Whether it’s by the pool or off the kitchen, there’s no better place to pass the Sydney summer than in that perfect outdoor entertaining area that is decking. The trick to getting the most out of that timber decking though is knowing how to set the right atmosphere with clever furnishings like insulated awnings, sets of furniture and beautiful accents.
It can be extremely hard to turn some drab decking into an ideal outdoor entertainment area, but if you think carefully about it all, very soon you can have your very own oasis in your backyard. Here’s a few tips to get you on your way:
1. Planning, Planning, Planning: Before you even think about a trip to Bunnings or start looking at styles and types of furniture you need to know and understand your space. How do you want to use the space you have? Do you want little ‘rooms’ or one big area? What do you want to be the main point of the space? Is it an outdoor kitchen or living room? When you can answer those questions draw up a map of your space and start experimenting with the layout of potential furnishings – this is far easier than trying to do it physically by shifting heavy pieces of furniture about.
2. Keep It Simple: The best outdoor entertaining areas, or any entertaining areas really, are the ones that are kept simple. This doesn’t mean you can’t play around with colour or interesting centrepieces, but don’t choose too many patterns or unique pieces of furniture, otherwise it can all get a bit too much. Don’t try to mix styles either. Work out which style best suits your home and stick with it, otherwise your deck will look more like a garage sale than a comfortable and inviting space to while away the hours.
3. Comfortable At All Times: If you want to make the most of your deck, you need to be using it as often as possible. Consider insulated awnings to keep you cool on long, hot summer days and some tasteful soft lights to let you enjoy the cool, night breezes without having to resort to sitting in the dark. If your deck is always inviting, you’ll be hard put to refuse spending a few hours out there each day.
(source: http://www.wikihow.com/Choose-Deck-Furnishings)