The beauty of the Greek Islands or sipping cocktails around a swimming pool at a Fijian resort are things we can only dream about at the moment.
As a result, many of us look at our homes and seek to create our own safe havens where we can relax, be entertained, and escape the world for a while.
Business is booming, according to landscapers and gardeners, with COVID-19 leading to growing investment in outdoor spaces.
We interviewed three people about the trends they see emerging.
Tim Davies, TDL
Custom curved concrete pools
Concrete swimming pools are considered a luxurious option and sought after in part because they can fit almost anywhere and be shaped like almost anything.
Pool designs that show off the paradoxical flexibility of concrete with fully custom curvilinear designs are a big hit right now, and they look especially attractive when finished with tiles.
Organic mixed plantation
Current tastes for planting have taken a turn for diversity.
More and more we see mixed and naturalistic plantings on the classic style of virgin hedges and sharp edges.
We see interesting mixtures of colors and textures that are not quite what you would see in nature, but maybe in a fantastic version of nature.
There is art in this style of planting, ease is hard work after all.
Native plants, succulents, and evergreen ornamentals are typically used in this style to achieve an eclectic, low-maintenance look that is solidly harmonious.
Exterior rooms
Exterior rooms are what you get when you create a space filled with equipment and upholstery, and remove some walls.
Usually adjacent to the swimming pool, secondary structures of the main residence, the exterior rooms are luxurious spaces for entertaining.
Many include kitchens, fireplaces, and dining or living areas, making them perfect for a daily change of scenery or for dividing large gatherings into smaller areas.
Exterior rooms are becoming more and more popular with the travel restrictions of late, we believe this is due to a combination of unspent vacation budgets and the vacation feeling they tend to evoke.
Ascher Smith, Ascher Smith Exterior styling and landscaping
White and green color scheme
When it comes to exterior color schemes, I see more and more people taking the simplistic look and embracing whites, greens, and charcoals.
It’s not just a low-maintenance renovation look, it’s chic everywhere.
Here are different ways to style these colors:
- Use a cool white canvas behind the foliage of the green plant to create a beautiful and simple element.
- White pots with lush green foliage sticking out.
- White slat screen or open plan white arbor with green vines growing on it for spotty summery shade and the ultimate styling effect.
Live outside
We Australians love our outdoors and one of the most important things I see is to bring almost every room outside to make the most of our glorious summer days.
Some simple ways to bring living spaces outside:
- Comfortable and quality outdoor furniture
- Outdoor lighting, whether it’s vintage garlands, outdoor wall lights or even candles for a soft atmosphere
- Household items – outdoor coffee tables with vases, area rugs, outdoor rugs – all of these help soften any yard and transform it into an outdoor living room.
The humble home
There is something so fascinating and relaxing about watching a fire crackle.
We’ve seen the Humble Home grow in popularity over the past few years, and 2021 is no exception.
What a way to continue your outdoor entertainment during the fall and winter months, or even create a lovely family experience by roasting marshmallows.
There is no doubt that a fireplace is a must have in any outdoor space; there are shapes, styles, materials and colors to suit any type of exterior design concept.
Ceri Wagnell, Empire Lane and The Lane Store
Outdoor light
Garden lighting is more important than ever now that we are spending more time at home.
It extends the use of your garden beyond sunset and as an added bonus it makes your home safer and adds value.
New cost-effective technology means you can easily control your garden from your smartphone.
Encourage the bees
Almost any flower will attract bees, but some plants are more attractive than others.
A garden designer will help you incorporate flowering plants that will thrive in our harsh climate, suit the style of garden you hope to achieve while bringing in the buzzing heroes.
For example, if you are looking to attract bees to your garden, some of the many plants that grow well in Perth that bees love are lavender, rosemary, westringia, brachyscoma, hardenbergia, sage, flowering herbs. , blueberries, myrtle and citrus fruits. trees.
Styling
Arrange your outdoor space as you would your living space to enhance your outdoor living experience with simplicity and the choice of classic materials.
You can then engage, eat, relax, see birds and bees, all in a sensory playground.
