If there’s one thing the evolution of Australian home design tells us, it’s that we really do love being outdoors. Just look at the homes being built today. Alfresco areas are no longer an optional extra, they’re an integral part of the home, and in many luxury properties they’re becoming quite spectacular. Fully equipped outdoor kitchens, enormous covered terraces, fireplaces and beautifully landscaped courtyards are all a testament to how much importance we place on spending time outside – but are we putting as much thought into creating outdoor spaces with personality as we do our interiors?
We’ll spend months choosing beautiful furniture, artwork and accessories for the rooms inside, only to settle for a fairly predictable outdoor setting and a few pot plants outside. And yet there’s so much opportunity to be more adventurous. From designer furniture and statement planters to garden art, sculptural trees and a little poolside glamour, there are some wonderful ways to bring character and individuality to our outdoor living areas.
Statement Planters
Start with beautiful plant pots. Large planters have a way of making an outdoor setting feel established, especially beside an entrance, along the edge of a terrace or around a swimming pool. They can also solve a practical problem – defining outdoor spaces without hardscapes. The lightweight Modlite collection from Pots WA has the substantial appearance of being a solid stone pot but is made using fibreglass and making a change of placement far less daunting and difficult. The Smooth Urn, at approximately 80cm high in the large size, suits a single architectural plant, while rectangular Modlite Divider planters can be grouped to form a green screen. The range is finished with a protective nanocoating, another useful detail in an outdoor setting.
A Touch of Retro Glamour
Who said an outdoor umbrella had to be purely practical? Retro Umbrella Co. brings a distinctly glamorous edge to outdoor living, with statement umbrellas that look more at home beside a chic European beach club than in the average Australian backyard. With their sculptural scalloped canopies, vintage-inspired silhouettes and sophisticated colour palettes, these are far from your ordinary garden umbrellas. The understated Ivory Mist pairs beautifully with natural stone and timber, while Powdered Blush and the buttery yellow-and-white stripes of Salted Butter introduce a playful touch of Riviera glamour. Part shade, part outdoor accessory, they’re an easy way to inject colour, personality and a little poolside decadence into an outdoor setting.
Outdoor Furniture that’s as Considered as what’s Inside
Outdoor furniture has come a long way from the traditional cane and rattan settings that once dominated patios and poolside entertaining areas. Today, some of the most exciting luxury outdoor furniture designs rival anything we’d expect to find in a beautifully furnished living room, with sculptural shapes, luxurious upholstery, vibrant colours and striking silhouettes. The distinction between indoor and outdoor furniture is becoming increasingly blurred, opening up wonderful opportunities to be more adventurous with outdoor decorating.
The Wave modular outdoor lounge from Outdoor Elegance is a beautiful example of how a change in shape can transform a space. Its sweeping curves create a striking alternative to conventional straight-lined seating, while the modular design allows sections to be arranged into a generous, flowing lounge that’s particularly suited to larger terraces and alfresco areas.
For those who love colour and a little European glamour, French luxury furniture house Roche Bobois takes outdoor living in an entirely different direction. Designed by Philippe Bouix, the Formentera sofa is upholstered in vibrant Missoni outdoor fabrics, combining bold patterns and glorious colour with a relaxed, low-profile silhouette. It’s the sort of furniture that could make even the most beautiful interior look a little conservative, and a wonderful reminder that luxury outdoor design doesn’t have to mean another arrangement of beige cushions.
Living Sculptures
Plants don’t need to be predictable. In fact, one extraordinary specimen can have greater impact than a border filled with dozens of smaller plants. Mature grass trees have the rugged trunks and cascading foliage that give them an unmistakably Australian character, while dragon trees offer dramatic branching shapes and crowns of spiky leaves. These are plants worth treating almost like sculpture, especially in a minimalist courtyard or against a pale rendered wall. Margaret River Trees supplies established feature trees, including grass trees and dragon trees, for homeowners who want a garden with immediate presence. And they needn’t be confined to the garden. Both grass trees and dragon trees can be grown in large pots, opening up some wonderful possibilities for styling covered alfresco areas,
Art Belongs Outside Too
Why should art be reserved for the interiors? Outdoors, a piece of art changes with the light and the seasons, and can be enjoyed from several rooms of the house. Sculptural art specialists ARTIERE have a stunning range of artworks suitable for outdoor installation from leading local and international artists, ranging from smaller pieces to substantial garden sculptures. Below these life-size horse sculptures, combine driftwood with metal, making them particularly striking in larger yards and acreage properties for those who love horse but don’t have the time to care for a real one. For a contemporary courtyard, ARTIERE have a range of contemporary metal sculptures that can bring beautiful movement to an otherwise restrained space. Positioned against a simple wall with discreet lighting at its base, it becomes a feature after dark as well as during the day.
Creating outdoor spaces with personality means being just as adventurous with your decorating choices outside as you are indoors. Introduce colour, experiment with beautiful furniture, incorporate artwork and don’t be afraid of something a little unexpected. Gardens, courtyards and alfresco areas offer wonderful opportunities to express your individual style, yet they’re so often decorated far more conservatively than the rooms inside. With the amount of time we spend outdoors in Australia, surely these spaces deserve just as much imagination and attention. After all, why should all the beautiful things be kept inside?
