Remember that solid walls will cause more turbulence on their leeward side, although the area immediately under them will be sheltered.
Use the wall of your house
Trellis is a great option to break the wind, and trellis with a climber more so. Paling fences can have gaps to allow some wind through. The advantage of trellis and other screens is that the offer a wonderful opportunity for planting climbers.
Surface Options You need a dry and stable surface underfoot, especially for dining. A gravel surface is okay but it is not as suitable as paving.
Paving is possibly better for table and chairs, and more comfy for feet. There are many paving in so options today, from a plain concrete surface to one inset with rounded pebbles and mosaics, and there are larger pavers and cobbles to chose from as well.
Decking is a great option, good looking and cooler underfoot that hot pavers; it can also be cantilevered over a slope to give an enlarged space on a steeper site (please make sure that you consult an engineer, architect or master builder to ensure that your deck is safe). And remember it is a great idea to place a weed-suppressing mat under decking to reduce the hassle of removing pesky weeds later.
A non-slip surface is a must near a swimming pool or other wet area. There are lovely paving options for pool surrounds, make sure you shop around.
Style The style you chose for your outdoor living area should relate to your house and to the garden. A rustic manuka arbour in a formal garden strikes a discordant note, elaborate furniture does not work with a modern house and a clean, simple design.
The closer to house the area is, the more important this is. Marry the style to those it is closest too, areas adjoining the house need to have the same architecture or to blend well, areas further away can adopt a fresh look but need still to relate to their surroundings. A nautical theme will look odd if you live in Central Otago and have a dry, Mediterranean or desert garden style.
The 'weight' of any structures is important as well. Wood needs to be substantial if it is not to look too flimsy; iron structures look better if they are lighter and also important and should relate to style.
Chunky concrete or wooden pillars too close together look oppressive and 'heavy', iron supports too widely spaced look flimsy. (One solution is to use pairs of supports and then space more widely but, once again, you need competent advice on any overhead structure to ensure the safety of yourself and those using it.)
Enclosed & intimate, courtyards offer lots of opportunities for alfresco living, and you can create a courtyard space within a larger garden.
Furniture Wooden furniture is very handsome but unless it is teak or another hardwood it will require regular sanding and a coating of preservative or paint.
Antique benches and stone are vastly expensive. Reconstituted stone is beginning to become more available here and in a better range of styles
Classic loggia for a classic English style home
Tropical pool style with bench seats
Base the style on the building, and the weight should relate to the materials
You can make a rustic bench from railway sleepers, or a simple bench using planks or treated timber on block or wooden post supports.
Ensure that your style marries with the garden and house to which it relates. Clashes most often come with elaborate reproduction cast iron furniture with an inappropriate table or in the midst of a modern, clean-cut garden design. Marry styles together, even to the details such as lighting and lamps, to get a really effective design result.
The remainder of your planting should follow your garden theme. (See our features on different Garden Styles.)
When planting an arbour or screen use roses with long flowering season ('Glorie de Dijon', 'Iceberg', 'New Dawn', 'Cecile Brunner' and more) and avoid those, however lovely, with hazardous and wayward thorns ('Albertine' and 'Mermaid'). Other climbers include Lonicera (honeysuckle), Clematis or one of the many tender climbers that thrive in warmer climate.
Other classic plants are wisteria, vines (Vitis ssp), ivy, laburnum (take care as laburnum seeds are poisonous but the kereru will love you for the flower and leaf buds!). Cercis, limes and elms can be espaliered, or you can try fruit trees or kiwi fruit vines.
Aromatic plantings of lavenders, salvias, cistus and more are wonderful by a terrace or sitting out area, and these aromatic plants are often said to discourage sandflies and mosquitoes.
Mounds of hebes and carpet of helianthemums and saxifrage will delight with their form and flowers; mats of dianthus and Centurea montana, clumps of geum will provide long periods of colour.
Fragrant daphnes and hellebores are a must for the winter (see our feature on planting a Winter Corner) and there are so many more plants that will delight.
Containers reinforce the theme Reinforce the outdoor living theme with large pots - classic or modern terracotta and verdigris copper are timeless, or use modern materials such as zinc and shiny steel depending on your theme.
Plant them with bougainvillea, Xeromena callistemon ('Poor Knights Lily'), cistus, Convolvulus mauritancus (see left), lavenders, Melianthus major (see left) and so much more.
So, having chosen your outdoor living spot well, furnished and planted it, when the sun shines and you want to be outside, use it often and enjoy!
