Contemporary Garden Design

A well-designed balcony, patio or roof terrace is a joy. This isn't a gardening guide so don't look for planting advice.

However, if part of your property includes one or more of the above, these spaces deserve as much attention as the interior rooms of your home.

And that's how to look at them - as outdoor rooms. They can work year round too - you don't confine your use of the bathroom to two months in the summer and your kitchen works for you twelve months of the year, so why not an outdoor space? If you live in an urban environment you will relish your outdoor space even more, as a peaceful retreat from the city bustle.

LAYING THE GROUNDWORK

Deck the space. Don't mess around with other surfaces unless you already have flagstones, terracotta tiles or cobbles already in place. Timber decking is inexpensive, durable and good looking, and gets better looking with age as long as it is well maintained. (If only we could all lay claim to the above.) There are plenty of designs that you can fit yourself, but if you don't take the DIY approach it's not necessarily expensive to pay someone to fix a deck. Consider getting all the materials yourself rather than asking the fitter to supply them; that way you can shop around. If you plan well ahead and buy in winter for laying the following summer you can find real bargains, as garden centres change their stock seasonally.

Brush your deck regularly with a stiff broom and wash the surface down at least a couple of times a year with a specialist cleaner. If you can beg, borrow or be bothered to hire a highpressure jet cleaner, all the better.

SAFETY FIRST

Unless your space is at ground level make sure that railings around the area are secure. Really, really secure. People do like to lean their backsides against a surface when they have a drink in one hand. I went one step further and had walls built on two sides of my roof terrace to give a little more privacy from the neighbours. This means I don't have to worry even when children go out there because it is totally secure. (Then the old school next door that had been empty for years got planning permission to be made into flats. Now I am overlooked whatever corner I choose to sit in, so no more topless sunbathing for me.)

DRESSING UP

Garden canopies - yes or no? To be frank, don't bother with the expense of made-to-measure designs. I think the cost of making and fitting them far outweighs the benefits, although you will find plenty of companies that will totally disagree with that. It's a judgement call. Instead, use parasols on stands (or beach brollies stuck in large terracotta pots filled with dirt or sand), which are far more flexible anyway. You can move them around the area according to the direction of the sun or to protect you from the prevailing winds.

Use solar-powered garden lights. I know intellectually that any qualified electrician can come around and install outdoor lighting with all the appropriate safety features, but emotionally the combination of rain and electricity still alarms me. I inherited outdoor lamps wired into the house. I won't change the bulbs unless I am wearing my rubber-soled trainers and washing-up gloves (yes they're rubber too). Alternatively, rely on candle flares. They're much more fun anyway and also generate a bit of warmth.

Metal or wood furniture? (Don't even think about plastic.) This is a style call. If your outdoor space leads off a modern chrome-filled kitchen, choose a contemporary powder-coated steel or rustproof aluminium set that reflects the mood. Should you have patio doors that lead from a rustic lounge, opt for wood. It's about making the outdoor space an extension of the indoor area and it works much more effectively if the two areas are in tune. Chances are your crockery, tableware, vases, cushions and throws will all coordinate with the outdoor furniture if you operate this way.

Look on your outdoor space as a real part of the home and you'll reap the benefits of having lots of lovely extra space.


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