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Outdoor Living

Outdoor living is becoming ever more popular in Australia with more and more people creating outdoor living areas to entertain or simply relax. But what are the essentials of a good outdoor living area and how do you create one that’s right for you?

Deciding What Type of Space You Want

When it comes to outdoor living, the range of options available means that you can create a space that’s perfectly tailor made for you. Some of the most common options are a deck, a patio or a pergola. These are fantastic versatile areas that are great for entertaining, eating outdoors, or simply relaxing with a good book or the Sunday newspapers. Or you could opt for a courtyard that is surrounded by lush greenery. These courtyards can be paved or tiled. If you opt for a courtyard, you should ensure that it is of a suitable size – there is nothing worse than an area that is too small for what you wish to use it for.

You will need shade for your outdoor living area, especially in the hot summer months. Some options include shade sails, shade cloth, shade umbrellas, and pergolas. Pergolas can be covered with a variety of materials include Colorbond and polycarbonate sheeting, depending on your weather conditions and how much light you want to let through. When choosing a shade structure, it is important that you choose one that fits in with the overall style of your home. There is nothing worse than having an outdoor area that looks out of place.

Cooking Options in Outdoor Areas

Most people want the ability to be able to cook and prepare food in their outdoor living area, and as such, this is one of the most important considerations. Barbecues are the most popular choice here and there are a few styles that you can choose from. The trolley barbecue is the most popular type of barbecue and, as the name suggests, these are mounted on wheels so that you can move them to where you need them to be. There are many types available, from the simple ones available from any department store to the elaborate ones that perform a huge range of functions. The four burner model is adequate for most people, with two burners underneath each plate in order to provide even heat.

Kettle barbecues are another option and these are particularly good for smoking and roasting meats, as well as grilling. Kettle barbecues use solid fuels and as such may take some time to heat up. If you have a small outdoor space, a hibachi is a small grill that has a tray underneath to hold hot charcoal. These are portable and inexpensive. There is also a huge range of portable gas barbecues available, in single or two burner models.

If you are after something more elaborate, an outdoor kitchen may be perfect for you. If this is an option ensure that it has plenty of storage space, a workbench, a sink, and a bar fridge. For cooking, there are several different types of cooktops available, from burners, right through to teppanyaki grills and rotisseries.

Keeping Insects at Bay

One of the potential downfalls to the perfect outdoor living area is insects, so it is vital to find a way to keep them at bay, especially in summer. Options for keeping the insects, and especially mosquitoes, at bay include:

mosquito coils
citronella candles, torches, and plants
bug zappers
carbon dioxide mosquito traps
lotions and sprays

Outdoor Heating

Outdoor heating is an important consideration and it allows you to use your outdoor living area all year round. Some options that you could consider include patio heaters, braziers, and outdoor fireplaces. Patio heaters use gas to provide radiant heat that warms people and objects. Braziers are essentially steel baskets in which some form of solid fuel is burnt to produce heat. Outdoor fireplaces can be made from iron or clay and are very cheap to run.

Outdoor Lighting

Outdoor lighting is vital if you plan on using your outdoor living area at night. Not only does it help people to navigate the area, it provides atmosphere and can light up your garden features. It is particularly important around the cooking area as the cook will need good lighting in order to prepare food and cook it safely. Common outdoor lighting options include uplights, downlights, spotlights, well lights, and candles and torches.

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