Sponsored Content: This post is a collaboration with SUNS Lifestyle. As usual, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

The impact of the 2020/2021 COVID lockdowns has forever changed the way we design our homes. Kitchens, living spaces and guest rooms now require the ability to be multi-functional working spaces or home gyms - even spa rooms! (Pinterest has noted a huge surge in their users searching for ‘home spa room inspiration’ in the past 2 years). While our interiors work hard, the importance of outside space has become paramount: those who didn’t own a garden during lockdown immediately sought to secure one, while those who did completely reevaluated its worth; there is now more of an emphasis than ever before on how to make the most of our exterior space. 

Alongside this shift in focus to outdoor living, the interconnection between interiors and exteriors evolved into a desired thread within interior design. Biophilia - where elements of nature are incorporated within the home for a calming effect - has surged in popularity as we look to bring the outdoors in and simultaneously, we wish to bring the inside out by creating cosy and comfortable exterior spaces where we can relax, work, or eat. 

With the price of building materials dramatically increasing and a huge delay in planning applications being reviewed, there is now a move away from the usual route of bricks and mortar glass roof extensions and conservatory builds to a focus on alternative methods to create light, bright and watertight outdoor living spaces without vast expensive and disruptive construction work. 

In my own home, I had been desperate to create extra space since the start of lockdown. With both myself and my partner working from home more than ever before (and my son getting older), it was starting to feel a little cramped inside our house. While the limited layout of our period property offered no opportunity to add anything on to our building, we did own a large, raised composite decking area in our garden that was completely unused and unloved. Situated under protected trees, the constant drop of leaves, morning dew and seeds made the open area uninviting to spend a long period of time. With zero storage space within the house and lacking a garage or shed, I also did not want to invest in large pieces of garden furniture which required 50% of it to be put away over winter. As a result, the area of our garden which should have been the central focal point sat empty (apart from some rotting garden pots and benches). It was now the time to reclaim this space and make it into a beautiful addition to the rest of our home, so I set about creating a checklist on how to design a hard-working living space that we could enjoy all year round.

1. What structure will meet all of our outdoor living requirements?

The hardest part when creating an outdoor living space that didn’t require building work or planning permission was to find the right structure. I wanted something watertight, so as a family we could enjoy the space in all seasons; it also needed to provide shade but have the option to allow in as much light as possible to really feel the outdoor/indoor benefits. As the structure was going to be positioned under trees, I also required it to not be made from wood or in any way be at risk of rot or require yearly maintenance (which I just do not have the time to do). It wasn’t until I visited the RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival this year that I found the answer to what I was looking for: the SUNS Lifestyle stand proudly displayed their range of robust, toughened aluminium pergolas that can be made weatherproof by turning the louvred roof shutters to a closed position (rainwater is then drained off through a cleverly-designed drainage system within the structure's legs). 

Constructed from high-quality materials, SUNS Lifestyle pergolas are available powder-coated in either a Matt White or Matt Royal Grey finish that won’t rust and are UV protected - making them completely maintenance-free!

The extensive range of pergolas starts at 3m x 3m in size but goes up to 3.6 x 7.2 m. For our deck area, I chose a 3 x 3.6 m Rota Louvered Pergola which sat nicely at the far end. If I want to absorb the sun I fully open up the roof shutters all the way; if I want to block out falling leaves, I angle the shutters 45°. To make the pergola weatherproof and watertight, I close the shutters all the way. To clear debris on the roof, I simply sweep it away with a brush. 

Also available for the Rota Louvered Pergola is the ability to add on Deluxe Screens. These pull-down screens - made from Textilene - provide privacy and protection, while also keeping the occupied space inside light and bright.

1. How will the space be used by my family and I?

When planning an outdoor living space, it is important to consider how you will use it (which will dictate the size of the structure that you need and the type of furniture that you should buy to put in it). As our deck area is quite far from the house, I knew that I did not want to create an area to eat and dine as it wouldn’t be the most practical. Instead, I was looking to create a sheltered, relaxed, chilled space where I could sit in comfort and observe my son play, take my laptop and work on a nice day, or enjoy a glass of wine with friends and family. My son loves being outdoors, so I wanted him to be able to stretch out in comfort while being protected from the sun. Because of this, I opted for a corner lounge sofa over a sofa set which felt more casual and relaxed. The accompanying side table that came with the set fits nicely in the middle and makes the most of all the space under the pergola and keeps drinks/laptops/magazines from gathering on the floor. In the future, I think we may invest in a hot tub to use here! The roof shutters of the Rota Louvered Pergola will stop the water from getting dirty, while the Textiline screens will provide privacy and will maintain the heat of the water when the hot tub is in use.

1. Investing in furniture that doesn't need to be stored elsewhere during the winter.

One of the most important elements for me when designing an outdoor living area was not having to store what I put in it elsewhere over winter. The aim of the ‘outside room’ was to create another area of our house - not to clutter up existing areas when the weather turned. It was also important to me that the outdoor living area could be used all year round and not for it to be ‘seasonal’. I chose the Savona Lounge Collection from SUNS Lifestyle as the frame of the sofa is constructed from industrial-strength aluminium, so it will not stain, fade or rot. The deep-seated, luxurious cushions that go on the frame are upholstered with both Fast Dry Foam® and Sunproof® fabric which is mould-resistant and weatherproof, meaning it can remain on the sofa during the wetter, colder months without damage.

1. How can I make it feel like a cosy and comfortable living area?

To really ‘bring the inside out’ and create a pleasant, homely and enjoyable outdoor living space, comfort is a key factor. Textiles and layering are one of the most important elements used in interior design to create a cosy, inviting feel, so it is crucial to use lots of good quality fabrics and soft furnishings that you would usually find indoors. 

SUNS Lifestyle furniture cushions are made from high-quality, luxurious fabric which while suitable for outdoor use all year round, is thick and soft to the touch. On top of my lounge set, I also add extra cushions in contrasting patterns and have a couple of throws on hand to wrap up in if there is a chill in the air. 

To define the seating area and to provide comfort underfoot, an outdoor rug is a must-have item. Here, I have chosen SUNS Lifestyle Veneto round rug in a soft pink colourway which is made from eco-friendly, recycled PET bottle fibres. Not only does this recycled material save on landfill plastic (even though the rug feels nothing like plastic!), but it can also withstand the elements of wind, rain and sun.

Ribbed, reeded and slatted furniture is a huge interior design trend for 2022, so I was instantly drawn to the Savona Lounge Collection not only for the comfortable seating, but for the stylish fluted teak tables that make up the set. This surface space is a great opportunity to extend that indoor/outdoor look, and I’ve styled these table areas the same as I would indoors with books, magazines, scented candles and flowers. Compact, portable lamps are also a popular item to own and they are great to place on the teak tables to provide atmospheric lighting into the evening, completely cord-free.

By creating this extra living space, not only do we reap the benefits of more living space to enjoy, we have added value to our property. And with outdoor cinema set-ups and al fresco table settings surging in popularity on social media, there is no end of inspiration on how we can use our new outdoor space in the future with friends and family for social, or private, occasions at home.

To view my new outdoor living space in more detail, click here to view the ‘before & after’ video on Instagram!