Pergolas, patios and decks are becoming more than ever before.

That comes as no surprise to us – with Sydney’s excellent weather conditions almost all-year round, there’s no reason to not want to spend more time outside unless you have an aversion to vitamin D.

There’s a rising trend in customers seeking home improvements to want the garden and living area to be considered as one space. Even if the area isn’t used on a regular basis, a well-designed and well-purposed outdoor room adds value to the property. Outdoor rooms make a property appear much more spacious and enjoyable, giving you more usable space in an area that used to be seen as an afterthought when it came to entertainment.

The sky’s the limit (really!) when it comes to outdoor living areas – you need not limit yourself to creating an outdoor kitchen. Wireless devices such as TVs and iPod docks can be used outdoors, too, which takes your movie nights and lazy Sunday afternoons to a whole new level. If you’re handy and have a projector and a spare sheet lying around, you can even create a moonlight cinema to enjoy with your friends and family.

When aiming to accomplish harmony between your indoor and outdoor spaces, the most important thing to view outdoor spaces as part of the design scheme and take them into account when setting your budget. It is also important to ensure lighting plans are connected in order to create the same ambience both indoors and outdoors and unify both areas.

Manufacturers are capitalising on this growing trend, making it easier than ever for you to create exactly what you’ve been imagining. Modern, striking and versatile products that can withstand outdoor environments are popping up everywhere, so get hunting and create the outdoor room of your dreams!

Wizard Home Improvements arms Australian property owners with the affordable and stylish home improvements to make the most of their homes. Learn more. 

Related Tag: Outdoor Pergola

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Bring outdoor areas to life…

Summer is well and truly over in Sydney – the temperature has dropped and as a result, it’s much harder to get out of the bed in the morning. However, on days when you’re in no rush to go anywhere, it’s quite pleasant to sit on your outdoor deck with a cuppa and enjoy the lush surrounds of your backyard.

However, we get that not everyone is at the “lush surrounds” stage of backyard development, and are probably, at present, more used to staring down a less-than-inspiring patchy lawn. If you’re looking for a backyard update, here are a few plants we’ve enjoyed seeing around Sydney lately. They’re all subtropical varieties, they’ll be fine in most weather conditions, they’re easy to grow and easy to maintain.

Winter Blues? Learn how to cold-proof your deck here!

Pentas lanceolata: Commonly known as the Egyptian Starcluster, pentas tend to be drought-hardy, but don’t live for much longer than 3-4 years. Regular beheadings will keep the plant compact and flowering on a regular basis.

Davidsonia pruriens: You may be able to tell from looking at it for a bit that the Davidson’s Plum is not a New South Wales native – in fact, it hails from our neighbours up north in Queensland but enjoys inner Sydney life as much as northern rainforrests. The leafy tree does not fruit or flower as much as other plants, but it’s worth noting that the “plums” are certainly edible.

Breynia disticha: Otherwise known as confetti bush, this tricolourious leafy plant will add flair to otherwise dull outdoor living situations. As it’s originally from the Pacific Islands, it tends ot enjoy a more humid climate but is still hardy enough to last through even the coldest Sydney morning.

Iresine herbstii: this bloodleaf plant, almost glowing a fuchsia-tinged red, is a surefire standout in any garden. It’s incredibly easy to grow from cuttings, with roots propagating from just a glass of water.

Alcantarea species: Alcantarea are a modest-looking species, but give them a few years to grow big and strong and they’ll steal the show. However, once it flowers, bear in mind that the end is near. The plant will die, but it will leave many alcantarea babies in its wake. More to love, right?

What winter plants do you love? Make sure you write your recommendations in the comments below.

Need a bit more outdoor area inspiration? Try this: 5 Home and Garden Blogs You Can’t Live Without

blogorama.com

Related Tag: Best Outdoor Blinds Sydney

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Sunroom and Queensland Room build checklist

We’ve waxed lyrical over how much we love a good sunroom or Queensland room on the blog in the past, but we’ve never told you what you need to do when you’re preparing to finally build –  now, you need wonder no longer, for our Sunroom/Queensland Room building checklist is finally here. From types of paperwork to types of materials used, the Wizard list has it all covered.

Purpose: Why do you want a sunroom?

Sunrooms are the ultimate leisure indulgence – they exist purely for your comfort! Consider exactly why you want a sunroom or Queensland room: are you aiming to extend the living area of your home, upgrading from an outdoor awning  or adding value to your home before you put it on the market?

All of the above and more are excellent reasons to extend your home and build a sunroom, but as it’s both an investment of money and time, it’s important that you know that you’re committing for the right reasons. According to Domain, home improvements are a rising trend, especially for Gen Y, with half of Australia’s homeowners planning to renovate in the next four years.

Taking Action: What do you need to consider before building a sunroom?

Remember that with a job such as a sunroom or Queensland room, you may need to check with your local council and see if you are required to lodge a developmental application prior to construction http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/development/development-applications

Requirements: What do you need before you build?

If your budget allows for it, you should consider building your sunroom with eco-friendly materials, such as materials made from recycled plastic, etc.  If the climate of your home goes between extremes (high 30s in summer, single digits in winter) then you may want to also consider insulating materials to ensure comfort in your sunroom or Queensland room during harsh weather.

Once you’ve considered the above aspects of the build, then you can start thinking about the more fun aspects of the sunroom, such as painting and designing! We’ve made the checklists above with you and your needs in mind – your sunroom is going to be around for a long time, so you want to ensure that it ticks all the boxes before you start to build!

So what do you think; do you think a sunroom would suit your home and lifestyle? Leave a comment if you’re thinking about building a sunroom or have had one in the past. We’d love to hear your thoughts!

The post Quick Guide: Building a Sunroom appeared first on Wizard Home Improvements.

Having a well-designed and well-appointed outdoor room can mean big home improvements in both the value of your home, and the lifestyle that you lead. Australian love the outdoors, but as we become increasingly aware of the dangers of too much exposure to the sun (two in three Australians will have skin cancer at some point before they turn 70), we’re learning to love the outdoors both from a distance, and at night. It’s these clever outdoor rooms that are helping us change the great Australian lifestyle into one that’s far more sustainable.

In 2010, an outdoor room and garden took out the Landscape Industries Association of Victoria award for landscape of the year. Since then, outdoor rooms have flourished all around the country. So what exactly makes an outdoor room a winner?

Our expectations for our backyards have changed drastically in the last decade or so. Once we wanted a space to kick a football or to have a little veggie patch, now we want an additional living space. This change in expectations has let outdoor rooms become a big part of modern Australian backyards. The standard for an outdoor room is to provide a beautiful spot to sit, relax, cook, and eat. Many outdoor rooms, often converted from hardly-used pergolas or carports, have cupboards for dishes, a sink for washing up, a bar fridge, and a wood fire oven, along with plenty of room for comfortable chairs and a table or two.

The outdoor room lets you enjoy your backyard year-round, both during the day and at night, without sacrificing comfort, or risking your health. When compared with the traditional European garden or Australian backyard, there’s just no competition to which one comes out on top.

The post Home Improvements: Sydney Forgoes Traditional Gardens for the Outdoor Room appeared first on Wizard Home Improvements.