Summer's In, So Let's Sit Out

The weather in the UK is often unpredictable, but - at the risk of jinxing things - it currently feels as though the sun is here to stay for a while. People are getting their shorts out and putting the woolly jumpers away for a bit. I think I speak for all of us when I say that we're all hoping to spend as much time out in the sun as possible, while we can, which brings me to my next train of thought: outdoor living spaces. 

Via Green Wedding Shoes

When I think about outdoor living spaces, I think about Mediterranean countries that are eternally bathed in sunshine. In these countries, people can use their outdoor living spaces all year around, but why should that mean that people on the rainy little island that is the UK should miss out on late night chats on comfy outdoor sofas, cooking outside, and eating breakfast on the patio? 

In this blog post, I will suggest some ways that the average person in the UK could set up their own (weather-proof) outdoor living space - with some Pick and Fix touches to finish it off. 

Via Hunker

One of the most essential parts of an outdoor living space is the sofa, which is where the family can gather around to share a meal or discuss the day that's just gone. If you follow this link, you can find instructions for a relatively inexpensive outdoor sofa set that's made from old wooden palettes. You might want to decorate the space around the sofa - perhaps with a rug and some potted plants like the ones in the picture above. Furthermore, you could add some colour to the space by installing some of your shelf brackets and hanging some beautiful flower baskets from them. I would reccommend our leafy cast iron Hydrangea bracket, as it would look right at home outdoors. 

Via Ideal Home

You might even want to go one step further, and bring the kitchen outside this summer. This could be the perfect use for those old counters or dressers that you've got stored in the garage, or alternatively you could go to your local charity shop and see if they have furniture pieces that would make suitable work surfaces there. Cover the top of the surface with a sheet of glass to make it easier to wipe clean, and there we have it: the perfect place to prepare food in the warmer months. 

You could even consider buying some coat hooks, such as our simple spearhead design coat hook to hang tea towels, utensils or even a small herb garden from, to give your outdoor kitchen a more intentional feel to it. 

Via Pick and Fix

Another way to bring the inside, out is to check out our wall-mounted cast iron bottle openers. They're the perfect addition to any outdoor living space, as you'll no longer have to hunt around indoors for the bottle opener. Furthmore, these bottle openers are a beautiful little detail that are guaranteed to get people talking. 

Via Pinterest

Another way to bring the inside, out is to set up an area for children to play in. This could be something as simple as a sandpit, but if you have the time and the funds, why not consider investing in a mud kitchen? This Youtube video even explains how to make one out of the ever reliable palettes. I would reccommend accessorising the mud kitchen with Pick and Fix's beautiful ceramic door knobs and a couple of our painted ceramic coat hooks, which are perfect for hanging spades from! 

Are you considering setting up an outdoor living space after reading this blog post? And what are you thinking of doing? Let us know over at our Facebook page!