Whilst the weather is perhaps the most reliably unreliable fact of living here in the UK, equally as apparent is our national affection for spending time improving and enjoying our homes and gardens.
With spring now here and the days getting noticeably longer, it is not surprising that our thoughts are turning towards spending time outdoors during the warmer months ahead.
One way to enjoy your home and garden, regardless of what the forecast has in store, is by investing in a garden room. These multi-functional spaces are ideal for relaxing, entertaining, home working or even as a studio or home gym.
Preparing a garden room for summer will allow you to fully enjoy your outdoor living space. With that in mind, here are some top tips to help you get started:
Time to Clean and Declutter
When it comes to internal décor, less is definitely more. Now is the time to refresh your interior space, whilst also spring cleaning.
This will help create a more inviting and comfortable space for the summer but also provide the opportunity to re-think how the space is used and whether it can be repurposed for anything else that home life might require.
Let There Be Light
Whilst cleaning, don’t forget the windows and roof lantern(s). Generous proportions of glazing is a common feature of all garden rooms, providing a plentiful flow of natural light throughout the day. A thorough cleaning of all the glass in your garden room will ensure your natural light is not compromised – with the added benefit of the positive impact on our wellbeing.
Consider adding some additional lighting to the exterior of your garden room to make it more inviting and functional during the longer summer evenings. Solar-powered lights or outdoor string lights are cost effective examples which look equally stylish.
Invite the Outdoors In
Adding some plants and flowers to your garden room can help create a more vibrant and inviting atmosphere.
Choose plants that are suited to the amount of sunlight your garden room receives – fruit trees are a good tip, harking back to the very origination of the original glass houses, in the form of an orangery.
Embrace Indoor/Outdoor Living
We recommend investing in some comfortable seating that is suitable for outdoor use.
Consider options such as outdoor sofas, chairs, or bean bags, that can reside outside or can be easily transported from inside to out.
Thinking about how you want to use your garden room will help dictate your choice of furniture and interior layout. Will it be a place to entertain guests or a peaceful retreat to relax in? Effectively considering this functionality will ensure your space is set up to suit your needs.
All Year Round Enjoyment
Contemporary garden rooms are designed to be used and enjoyed all year round, with modern glazing ensuring they are energy efficient spaces, which moderate the interior temperatures, whatever the weather has in store for us.
A quality garden room will require minimal maintenance but with a touch of spring cleaning and an interior refresh, your ‘outdoor living room’ will be ready to be enjoyed throughout the rest of the year.
Karen Bell is Sales Director at David Salisbury, a company manufacturing and installing top of the range hardwood conservatories, garden rooms and orangeries for over 35 years.
