Bridging the Gap from Inside to Outside

Your outdoor space, whether it's a large garden or a small balcony, is an extension of the property and should be seen as an additional room so that you get more use out of it. When you're designing the outdoor areas, use the same style and inspiration that you have for the inside to help the decor flow smoothly and create a cohesive look across your home.

Here are some easy ways that you can take your interior style outside that will really work.

Be Flexible

If you want to get more use out of your furniture and other key pieces, it's useful to choose items that can be moved both outside and inside. This way, it doesn't matter what the weather throws at us, and you can alter the soft furnishings to suit the space.

Lighting Up the Outside

Lighting is always a crucial element of interior decor, but you should also consider how it can be incorporated outside if you want to make use of the space after dark. A mixture of styles will work well, such as soft bulbs for ambient lighting, twinkling string lights across wrought iron railings for a creative edge or accent lighting to focus on a particular feature.

Don't Forget the Flooring

Just because you're outside, it doesn't mean that you have to stick to specialist outdoor flooring for your patio, decking or balcony. Tiled floors are extremely hard-wearing and practical for outdoors and create a beautiful feature that adds colour throughout the year.

Bring in Some Colour

In interior rooms, homeowners often opt for a feature wall with the use of a bold colour or wallpaper, and the same look can be achieved outside. A coloured brick wall in your garden or terrace will give the space some personality, or if you have wrought iron railings on your balcony, think about painting these a bold shade to give the space a different look. By using the same type of colour palette as you have inside, your garden will blend in well.

Dine in Style

Dining al fresco is a great way to eat in the summer months, and your outside space can still have the same look as your inside dining room to offer a coordinated look. For instance, if you have a chintzy, mismatched style, then you can replicate this outside, or a few outdoor candle lights can provide a more formal appearance if you're entertaining.