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  • Open Homes
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  • Outdoor
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Getting your coastal kitchen floor plan right
Watch 2:03

Getting your coastal kitchen floor plan right

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A Hamptons-inspired family home on Sydney's lower North Shore

A Hamptons-inspired family home on Sydney's lower North Shore

12 large pots that will make your plant look amazing

12 large pots that will make your plant look amazing

5 things to know before buying a fire pit

5 things to know before buying a fire pit

Five top autumn garden projects

Five top autumn garden projects

{headline}

{headline}

Before and after: Increase your street appeal

Before and after: Increase your street appeal

8 free instant mood lifters

8 free instant mood lifters

2020 Dulux Colour Awards Finalists Announced

2020 Dulux Colour Awards Finalists Announced

{headline}

{headline}

These new planters are works of art

These new planters are works of art

Mum's amazing Kmart backyard makeover

Mum's amazing Kmart backyard makeover

5 ways to keep your lawn alive in a drought

5 ways to keep your lawn alive in a drought

5 plants that don't need much water

5 plants that don't need much water

Five ways to prepare your lawn for autumn

Five ways to prepare your lawn for autumn

How to style up a small garden and make it feel bigger

How to style up a small garden and make it feel bigger

Amazing transformation: from run-down caravan to sleek office space

Amazing transformation: from run-down caravan to sleek office space

  1. Home
  2. Outdoor

The garden seat retreat

Garden decorating: every outdoor space can benefit from a beautiful seating area - by Jane Parbury
  • 03 Nov 2016
The garden seat retreat
The garden seat retreat
The garden seat retreat
The garden seat retreat
The garden seat retreat
The garden seat retreat
The garden seat retreat

Lounging around

Traditional rattan suits a garden setting perfectly, plus it's lightweight enough to move around to either follow the sun in cooler climes or seek out shade in summer. Ensure you pick a chair that's for outdoor use – the indoor variety isn't hardy enough for exposure to the elements – and store undercover to extend its life. Add a well-padded seat cushion for extra comfort. 

Chris Warnes

Hang it alll

A hanging chair is a great choice for a seat retreat in small gardens as it takes up very little room. Byron Bay Hanging Chairs have a wide selection in different styles. Make sure the supports are fixed securely to a substantial beam, or pick one that comes with a freestanding frame; the Globo wood spheric, available through Temple & Webster, is a seriously funky hanging chair with a difference.

Chris Warnes

On the bench

Made to be a more or less permanent fixture, a sturdy bench – this one in pillarbox red powdercoated steel is a commission piece from Heidi Garden Art in the NSW Southern Highlands – is a set-and-forget piece for a quiet corner.

Sue Stubbs

Light effect

A pretty bistro-style seat adds a little Gallic flair, while its lightweight, barely there appearance makes it a better choice for small gardens than a heavyweight wood or steel version. Not fab on the comfort factor if you're planning an extended stay, so invest in an outdoor-quality seat cushion with plenty of padding.

Jody D’Arcy

Under cover

Positioning a seat on the verandah gives you more than just a resting spot for your own weary bones; it helps make the front of your home look warm and inviting. A spot that's protected from the elements also gives you more scope in your choice of furnishings, although it makes sense to opt for outdoor-ready pieces for those odd days when the rain blows sideways. 

Cath Muscat

Small sensation

An easy way to devise a special spot from a nothing space: invest in a few oversized pots loaded up with big, leafy plants such as palms, add a bistro chair and hey presto – a tropical corner. For a similar chair, try Milan Direct.

And finally...

...if all else fails, plump for a couple of luscious outdoor cushions, kick back and relax!

Love outdoors? We have a whole host of ideas for inviting dining, cosy decorating and beautiful looks for spring.

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