The clocks have changed, the nights have drawn in and we are all starting to feel like huddling indoors next to the fire.
But the autumn can also be a wonderful season for spending time outdoors.
The crisp November air can be exhilarating and the changing colours of the leaves on our streets and in our gardens offers a new and exciting backdrop.
With Covid-19 still very much part of our lives at the moment, more of us might start to consider meeting up with friends outside our homes instead of in our apartments and houses.
We may well therefore be keen to focus on creating suitable outdoor living areas, spaces within our gardens that become extensions of our rental homes.
Here are a few top tips for those eager to enjoy a little outdoor living this autumn and winter:
Set up a fire pit
Gathering around a fire in the garden can be a lovely way to spend the evening with friends, but make sure you, your family and your property are all safe. Buying a fire pit that is fit for purpose is the best way of ensuring this. Some fire pits are also suitable for cooking on. Sizzle sausages and cook baked potatoes on your fire pit. And, for course, an autumn fire wouldn’t be the same without a few marshmallows…
Think about lighting
Lighting your garden or outside space does not have to be an expensive business. Stringing fairy lights around your newly created outdoor living space will give it a sense of definition and look great at the same time. Fairy lights can be bought relatively cheaply and are easy to hang. Solar lights are the simplest solution but be aware that the autumn and winter sunlight will not be as strong as the summer rays. Make sure you position the panel carefully in a very sunny spot. Otherwise, opting for fairy lights with rechargeable batteries might be the best solution.
Add ambience
To enhance your lighting solution, why not create additional ambience by bringing in some candles or tea lights? Put these in glass jars and lanterns to ensure they do not set anything else alight and to protect them from the wind. Clear or coloured glass jars will really set your outside space off and add a little more sparkle.
Create a canopy
We tend to think of canopies or sails as summer features to our gardens, but they can be great for autumn outdoor living too. Not only will adding a “ceiling” help to define your space, but it will also make it cosier to sit under as it will offer some shelter.
Keep warm
Start to build up a collection of outdoor soft furnishings. Instead of limiting yourself to the thin cushions that typically come with garden furniture, why not invest in some heavier, textured cushions and some thick blankets for your friends and family members to wrap themselves up in? You will need to bring these in – or put them in the shed – between uses but you won’t worry if they pick up a little dirt here and there as they will not be for indoor use. Having cushions and throws specifically for your outside space will make sitting out during the colder months so much more comfortable.
