Alfresco appeal: Outdoor spaces perfect for summer entertaining

As the summer sun hits your windows, layers of wind-blown dirt, pollution or salt-spray will become glaringly obvious. Cleaning your windows is the easiest way to transform the look of your home, inside and  out. Try a specialised product such as Jif ‘Easy Lift’  lass cleaner for a streak-free finish.

Style a welcoming front entrance with a handsome pair of pots or an on-trend hanging planter – Masters and Ikea have ranges at reasonable prices – and fill them with fragrant foliage.

Restore the beauty of timber furniture with a specialist cleaner like Cabot’s ‘Deck Clean’ or a coat of furniture oil or varnish. Tired rattan pieces can be easily updated with spray paint. Try Rust-oleum ‘2X Ultra Cover’ spray paint ($10.95/340g), which comes in a choice of 32 colours.

Light your outdoor dining table exactly as you would  inside – just choose electric candles over normal ones. These won’t blow out in the wind or throw dangerous sparks, and their ambient glow looks surprisingly natural.

As the light finally fades on a long summer evening, thoughtful lighting becomes the star feature of your outdoor area.  A high-shine statement needn’t cost a fortune – make a tree the focal point by placing lights on a structure adjacent to the tree, so they illuminate the leaves, or drape fairy lights along a branch.