Guide to creating the perfect outdoor setting

Award-winning landscape designer and interior stylist, Adam Robinson, reveals an exclusive insight into creating the perfect outdoor setting for your home.

My love is designing stunning outdoor living environments, so I’m giving you a behind-the-scenes look at how I go about designing the ideal outdoor spaces.

It’s a strategy I employ in all of my projects because, when selecting furniture and décor, exterior areas should be given the same degree of care and consideration as interior spaces.

So let’s get going.

• Creating an outdoor space with function and purpose

When there isn’t much room, determine how you want to use it first.

For instance, outfitting the alfresco area with a stylish outdoor kitchen, grill, bench space for food preparation, as well as a lovely dining setting, optimises the space for your lifestyle if cooking, eating, and entertaining are priorities.

Alternatively, a firepit combined with cosy seating and side tables is a great way to go if you prefer to appreciate good conversation around a fire with a glass of wine and some delectable snacks.

Like both? A low-set dining table or a sizable low-level coffee table creates a transitional atmosphere that is informal but provides the ideal space for sharing plates.

• Choosing contemporary colours

To create a unified look and feel, consider the materials, colors, and plant scheme you use when selecting furniture for outdoor spaces, just as you would when choosing indoor furniture.

For instance, four eggshell canvas butterfly chairs gathered around a large firepit basin might be the ideal furniture choice for gardens with cacti, succulents, pebbles, large rockeries, and light external walls.

Always think about how the outdoor environment connects to the interior of your house so that the design elements create a visual link between the two areas.

This can be accomplished by selecting interior and exterior design elements and materials that go well together.

Avoid zen-like ottomans in a simple patio if your home’s interior is decorated in English chintz for a seamless look.

• Choose Quality and Comfort for Outdoor Lounge Settings

My group and I frequently come across patios with chilly, hard furnishings that are never used or sat in. Therefore, having slick, uncomfortable furnishings is completely useless.

The ideal outdoor lounge setting achieves a balance between the materiality and aesthetic appeal of the furniture.

For instance, having friends assemble and hang out is not encouraged by cold, metal chairs without any cushions to soften them. Choose gorgeous tactile materials instead, such as warm woods. Create cozy, comfy outdoor areas if you can to increase the amount of time you spend outside.

• Utilising the space you have

Whether you have a large backyard or a balcony that is two metres by three meters, you can always find the ideal outdoor lounge setup for your area. But once more, consider the space’s use and goal when making your decision.

Your lifestyle will influence your design choices, whether you prefer private, intimate areas for you, your partner, and family or entertaining groups of friends.

Always leave at least one metre of area around furniture arrangements to allow for comfortable movement.

• Designing a multi-use outdoor setting

My group and I adore multi-functional outdoor spaces, particularly in constrained spaces like courtyards or rooftops. You can use a variety of clever design components.

Small areas benefit greatly from furnishings like bench seating, L-shaped lounges, and a fire pit that can instantly transform into a barbeque.

Lightweight outdoor furniture is portable and easy to store, and open-form seats or joinery that serves as seating won’t obstruct your vision or disrupt the visual harmony of the area.

• Consider the weather

The best materials for outdoor situations are strong, weather- and UV-resistant, cozy, and fashionable. However, the makeup of the things you would use outside differs significantly.

• Rain & Moisture

Make sure your benchtops and furnishings, whether they are surfaces or pieces of furniture, are resistant to damage from rain and high humidity. Materials will physically deteriorate and become more likely to grow mould when water collects or retains wetness.

• Rust & Corrosion

Some metals contain iron or steel that, when exposed to the environment repeatedly, is prone to corrosion. If you live near the shore, make sure the materials you choose will keep their lustrous appearance by being salt- and water-resistant.

• Sun & Temperature

Our environment can expose surfaces and furnishings to the harsh sun, which over time can fade and dull many materials. We don’t want to loose the vibrant colours and patterns, even though fading can be visually appealing.

To ensure that the materials retain their colour richness for a longer period of time, choose materials made especially for the outdoors, such as Caesarstone® Outdoor surfaces or furniture made with weather-resistant acrylic fibres.

Materials used for research are examined to see if they are environmentally conscious and viable. In contrast to other popular outdoor surfaces, Caesarstone® surfaces offer a long-lasting application and are made of quartz, one of nature’s hardest and most abundant materials.

When correctly kept, hardwoods are stronger, more resistant to weather damage, and last a long time; make sure the timber was sourced, harvested, and produced ethically.

• Storage & Care

Outdoor kitchens and furniture can quickly deteriorate if not taken care of, but with the right handling, upkeep, and storage, you can lengthen their lifespan. If you’re not using your furniture all the time, using covers is a great option because grime accumulates in cities.

Regularly clean down surfaces and oil wood. You should maintain your outdoor settings as neatly and cleanly as you would any other interior space because they are exposed to all kinds of weather.

BBQ tools should be stored away to prevent rust stains, and seats and tables should be cleared of leaf and twig litter to avoid fabric stains.

• Try Modular Furniture

We all want to maximise every square inch of the outdoor area, regardless of how large or small it is, in order to spend more time outside.

You can easily repurpose modular furniture in the future with new fabric and cushions because they are a flexible choice. They function well in rooms of any size and are simple to move around for various purposes.

A personal favourite of mine is Dedon’s BRIXX modular range. They are weather-proof and accessible from every side, so they don’t stop the flow of a space.

If you’re looking to create an outdoor space, explore the new Caesarstone^® Outdoor Collection to see what’s possible.

For more information

Ceasarstone