As we are all aware, the process of decorating the home doesn’t end when you have finished your interior; the trend towards use of outdoor space and creating an outdoor room is hugely popular, and for very good reason.
From large gardens to small balconies or something in between, all outdoor spaces deserve a bit of love and attention, and with the right additions, you can extend your living space beyond the confines of the home. Whether it’s creating an area for outdoor dining or a space to relax in, the lines between inside and out have become blurred, so the trends we see in our interiors spill over into our exterior space.
The most popular choice is to create a patio or deck to entertain or relax with family. These spaces can be fitted with comfortable seating, outdoor dining sets, BBQ’s and fire pits.
THE OUTDOOR SCENE
One of the benefits of outdoor living is that it allows you to connect with nature, enjoy fresh air and natural light, and experience a more relaxed and laid-back atmosphere. This can be especially beneficial for those who live in urban areas with limited access to green spaces.
Outdoor living is all about creating an inviting and comfortable area to relax, entertain, or even work. These range from simple patios and decks to elaborate outdoor rooms with fire pits, pizza ovens, pergolas, water features, and even wall-mounted screens.Creating an outdoor space can be as simple or elaborate as you like, depending on your budget and personal preferences. Overall, a well-planned outdoor room will add value to your home and enhance your quality of life with a beautiful and functional space that can be enjoyed year-round.
GARDEN FURNITURE
Garden furniture comes in various materials, such as wood, metal, plastic, and wicker. Each material has its benefits and drawbacks. For example, wood furniture is beautiful and durable but requires regular maintenance, while metal furniture is sturdy but may rust over time if not adequately treated.
When selecting garden furniture, consider the size of the outdoor space, its intended use, and whether or not it can be covered in winter if you don’t have adequate storage. Choosing furniture that is comfortable and ergonomically designed for prolonged outdoor use is also important. Other factors to consider include weather resistance. Ideally, the furniture should withstand exposure to the elements and require minimal maintenance to keep it looking good.
OUTDOOR DINING
The furniture in your garden is about more than eating and relaxing; it also helps to set the scene, whether rustic or retro.
Regarding dining sets, the choice is vast and comes down to personal preference. The Garden Collection's Henley & Edinburgh set is the classic example of timeless trend. The neutral colour brief of Acacia hardwood, with its warm, natural tones, blends beautifully with chairs in a warm wood tone with a smart, grey textilene fabric.
The neat four-seater Henley is perfect for small families. It has a gateleg table, which brings all of the space benefits of gateleg style, while the Edinburgh dining set with its extending table can accommodate both small and large gatherings.
The Sorrento six-seater set with parasol is ideal for any outdoor space with plenty of room for family and friends to gather. Its textilene chairs are hardwearing and fast drying, perfect for an Irish summer.
The sleek Verona set comes in a four or six- seater package, including a black glass top table, stacking armchairs, ivory padded cushions and a 2.3m ivory parasol.
Top of the range is the Wimbledon outdoor dining set, available in four, six or eight-seater sizes - perfect for sharing an outdoor meal with friends and family. This set has little to no maintenance, making it the perfect addition to the home. It also includes a parasol with a base and a lazy Susan. The entire range comes with a 10 Year Structural Guarantee making it an excellent investment.
LOVE TO LOUNGE
Who doesn’t love to lounge outdoors on a lazy sunny afternoon? Get comfortable in your outdoor living space with a vast range of chairs, tables, benches, loungers and more at your local Homevalue store.
As garden seating is at the heart of the garden, you should provide plenty of options, and here you can make a real statement.
For a real wow factor, comfortable, stylish and hugely Instagrammable hanging egg chairs make a fabulous addition to the garden. The pod-like, egg-shaped seat has a cocooning effect. The chair is suspended from an overarching frame attached to the seat with a steel chain to swing back and forth gently. A large comfy cushion and headrest make it irresistible and impossible to leave. Highly visual and highly popular, these chairs sell like hotcakes so get in early!
Another fun option are bean bag chairs. From little kids to the grown-up variety, bean bags mould to your shape and are remarkably comfortable. Engineered to defeat the elements, Homevalue’s bean bag Relax range takes lounging to new levels. Available in a selection of funky colours, these chairs will brighten any outdoor space making it a pleasure to sit outside. They are lightweight, so can be moved wherever you want – including inside in the winter months.
SOFA SO GOOD
An outdoor sofa is the ultimate in luxury, allowing you to linger longer in the great outdoors. An excellent addition to the patio or garden, outdoor sofas come in various styles, from sleek and modern to more traditional designs. They can be used as standalone pieces or paired with other outdoor furniture, such as coffee tables, side tables, or chairs to create a comfortable and inviting outdoor living area.
When choosing a sofa, consider size, style, and durability factors. You’ll want to choose a size that fits your space comfortably and a style that complements your decor. Selecting a durable material that can withstand harsh weather and requires minimal maintenance to keep looking its best is also important.
The Palermo corner sofa set offers luxury and the wow factor of a fire pit. Combine both dining and lounging with the Madeira set which seats up to seven people, with plush cushions for added comfort. It includes a three-seater sofa, two armchairs, two stools, and a large glass table for dining.
POWER X-CHANGE
No workman worth his salt would be seen without his power tools and the same could be said of the enthusiastic “Do it your selfer”, DIY expert. A good range of power tools can enhance any toolbox and help tackle projects efficiently, effortlessly and expertly.
Homevalue’s top selling range from Einhell combines German engineering with battery- operated cordless technology to tackle everything from the simplest to the most complex task. From the ubiquitous drill or nail gun to heavy hitters such as saws, miters, angle grinders, or routers - Einhell has it covered.
Einhell´s Power X-Change battery system allows you to easily switch batteries from one device to the next, with over 250 compatible Power X-Change tools at your fingertips. And the best part? Power X-Change devices can be used anywhere, without reliance on cords. Hassle free, just how it should be.
An excellent investment, Einhell power and garden tools will provide years of service and help complete every job in jig time.
CORDLESS MOWERS
Cordless battery-powered lawn mowers from the Einhell Power X-Change system with high- performance li-Ion batteries mow your lawn easily, quickly and completely without petrol or cables. Available in different models with different equipment, different cutting widths and power levels for small and large gardens, all mowers feature a powerful battery that can be easily charged using an intuitive charger from the Power X-Change system. Depending on the cutting width, you can mow up to 700 square metres of lawn – thanks to powerful lithium-ion technology with no need to fill up with petrol or trip over cables.
SHADE
We often only think about sun protection when it’s sunny outside, but you still need to protect your skin even when it’s overcast because the UV index can still cause damage.
A well-positioned sun umbrella is a must-have. It looks pretty and can be hugely atmospheric with the addition of twinkling lights. Homevalue offers parasols in a vast variety of colours that offer shade, are waterproof on bad days, and provide UV protection in sunshine. An overhanging parasol is perfect for those with large spaces to cover and will easily shade a lounge set. It even comes in a solar LED version with inbuilt solar lights for long evenings outdoors.
COOKING UP A STORM
A must-have in every home, the barbie is synonymous with get togethers, great food and finger-lickingly good flavours. A taste sensation, the origin of the BBQ can be traced back to indigenous cultures in the Caribbean, South America, and Africa, where cooking meat over open flames was the go-to cooking method.
The Sahara range available at Homevalue leaves nothing to chance, from the variety of available grills to the many accompanying accessories. Grill, roast, or cook pizza, no problem. Add a griddle, a searing plate, a rotisserie or a fish basket; it’s all covered, and the smoker box with smoking wood chips in beef and lamb, poultry and pork, apple and rum or maple and bourbon, yum! For the chef, there is everything from a chef’s apron to scrapers, brushes and gas regulators to look the part of the BBQ maestro.
Extend the dining experience by adding heaters, fire pits and chimineas - an excellent way for getting everyone together, enhancing the ambience, and ramping up the heat when the sun goes down.
An outdoor sofa is the ultimate in luxury, allowing you to linger longer in the great outdoors. Patio heaters are great for summer evenings, but they can also transform a space from a summer-only zone to year-round usability at the flick of a switch. Homevalue’s Sunred Electra patio heater is a 2000-watt standing outdoor heater with adjustable height and three heat settings for summer or winter evenings.
Add extra ambiance with a fire pit to create a warm glow and a sense of total relaxation. The aptly named Redfire range available at Homevalue includes the Blazer fire pit, the stylish Sauda chiminea heater and the Dallas fire basket complete with barbecue plate. Anyone for toasted marshmallows?!
To help you on your way to the ideal outdoor space, enter our two competitions where you can win an outdoor dining set and a BBQ.
