Planning The Outdoor Room

When it comes to summer most of us want to make the most of our outdoor space - whether that’s an unruly bit of grass or an expansive deck. So how do you get started? 

Words: Pattie Pegler Images: Dorothy McLennan

“Think about what you actually like,” says Christchurch-based landscape designer, Dan Rutherford. “A lot of people I see really struggle with visualising.” To help overcome this he recommends collecting images of outdoor spaces or things you like on your phone and then scrolling through your gallery whilst holding the phone up to your garden space.  

Look at the space in real life and take note of how the natural elements affect it. There’s no point in creating an outdoor dining space where prevailing winds are going to whip away your paper plates unless you’ve got some plans to block out the wind. Whether you block it out with modern glass panels or sturdy trellis covered in lush climbing green is up to your personal taste.  

And, of course, you’re going to need some flat ground to work with before you start laying out decks or tiles or courtyards. Typically you will want three main spaces in the outdoor area. One for eating with a table and seats; one for relaxing with comfy chairs or outdoor couches and one for cooking – where you will probably have your barbecue. 

 It’s important to have a space either around the barbecue or nearby where people can stand says Dan, “blokes like standing around with a beer in hand while one of them cooks”. With some idea of the style you want it also helps to mark out the areas of your outdoor space, you can use stakes and string or marking spray paint  - it’s another great way to visualise your ideas before you start building.  

“With decks people often think they don’t need as much space,” says Dan. “But when they’re built they never think they are too big.” 

Think about your budget and your priorities. If you want a small cosy space cascading with greenery you may want to spend up on plants first – get feature trees in as soon as possible says Dan. But if outdoor entertaining is your favourite pastime then you may want to divide up your spending differently and splash out on some statement pieces.  

A lot of people like the concrete look and it doesn’t need the same degree of maintenance as wood furnishings. “You can leave these outside year in and year out and they still look good,” says Shane Kirwan, of In Situ GRC, who advises customers on creating outdoor kitchens featuring a special form of concrete that is both stronger and lighter than the traditional. It can be used for everything from tables to countertops and outdoor fire-places.  

And again, get back to basics with planning says Shane. “Think about how many people you might want to seat in your outdoor room and think about what you want to cook on.” Shane helps people design areas that incorporate anything from basic barbecues to full on kitchens with under bench fridges, pizza ovens and all manner of cooking facilities from smokers to braai – the choices are endless. “The barbecue is usually a social point for guys so make sure it’s not facing a wall,” advises Shane.  

If you already have an outdoor spot but just want to give it a revamp then there are plenty of ways to get inspired. Try some new outdoor chairs – at the time of writing you can pick up some gorgeous retro rattan on TradeMe for a song. Repurpose old items – large wooden cable reels can make great outdoor drinks tables for instance. Grab some cheap and cheerful accessories to colour up a small drab space – you could throw down some fake turf on a dull concrete patch and invest in a couple of colourful deckchairs. Or keep an eye out for fabulous aged plant pots of all shapes and sizes that can be stuffed with lush greens and pops of colour.  

The choices are endless so sit down, make a plan and start pulling together your perfect outdoor room. Summer is coming.