons to stay in there! Once you’ve got your main furniture down, it’s time to think about larger accents to the decor. No sunroom is complete without a plant or two, so do your research and find out what plants that like sunrooms will match your decor. For instance, if you’ve got particularly cheery and bright colours in your sunroom, a hibiscus or two would complement the whole thing perfectly. Or if you’ve gone for more neutral tones, look at using Boston ferns in planters or hanging pots to create a calming, green atmosphere. Now we’re at the pointy end, it’s time to choose just the right accessories and decorations to really draw everything in your sunroom into one neat, stylish, little bundle. Make it a space that you want to use everyday by adding your personal touches, while still encouraging that feeling of the melding indoors and outdoors. For instance, you can create a lovely family room without neglecting the outside by the careful placement of a few small family photos, alongside a bowl of river pebbles. There’s no reason to spend up big on these decorations - use what you already have and love from other rooms in your home and bring it all together in one fabulous space.
Tips
Timber Decking Overhaul - Budget Savvy Tips to Revamp Your Deck
Timber decking can be an expensive outdoor space, but it’s well worth the price tag. But how can you get the best from your Sydney decking, without spending every cent you make on it? Nothing can look brand new forever, but there are always ways to reduce the effects of aging, whether its on skin or timber. Here are a few tips that will keep your deck looking fresh and fantastic: 1. Cleaning Your Deck: No one likes cleaning, but keeping your deck clean is a great way to keep it from aging. Give it a regular sweep every week or so, and a deeper clean every few months with a scrubbing brush. Try and keep your deck free from leaves and standing water as they will be what ages it, as well as build-ups of dust. 2. Rearranging Your Deck Furniture: By simply moving your furniture about regularly you can actually extend the life of your timber and keep it all looking the same. It’s all about getting it all exposed to the sun and rain equally, otherwise you’ll end up with some parts darker than others. 3. Protecting the Timber: There are lots of cheap and easy ways to look after your deck, and a lot of them rely on prevention. Protecting your timber is essential to keeping your deck looking fabulous. The obvious thing to do is to give it a good coat of stain every few years to keep the colour looking intense, but other simpler methods also include just spending a few dollars on footpads for your tables and chairs so if they do move they won’t scratch up the timber. 4. A Deck Makeover: If you really aren’t finding your deck all that appealing, or it’s looking a little behind the times, there are a plenty of ways you can makeover your deck without spending more than a hundred dollars. For a start, you can enliven your furniture with a few cushions and blankets. You can even give your chairs a quick and cheap facelift by simply updating their fabric with a well-draped blanket or piece of fabric, if getting them recovered isn’t an option. If they’re simple wooden chairs, some fresh paint will make them see brand new! Scout garage sales and hard rubbish collections for furniture that can be cleaned up and become part of your deck setting. You can even change the feel of your deck by your choice of plants. Vibrant, big flowers will give it a tropical, happy feel, while trailing vines with small, but sweet-smelling flowers will make it a romantic getaway. You’re not limited in how you keep your deck looking good, as well as updating its look, by how much money you’ve got. There’s plenty you can do on a very small budget.
Tips
10 Tips to Revamp Sydney Patios
Even the smallest outdoor spaces can be turned into an enviable haven for fun and relaxation with a few stylish and practical additions. From sprawling plants, pops of colour and weather-ready seating, follow our 9 tips for a complete patio overhaul. 1. Flush With Furnishings The first step to optimising underutilised spaces is styling yourself a new seating and dining area. You want to create the perfect atmosphere for curling up with a good book or sharing a tipple with friends. These canvas-covered lounge chairs flawlessly combine modernity with comfort for a relaxed atmosphere perfect for sunny Sydney homes. Large wooden tables that promote a familial sense of sharing and entertainment are also great for the growing family or perpetual host. 2. Stacks of Blooms Some strategically placed plants and blooms add colour and interest to your patio whilst bolstering its privacy credentials, too. Ferns and palms are easy to maintain and ideal for Sydney’s temperature and environment. Combine your greens with statement florals for diversity and interest all year round. 3. Tapestries and Fabrics A room is never fully dressed without a flourish of fabrics or a good-looking rug; the same goes for your outdoor patio. The market has really upped the game on stylish patio and outdoor-room rugs mad from weather-durable fabrics. 4. Made in the Shade Adding an awning or pergola to your outdoor patio totally enhances its usability and attractiveness. Embrace the idea of the “outdoor room” and choose insulated options that prevent mildew from growing on your furnishings and keep the area cool during the summer and warm during the winter. 5. Peace and Private Be it a glorious drop of billowy curtains, a lush growing fern or some nice leafy foliage, boosting the privacy of your patio will see you using it more often. It’s about making your outdoor area feel as comfortable and usable as your own lounge room. Plus a bit of division between you and the neighbours is always ideal; you don’t want them becoming too jealous of your rollicking patio soirée. 6. Lights, Camera, Action Just like us, our patios always look their best when well lit. Innovative lighting can be as simple as cheap-and-cheerful fairy lights, stylish lanterns or ultra-modern neon signs. However, ensuring your outdoor living space is glowing from morning to eve does have its disadvantages; you may never want to leave! 7. Turn Up the Heat Keeping your patio warm during the cooler months prevents it from becoming a barren wasteland during winter and autumn. A simple patio heater or small bonfire pit become doubly effective when partnered with energy-efficient insulated awnings that keep the warm air circulating around the space. 8. Beautiful BBQ An Aussie tradition, you simply can’t be true blue if you don’t have some sort of furnace toiling away in your backyard on a Sunday arvo. The sophisticate may opt for a pizza oven, the budget conscience a dual fire-pit-and-grill; as long as meat is scolding somewhere on your patio you’re bound to become a red-hot-hit with the weekend revelers. 9. Colour Me Pretty On trend palettes or classic hues, no matter what way you go a splash of colour instantly brightens up boring patios. Outdoor areas tend to be single material heavy; like the wooden decking area featured here. Breaking up the scheme with a vibrant turquoise hue is a refreshing treat for the eye. A hint of bright and bold does wonder to warming up the space during the cooler months, too. Related Tags: Outdoor Blinds Sydney
Tips
5 Ways for Great Sydney Decking
Spring is here and all over Sydney family and friends are hitting the decks. Make the most of your outdoor areas with these five handy tips. 1. Create shade. It doesn’t matter how stylish your outdoor deck is or how great of a view you’ve got, if it’s not well shaded for respite from the harsh Australian sun you’re probably not going to be out there much. In order to get the most out of your outdoor living ensure you have the right shade solution for you and your family. If you’re out there a lot, you may want to opt for insulated awnings. These will keep you cool in the summer and warm during the winter, so you can maximise the amount of time you’re out there. 2. Head outdoors for your next fryup. Make your way outdoors come dinner time this spring by treating yourself to an outdoor cooking area. Barbeques are the Aussie classic, but a great small grill like the Weber Q 14 Electrical Grill, packs a lot of heat without taking up a lot of space. The outdoor living aficionado might opt for something a little bit more European, like a superb stone pizza oven, choosing to spend their nights out under the stars eating home cooked pide. 3. Add to your space to ensure privacy. Be it with plants, curtains, awnings of fencing, creating a sense of privacy in your outdoor spaces is crucial to using them more often. By upping your personal comfort level you’re well on the way to transforming your outdoor areas into a outdoor-living space as opposed to just a deck. Holed up in your little (or big) back yard nook, you’ll feel the rest of the world is miles away from your own private sanctuary. 4. Curate stylish and comfortable outdoor furniture. Ensuring there’s comfortable seating, and plenty of it, is key to a fully-functional outdoor living area. You want outdoor furniture that can stand the test of time against Sydney’s erratic weather. Specially treated materials, designed to maintain their good looks whilst outdoors, are now better looking and easier to find than ever. These are worth investing in as they save you having to replace tired upholstery and tarnished tables with unfavourable regularity. 5. A moveable feast of a garden. Your deck is the perfect place to start a herb garden. As most decks in Sydney are located just off the kitchen area, it’s ideal to have an array of potted bits and pieces to add to your cooking at such accessible reach. You’ll find this immediate link between the pan and you deck will have you pottering about outside pondering your next meal, your next batch of sprouts and the possibilities of planting your own garden. Beyond that we suggest you continue with the potted plant theme and incorporate ferns, palms and flowers to add textures, colours and aromas that entice the whole family to get outside and start enjoying their deck. Related Tag: Outdoor Blinds Sydney Exterior Blinds Sydney
Tips
How to Take Care of Your Timber Decking
One of the best ways to enjoy all Sydney has to offer is to watch the world from the comfort and privacy of your own timber deck. Timber decking can give you so much satisfaction, but if you want to use it for years to come, you better know how to show it a little love. 1. Give Your Decking Some Time If you’ve just varnished your deck, let all the oils soak in. You don’t want to mess up the job, or your deck, by being too eager to get all your furniture back in place. 48 hours should do the trick. 2. Scratch-Free Timber Timber is such a beautiful material, and the last thing you want to do is ruin your decking by being careless. The most common way timber decking gets scratched is because of furniture. Now, you can either opt for a furniture-free deck, or simply place some protective pads on the legs of any chairs or tables that’ll be on your deck. If the distressed look isn’t your thing, a few rubber feet will do the job 3. Clean Decking is Happy Decking You wouldn’t leave your house dirty, so why should you leave your decking dirty? And we’re not just talking about giving it a sweep to clear off any stray leaves, we’re talking a proper clean. Get the mop out, get down on your hands and knees with a scrubbing brush, do whatever you have to do to know that your deck is free of dirt, plants, and whatever else. Hopefully, you’ll find your deck under all that dust 4. Resealing Your Deck To keep your deck looking brand new and in tip-top condition, reseal your deck with varnish, paint, oil, stain, or whatever is best suited for your timber. 5. Keep It Simple Don’t be tempted to be lazy when it comes to looking after your deck. Sure the vacuum would be quicker and easier for you to clean your deck, but remember number two on this list, we’re not just talking about furniture leaving scratches, a vacuum cleaner pressed down a little too aggressively could put some nasty scratches down. And while you’re keeping it simple, don’t forget to take your time - treat your deck like it’s just another room in your house, because, really, it is. There’s just a few walls missing! Related Tag: Pergolas in Sydney
Patio & Alfresco
Five Reasons Sydney Should Choose Insulated Awnings
Asking why you should choose insulated awnings over flat awnings is like asking why we should drink water over carbonated pop. While they’re both bound to refresh, there’s no doubt which is the more salubrious choice –better for you today and better for you in the long run, insulated is the cost-effective ideal for your outdoor living spaces. 1. Insulated Awnings Stop Noise The delicate pitter-patter of drizzle on your rooftop can be a glorious thing, but when you’re hit by that hard Australian East Coast rain it’s absolutely deafening. Insulated awnings stifle the noise, meaning the conversations can flow freely right throughout the downpour. This is your inside space outside, meant for relaxing, entertaining and enjoying, don’t let a little rain dampen your fun. 2. Insulated Awnings Prevent Mildew Feel free to decorate your new insulated patio with the furnishings you fancy. Insulated awnings mean no condensation building up, therefore protecting your outdoor décor from unsightly mildew. Your living room outside can be as plush and comfortable as you like it, plus it means you’ll also get a bit of respite during hot and humid days. 3. Insulated Awnings Regulate the Temperature Insulated awnings are designed to keep your patio area cool during the summer and warm during the winter. In the hot season, you’ll avoid the sweat and strain of a Sydney heat by having the sun’s hot rays transferred away from the awning structure. During the cooler months, you can set up a patio heater or a small fire pit and the warmth with hit the roof to re-circulate it’s warmth around your decking area. Rain, hail or shine an insulated patio adds an extra layer of protection to your home against the elements meaning you shouldn’t have to head for the A/C unit quite as often. 4. Insulated Awnings Won’t Corrode Our insulated awnings are crafted from premium aluminium. That means no matter where you are in Australia, from Balmain to Bondi, Wyong to Wollongong, your outdoor awning won’t rot or decay. Traditional timber and steel materials are susceptible to corrosion, particularly in areas near saltwater, we offer a 100% aluminium solution, meaning your awning isn’t susceptible to the same wear and tear of other inferior products. 5. Insulated Awnings Can Easily Convert into a Sunroom Sunroom, Queenslander room, glass room, it doesn’t matter what you call it, when you opt for insulated over non-insulated awnings you’re investing in the future potential of your property. It’s simple for us to convert any of our insulated awnings into a sunroom area further down the line because of its anti-mould and thermal-effective properties.