Outdoor spaces – whether in a residential home or a commercial space such as a park – have become a focal point of our lives these days. In the past couple of years, we have all discovered a renewed appreciation for our outdoor sanctuaries – and landscape designs have reflected the increased amount of time we are spending in them. 

If you are designing an outdoor living space, here are our top tips.

1. Consider Who Will Use the Space

Outdoor living spaces should not just be beautiful – you need to make sure they are safe for whoever is using them. Think about who will be in the space, and what they might need – for instance, kids running around a pool or an elderly relative visiting may mean you need to think about slip-resistant walkways or decking, while pets in your outdoor area means you need to invest in scratch-resistant materials.

2. Add a Natural Touch

No outdoor landscaping is complete without greenery – but natural elements in your design don’t have to stop there. Choose natural-looking materials such as warm woodgrains and elegant stone looks for a gorgeous garden design that invokes a sense of tranquility.

3. Give Yourself Some Privacy

Your outdoor area should be an oasis – somewhere you can relax without nosing in from neighbours or passersby.  A batten privacy screen or a slat fence can be ideal for protecting your space from prying eyes, while doubling as an attractive element of the overall design.

4. Consider your Location

How does your location affect your design? Safety and durability need to be taken into account – for instance, in a bushfire zone you will need non-combustible materials. Also consider how your location might affect the aesthetics of a design – light timber colours suit a coastal environment, for example, while redder hues may be better suited to a country town or bush home.

5. Create a Statement Feature

Every landscape design needs a focal point – a feature that centres the rest of the space, whether that be an eye-catching pergola or a stylish outdoor kitchen splashback. Be creative and add a standout feature for the ‘wow’ factor.

6.Complement Your Home Design

Make sure your outdoor area pairs well with the rest of your house. If your home features dark colours, for example, you can carry that theme across to your outdoor living space for a cohesive design – or choose timbers and other elements that contrast your home to make them stand out.

7. Transition from Indoors to Outdoors

Open spaces and concepts are a popular part of today’s designs. Let light and air flow right through your space, and create a seamless transition between indoors and outdoors. Open sun rooms or covered areas that back on to your house, and flooring or wall battens that carry through from the inside to the outside can create real cohesion in your design.

8. Include an Outdoor Kitchen

Our outdoor spaces are not just for peaceful sits – they are also entertaining areas, so what better way to make a memorable space than to create a cooking/eating area? A barbecue area can create a great focal point for your social scene – just make sure you choose non-combustible materials around it and a non-combustible splashback behind it.

9. Create Shelter from the Weather

Pergolas, shade structures and covered al fresco areas are not just decorative features, but can provide protection against the sun, the rain and even cold winds. Creating a sheltered area can be both beautiful and functional.

10. Think About Long Term Costs

Your outdoor area will be around for a long time – so make sure you consider how you are going to take care of it in the long term. Ongoing sanding, staining, and oiling of timber products can be time consuming and costly – consider materials that will last for a long time without requiring refinishing, for a beautiful outdoor space that will still look as good years down the track as on the day you first built it.

For more outdoor design inspiration visit our Innovation Centre.