Stylish outdoor living spaces are an extension of our home environment. They provide a unique place for entertaining, exercising, relaxing or dining…the only limit is your imagination.

Sometimes it feels more natural to rise to the challenge of sprucing up an indoor space, where limits stop at the four walls around you. It’s easy to spend time perfecting your interior. But then spring hits and you realise you now want a stylish outdoor area in which to spend the summer.

With something as unique and full of potential as your own home’s outdoor space, knowing where to start can be harder than perhaps you first thought. When you want to upgrade a tired space there are some easy ideas to implement.

Excellent Eating Areas

Arguably an essential function of an outdoor area for most homeowners is its ability to accommodate your alfresco dining needs.

From barbecues to pizza ovens to a fully-fledged outdoor kitchen, plan out your facilities around what you want the space to achieve for you. Planning big family barbecues? Make sure you have enough seating and give your existing area an overhaul with a touch of wood stain and some new water-resistant cushion covers in a bright fabric.

Why not create ‘zones’ for different types of stylish outdoor occasions? Some bench seating around a central firepit is ideal for hosting larger gatherings, but it can also be nice to add a small bistro table with a couple of chairs for when it’s just you and your partner enjoying some coffee in the sunshine.

See our DIY step-by-step guide to building a firepit thanks to House & Garden Australia Presenter and Landscaper, Jason Hodges.

For fabulous furniture and tasty table settings try Zanui, Pottery Barn, Temple and Webster, and Interior Secrets.

Pretty Up Your Pool

If you’re lucky enough to have a pool, remember this asset needs to be treated to its own make-over occasionally, as it’s a significant feature in a garden.

Think about revamping your pool by re-tiling or adding a colored paint to the bottom to completely change the look of the pool. New hardware such as metal steps can also be replaced, and make sure the pool cover is working well and free from any damage.

If the temperature seems off, qualified pool heating specialists can take a look – after all, if it feels good to get in you’ll be much more likely to make use of it.

Always use slip-proof tiles around a swimming pool. These now come in a variety of new textures and colours including wood-look tiles, perfect for a rustic and stylish outdoor entertaining area.

Try Deluxe Products (now Luxo Living) for on-trend outdoor furniture, recliners, and egg chairs at discounted prices.

Add A Riot of Colour

You can give your garden a boost with a brand new planting scheme. Have a look at quiet corners where you can add a burst of color with a gorgeous plant.

Think how a stylish outdoor eating area could be brightened up with a burst of frangipani or some fragrant trailing jasmine. Flowers can add several sensory dimensions to an otherwise dull space. Consider adding some potted plants.

Not only do the brightly colored containers add their own shot of color and pattern to an area, but it also means you can move them around to ‘dress’ the garden in different ways.

You’ll LOVE the painted concrete pots and planters available now at Hunting for George.

Think ‘Wow Factor.’

When you just need to introduce a focal point to unify a garden with no apparent theme, adding a stunning feature such as a waterfall, stained glass installation or some modern statuary can draw the space together.

Create a view from the house that brings the eye outside and down through your stylish outdoor space. This will also provide a talking point for all the parties you’ll be hosting in your revamped space!

Whether you make a few additions on a modest budget or go all out and do a complete overhaul, giving your outdoor space a little TLC can make you fall in love with it all over again.