With Western Australia’s balmy climate and excellent sun exposure all year round, it’s little wonder that so many people choose to incorporate an alfresco patio into their Perth home design.
As stylish as they are practical, a well thought out alfresco patio blurs the lines between indoor and outdoor spaces and allows you to make the most of our city’s wonderful climate. Whether you want to build a space for throwing lavish dinner parties or are more interested in creating an intimate outdoor nook to relax in after a hard day’s work, Platinum Outdoors is here to help you create an alfresco suited to your lifestyle, budget and the existing stylings of your home.
Looking for some inspiration? As one of the leading alfresco builders in Perth, we have extensive experience in designing and implementing beautiful alfresco spaces, and we want to use this article as an opportunity to share some of our insights with you. Here are seven of the most important things you should consider to get the most out of your Perth alfresco.
1. Maximise the Indoor-outdoor Flow
The key factor in creating a beautiful and functional alfresco is to plan your design around maximising indoor-outdoor flow. There are many ways of achieving this depending on your unique circumstances.
For example, being mindful of your layout, keeping floor heights cohesive, reducing barriers between spaces and opting for materials that complement the overall aesthetic of your home can all play a role in smoothing out the transition from indoors to outdoors. For more inspiration, talk to the friendly Platinum Outdoors team, who will be more than happy to guide you in the right direction.
2. Design With Adequate Shade in Mind
While Perth is undoubtedly blessed with a fantastic climate, there’s no denying that the sun can be harsh, particularly during the summer months. With this in mind, you’ll want to consider how you can introduce shade into your alfresco design in order to create a comfortable and sheltered space.
If your alfresco area is directly adjacent to your home, you may decide to go with a full plasterboard ceiling, but depending on the positioning of your patio that may not always be a viable option. Instead, consider timber or aluminium battening topped with a simple shade cloth. In addition, to really embrace the outdoor spirit, consider growing vines or creepers, or strategically planting a tree to provide shade in the years ahead.
3. Get Creative With Glass
There are a lot of creative opportunities to use glass in your alfresco. For instance, if your alfresco is raised, you may need to fence sections of it off to comply with building codes. In contrast to conventional fencing, which tends to obliterate your views and create barriers between your home and outdoor spaces, glass balustrades are excellent for capturing and extending the sense of freedom an alfresco provides. As an added bonus, they also provide a decent level of protection from the wind.
4. Don’t Forget About the Lighting
Just about any designer will tell you that the most important aspect of great ambience lies in the lighting. With this in mind, don’t neglect your lighting options during the design phase of your Perth alfresco.
In the interests of creating a cosy and relaxing space, avoid going for overly bright, harsh lights that you might use in your main home. Dimmable LED lights are an excellent choice if you need good illumination in certain areas (such as an outdoor kitchen), while wall lighting is ideal for producing warm and welcoming tones – perfect for entertaining guests or relaxing after dinner. One or two well positioned spotlights can be used effectively to create drama and bring attention to notable features in your garden.
5. Keep Your Outdoor Kitchen Functional
Outdoor kitchens are becoming increasingly popular in Perth, and it’s easy to see why. Few things compare to cooking up a meal for the family in a casual outdoor space that has all the modern conveniences of a fully equipped indoor kitchen.
However, it is important that you keep your alfresco kitchen as practical as possible. This means including adequate bench space for preparing meals, using materials that are easy to clean and maintain, and positioning your outdoor kitchen so that it’s within easy access to the house. You’ll also need to think about whether your outdoor kitchen needs to be able to power appliances.
6. Include a Variety of Seating Options
If space is at a premium, you may not have the luxury of getting creative with your seating, but if size permits we highly recommend including a variety of seating options in your patio space. Why? Simply put, it’s nice to have options.
Chairs at a dining table are great if you’re sitting down to dinner or entertaining guests, while an outdoor lounger is sublime if you’re looking for something to sprawl out and relax in. Built-in benches that double as storage or railings are a great choice if you want to make more efficient use of the space.
7. Maintain Your Privacy
Just because you’re extending your home outdoors doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice your privacy. The position of your build will probably have the biggest impact on your privacy, but you can further shelter your alfresco with trees, plants, and tasteful timber screens. Try to find the balance that allows you to attain a sense of privacy without feeling like you’re boxing yourself in from the outside world.
If you’re thinking about building an outdoor space, we’d love to hear from you. As one of the leading alfresco builders in Perth, we have extensive experience in building beautiful patios and can provide you with the expertise and friendly support you need to create a truly fantastic outdoor area. Get in touch with us today for a no-obligation chat about your project and find out more about your options.
