Four Tips to freshen up your alfresco

Whether you have a an outdoor space big enough for a large party, a shady deck by the pool or a charming sunny courtyard to enjoy your morning coffee, your alfresco can become a bit tired as the years go by – a bit like us really.  Fortunately, we get to go on holidays (or use our alfresco area) to revive and freshen up. Our alfresco’s don’t get this chance, however we have four tips to help you freshen up your alfresco and help it feel new again.

1. Add some greenery

There are a number of reasons adding greenery to your alfresco is beneficial. Here are three!

a)     Plants can add to and freshen up your décor instantly. Adding greenery to your alfresco instantly adds freshness, colour and texture. If your alfresco has a neutral palate, plants can instantly add a pop of colour and brightness. Pick your favourite plants, making sure they are suitable for alfresco living, pot them up and place them in bunches together for impact.

b)     It is well known that plants purify the air. Fresh air is a benefit to our health and plants increase oxygen levels. They can also remove toxins from the air, as well as from furnishings and finishes – helping keep your alfresco area fresh.

c)     Plants make people happy! Having plants can provide a calmer environment making you feel more optimistic, and contribute to your overall well being. Now we know that alfresco areas can have this effect as well – adding plants can take it to another level.

Even as something as simple as a vase with flowers can freshen up your space.

2. Add a feature/focus point

Creating a feature or focal point is a popular design feature for interior designers, so why not take it outside too.

a)     Add a sculpture or artwork to create a talking point for your guests. For something really personal, consider seeking out a local artist to craft something unique, and specifically created for your alfresco. Or, these days, many garden supply businesses have a variety of sculptures or outdoor art available.

b)     A water feature adds instant relaxation to your alfresco, as well as creating a focal point. Water features have advanced by leaps and bounds from the traditional Grecian ladies pouring water out of a vase.

Today, there are vertical fountains, natural looking ponds, water features with programmed lighting… the list goes on.  A big benefit of a vertical fountain is that won’t take up too much space in your alfresco area.

The most difficult thing will be deciding what style of water feature you want!

3. Have a summer clean

Traditionally we would call this a spring clean, but you can always have a summer clean instead. Here are three tips to freshen up your area.

Declutter

It’s amazing how quickly we collect things. Have a look at what you have out in your alfresco area and ask yourself – does it need to be there 24/7? Think about what you could store away (or throw away / donate to charity) and declutter.

Decobweb

Cobwebs instantly make a space look old and tired – not to mention the chance of uninvited eight-legged guests dropping in while you’re entertaining. Having your alfresco regularly treated for pests ensures cobwebs and “friendly” creatures stay away, and minimizes you needing to get out the long-handled brooms and sweeping your ceilings, corners and cobweb friendly areas.

Freshen up your flooring

Clean pavers or a freshly oiled deck instantly brings your alfresco area back to life, and can even create a sense of “new”.  Get out the brushes, and get scrubbing. Plus, there’s the added benefit of a work out while you freshen your flooring. 

4. Replace furniture

The most obvious way to freshen up your alfresco is to replace your outdoor furniture. You have a number of options here too.  

a)     You could go the whole hog and replace all your furniture and create a completely new look. Now, replacing your outdoor furniture can be expensive, so choose pieces that are classic in design and will stand the tests of time.

b)     Instead of replacing all your furniture, you can keep most of your existing furniture and add character with the addition of a couple of statement pieces. These statement pieces can, similarly to sculptures or water features, create a focal point for your alfresco.

c)     The simplest way to freshen up your furniture is to add colour with a selection of outdoor cushion Colour can keep your alfresco perky and bright, always ready for entertaining, or sitting back and relaxing. And if you already use cushions to create colour in your alfresco, simply change your cushion covers over to create a new style, look and feel.

Try these tips, enjoy your freshened up alfresco and celebrate your new look with family and friends.

If you’re looking to freshen up your alfresco space with a new patio, pergola or deck contact Ultimate Alfresco to discuss your options.