Making Your Patio Cosy With Winter Outdoor Furniture

Perth's winters are some of the mildest in the world and I don’t know about you, but I love to sit outside even when the temperature drops. Here are my top tips to make your outdoor living space winter ready, what winter outdoor furniture to consider and top tips to make your external space feel cosy.

Now, your patio and garden can be an oasis of relaxation, a place to wind down after a hard day at work or to spend time with family and friends, so you want to maximise that space even when the weather gets cooler.

Much like your living space or your bedroom, I recommend starting with layers to add warmth. Think cushions, floor rugs, throws and soft lighting.

You’ll also want to consider an area to sit and relax including an outdoor sofa or if the space is on the smaller side perhaps two outdoor occasional chairs and an area to eat or entertain friends which means adding an outdoor dining table and chairs or smaller side tables.

A word of warning before you start though, make sure you choose the materials of your outdoor furniture and soft furnishings wisely. You’ll need to make sure that they are suitable for outdoor use.

Generally, there are two types of outdoor materials in interiors – full outdoor use or outdoor undercover use and they are quite different. When something says use outdoors undercover it means that the furniture should be placed somewhere away from any kind of exposure to rain, sun, full sun and other potential weather events like hail, frost, and snow. This goes for not only the fabric you choose but also the structural elements.

With all the rain we have been experiencing across the country this year, I would recommend investing in full outdoor use materials if you have no undercover area. You can’t stop mould – it’s going to happen – and if you love rattan and delicate pendant lights then make sure they don’t get wet.

The frame of our roped weave outdoor sofa for example, is made using premium A grade teak timber and is wrapped in a marine grade outdoor rope making it perfectly suited for full outdoor use. In comparison the The Camps Bay Outdoor Sofa from Uniqwa has a beautiful teakwood frame with a reclaimed, aged finish that would suit an outdoor undercover area.

Tip 1. Decide Your Layout

Think about how you want to use your outdoor space and how frequently as this will help guide the overall design direction before you finalise your furniture purchase.

Tip 2. Consider Scale

When choosing an outdoor furniture setting make sure it isn't so big or small that it looks out of proportion.

The round Suzie Dining Table is perfect for a small outdoor space if you’re looking to entertain and would work well paired with the minimal Leah dining chairs by Satara. If you have a large space, then you can go for a statement piece like the Zulu daybed by Uniqwa and the Pavilion coffee table to create an intimate lounge area for long cups of tea and chats.

Tip 3. Extend The Inside Outside

Your outdoor space should feel like an extension of your home so try and incorporate the same styling themes from the inside out. An easy way to do this is to incorporate the same colour palette, materials, and textures.

Texture is a huge trend this winter with boucle, linen and velvet featuring frequently in interiors. Just remember if you’re going to choose one of these fabrics for your outdoor furniture then make sure they’re undercover.

Tip 4. Accessorise

This is where the layers come in. I love using outdoor rugs, plants, scatter cushions and table accessories to dress outdoor spaces. Funnily enough outdoor spaces are often forgotten when it comes to styling and can look empty and unfinished. I recommend looking for soft blankets to throw over seating, add a pop of colour and warmth in the evening. My current favourite is the boho style Willow throw by Isla and Bloom. If you’re after something more traditional in style then the Alby blanket by L & M Home would suit.

Tip 5. Add Statement Lighting

An easy way to immediately make your outdoor space cosy for winter is to add a statement pendant light over your outdoor table like the Lolesa by Uniqwa or the Mudag by Oriel Lighting. Or add a series of wall lamps such as the Chelsea by Oriel Lighting to create a modern, sophisticated mood.

Lastly… my overall favourite trend for outdoors this winter is adding a firepit. There’s nothing more wintery than sitting around a fire together and toasting marshmallows or sharing a wine with your hubby in the evening.

To plan your dream winter patio shop outdoor furniture here.

Hot Tip: If you’re looking for outdoor furniture and you don’t see what you like, we can access many other brands and the full Uniqwa collection on your behalf. Feel free to get in touch today.