Embrace the heat around the year with our edit of furniture for your garden, patio and poolside
Life in the city may be fast-paced, but even in the concrete jungle, there is still one connection we always seek—to be in touch with nature. A great way to enable this is through bringing elements of the outdoors into your home and maximising the use of your outdoor space.
“In terms of floor area ratio, balconies in relation to living areas in apartments are getting bigger,” observes Kelvin Gan, design director of KGID. He advises designing these areas as an extension of the living room—a balcony can be transformed into an indoor-outdoor dining area, with the help of screens or blinds that can be lowered when needed.
Robin Tan, principal architect of Wallflower Architecture + Design, agrees that such spaces can still be made functional even in the context of humid weather. “Indoor-outdoor spaces should have good cross-ventilation, as well as the option to be enclosed when needed, while a comfortable outdoor space is protected from intense direct sunlight and torrential rain,” he says.
Other details to consider include roof eaves for shelter and a ceiling fan to help keep your balcony or terrace area breezy. Consider also longevity and maintenance. “Generally, aluminium and homogeneous tiles for flooring perform well,” says Tan. “Select quality furniture pieces that can withstand outdoor conditions.”
A well-considered spatial flow from the interior to the exterior can improve your use of an outdoor space. “Raise the flooring height of the outdoor area to be level with the living room,” says Gan. “Raised flooring or decking also helps to conceal electrical wiring for outdoor lighting and other features.” Not only does this blur the indoor-outdoor boundaries for a more seamless look, it accommodates more guests when you entertain.
Create a beautiful space that celebrates the great outdoors with these inspiring collections:
1. Do the twist
The Tosca collection from Tribu will add intriguing texture to your design scheme. Comprising foam mousse encased in knitted neutral-tone textiles, the braided detailing is weather-resistant and soft to the touch. Mix and match within the range of various seating options, which include a daybed, lounger, sofas and chairs as well as tables for a cohesive and elegant space.
Available from Xtra
