Outdoor SunSpaces News

We're quickly approaching October which can only mean one thing, autumn is coming! In our opinion, autumn is one of the most beautiful seasons, and a great way to observe all of the autumnal transitions in your garden is to relax in your garden room.

All of our glass garden rooms are designed to obstruct very little of your view, so you can really take everything in while remaining warm and dry. If you're someone who likes to switch up your garden room decor at this time of year, then you're in the right place. We have some great autumnal decoration ideas for you to try!

Autumnal Foliage

(Photo from Envato Elements)

If you're someone who likes to decorate your garden room with natural textures and plants, now is a great time to start incorporating some autumnal foliage. This could include, pine cones, dried flowers, pampas grass and even sunflowers. Choosing flowers in an autumnal colour will really bring your garden room to life!

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It's national house plant week! A time to celebrate indoor gardening and the beauty of bringing nature inside. Adding house plants to your home has a lot of physical and mental health benefits, as well as creating cleaner air for you to breathe, having houseplants around will help to improve your mood.

Since most of us are stuck at home due to the latest COVID-19 restrictions, we thought it would be fun to share some different species of house plants that you can grow in your sunroom. Growing plants is a great activity that the whole family can enjoy, so we hope this inspires you to get out your gardening gloves and add a touch of greenery to your sunroom.

Why add plants to your sunroom?

With lots of natural light and insulation from the cold outside, sunrooms are ideal for growing a wide variety of house plant species. While you might grow fruits and vegetables outside, having a sunroom gives you space to grow more exotic or tropical species of house plants that you can admire while you drink your morning coffee. 

Of course, some house plants are easier to grow than others, but by having all of your house plants in an easy-to-access space, you'll be able to keep an eye on them and tend to their needs without having to trudge outside in the rain. Let's take a look at some of the most popular house plants you can grow in your sunroom.

What plants can you grow in a sunroom?

Most house plants will thrive in a sunroom but it's important you research each species to find out what conditions it needs before you plant it. Some house plants need to be kept out of direct sunlight, while others need high humidity, it really depends on the type of house plant you choose. Here are a few popular house plants that you could try growing in your sunroom during national house plant week.

Spider Plants

If you're looking for an easy house plant to grow in your sunroom, a spider plant is the way to go! They can adapt to all kinds of environments and are generally very durable, meaning they're ideal for house plant growing beginners. They thrive when they're in a pot with plenty of drainage and when they're kept out of direct sunlight. For this reason, most homeowners choose to hang them in planters in a shadier part of their sunroom. 

Over time, you might notice a new shoot developing on one of the plant's tendrils. In the spring months, these will flower (shown above) meaning a new baby plant (or spiderette) is developing. If you want to, you can remove this part of your spider plant, allow it to grow roots and plant it in a new pot - expanding your spider plant colony around the house!

Hibiscus

Hibiscus is a tropical plant that homeowners favour for its colourful flowers. This is a great plant to grow inside your sunroom because it thrives in temperatures between 16 and 32°c. Since we're currently in one of our coldest seasons of the year, growing hibiscus in your sunroom is a great idea. It's guaranteed to brighten up your SunSpace, even on the grey winter days.

Some people will start their hibiscus off in a pot inside and then move it outside during the summer. In total, hibiscus plants need around 6 hours of daylight per day, so if your SunSpace catches the afternoon sun, this could be a great choice for you.

Orchids

Orchids are beautiful flowers that, compared to other flower species, are fairly easy to grow. They thrive in bright light, making them ideal candidates for your sunroom. They like to be watered regularly, but they'll happily be left to dry out completely between watering (so you don't need to panic if you forget for a day or two). 

Succulents

Finally, we couldn't recommend house plants for your sunroom without giving these guys an honourable mention. Succulents are adorable little plants that everybody loves - and they're perfect for your sunroom!

They require little to no maintenance, only the occasional water, and can cope with really warm temperatures. Even if your sunroom gets up to 35°c and over during the summer months, you won't have to worry about your succulents dying. Some popular types of succulents are jade plants, cacti, aloe vera and snake plant!

So there you have it, a few different house plant species that you can plant during house plant week 2021! Share a picture of the house plants in your sunroom on Facebook or Twitter by tagging us and using the hashtag #HouseplantWeekUK. For any other SunSpaces enquiries, give us a call on 01727 845 788

Like any form of design, what’s in vogue and fashionable can and will change from year to year as styles drift in and out with seasonal regularity.

Not to be left out in cold, exterior design also follows this blueprint of trends and what was hot last year might not be seen as quite so stylish and in just 12 months later.

To help you get ahead of the curve and prepare your garden for the year ahead, we’ve outlined some of the most likely garden trends for 2020.

Predicted Garden Design Trends for 2020

Depending on who you ask and who’s garden crystal ball you peer into, the answer to what lies ahead in garden design can vary wildly.

Swedish landscape and garden designer, Mia Witham, is confident that outdoor style is leaning towards a Belgian influence in 2020, with simplistic luxury becoming a prevalent theme.

Conversely, award-winning landscape design expert, Jane Brockbank, insists that cold minimalism is a thing of the past and champions pattern and texture instead.

Meanwhile, international consultant-designer for future-orientated garden design, Mark Laurence, foresees a more visual directional shift, as lineal design makes way for curvilinear free-flowing gardens.

Eco-Friendly Garden Trends 2020

While the predicted 2020 garden trends for general appearance can vary wildly (as seen above), one trend that looks to be virtually set in stone is the move towards a greener garden design.

Here are a few of the most notable green garden trends 2020 can expect to see over the next 12 months.

Making the Most

Making environmentally-friendly choices in life has become more and more prevalent over the last decade, as the world becomes increasingly aware of the detrimental impact we are having on the world around us.

Naturally, that focus has found its way into the world of garden design and eco-friendly garden choices are becoming progressively more popular.

Ranging from water butts that collect rainwater to garden composters that repurpose waste materials into nutrient-rich food for the lawn, expect to see more eco-friendly additions popping up in gardens across the land.

Recycling Old Goods

Speaking of making the most of what you’ve got, another related trend that’s likely to continue to grow in the next year is upcycling old items and repurposing them for garden use.

A myriad of items can easily become a garden planter, whether it’s a wheelbarrow, an old set of drawers or even a chandelier. Similarly, giving a kitchen chair a simple lick of paint and a new home in the garden can completely revitalise your furniture.

Meanwhile, even tin cans can quickly become light and versatile plant pots that can be effortlessly arranged in an upright fashion to create a vertical garden.

Grow Your Own

Another eco-friendly garden trend that is picking up steam and doesn’t show any signs of slowing down is the independent option of growing your own fruit and vegetables.

More and more people are dedicating an area of their garden to grow their own food, providing themselves with a source of food that contributes to a healthier environment, while also saving themselves a little money on the shopping bill in the process.

Outdoor Living

While these particular trends are likely to see a rise in popularity over the next 12 months, outdoor living products – such as our awnings, verandas and sunrooms – will never go out of fashion.

Providing shelter from the elements, these outdoor accessories for your home can help turn your garden into an external living space for you to enjoy your garden and the outside to its fullest.

From the retractable benefits of our awesome awnings to the insulated comfort of our glass sunrooms with the multi-faceted veranda option providing the best of both in between, SunSpaces has the product for you and your home.

With the new year just over the horizon, what better time to prep your garden for the summer season and maximise your garden enjoyment in 2020 than by investing in a SunSpace?

Call now to request a quote today and turn your new year’s resolution into a sun-kissed solution you can enjoy this coming spring/summer and beyond with SunSpaces.

To find out more about the variety of outdoor living options available at SunSpaces, why not drop us a line today> Call now on 01727 845 788 or get in touch online by clicking the button below.

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Creating a Mediterranean environment in a UK setting can be a big ask, particularly when it comes to the vast differences in climate.

However, that’s not to say it’s an impossible task. In fact, with a few strategic choices and deliberate additions, your back garden could easily become a dead ringer for a Spanish villa.

Here are a few simple changes that can truly transform your outdoor space into the Mediterranean garden you’ve always dreamed of.

Go Green

One of the most effective ways to provide your garden with a genuine taste of the Med is to take a leaf out of their book…quite literally.

Incorporating plants and greenery that are native to Mediterranean countries can instantly give your faux-Med landscape and air of visual credibility.

The RHS website has a whole list of Mediterranean garden plants you can easily add to your outdoor space to create a truly authentic looking continental ambience.

Go Potty

Speaking of plants, strategic placement of plant pots in and around your garden is an effortless way to add a bona fide Mediterranean flavour to your outside space.

Terra cotta pots are a must-have for anyone looking to replicate the foreign vibe at home. Fill with your favourite Med flowers and vegetation for a subtle yet striking addition that really makes a difference.

Where possible, opt for Clay pots with a wide base where possible. While we can replicate the Mediterranean appeal, we have no bearing over the weather; wide-base pots will stand a better chance of survival in windy UK weather conditions.

Lighten Up

Light-coloured tiles are a fantastic flooring option for anyone looking to create a warming Mediterranean feel in their back garden.

Sunny creams and subtle yellows all have a distinctive overseas flair to them, particularly when the skies provide the climate to match.

If you’re really looking to invest in your Med-look garden, appropriate tiling is the ultimate ace up the sleeve.

Take Cover

Perhaps one of the best ways to create a truly authentic Mediterranean landscape in your outdoor space is to create an outdoor seating area.

Opting for a veranda can instantly transform your garden area, creating the feeling of stepping into another country every time you step out of your back door.

Accessorise with garden furniture and climbing plants that reach up the pillars of your veranda can truly cap off a wonderful Mediterranean setting in the most authentic way possible.

Imagine enjoying a morning coffee in the shaded comfort of your SunSpace as the summer sun beams down on your garden. Does it get any more continental than that?

Make your Mediterranean dreams a reality with SunSpaces today! Call now on 01727 845 788 or get in touch online using the button below.

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If you’re looking to create a garden lounge to truly relax and unwind in, there are a number of outdoor additions you can add to your garden design to heighten the chilled-out ambience.

However, when it comes to ultimate outdoor relaxation, few garden furnishings can compete with the indulgent tranquillity of the inimitable outdoor daybed.

Inherently calming and unashamedly serene, these unique additions to the outdoor furniture collection make for the perfect setting for an open-air siesta.

What is a Garden Day Bed?

If the hammock was the poster boy for outdoor leisure in the 20^th century, the 21^st century has gone one better with garden daybed. Trumping the hammock in virtually every way, an outdoor daybed does exactly what it says on the proverbial tin.

The ultimate addition to any garden lounge, the outdoor daybed is – as you may well have guessed – essentially a bed for the outside. Much like a weatherproof garden sofa, outdoor daybeds bring the comfort of interior furniture to the garden setting, providing all the functionality of a traditional bed for external use.

Types of Garden Day Beds

Outdoor daybeds come in a variety of styles, ranging from rounded open-top sofas to fully-enclosed shell-like pods. Naturally, this variety brings with it wildly varying price-tags.

That being said, shopping around could allow you to find a daybed for as little as a few hundred pounds; however, the bigger your budget, the more styles and options you will have at your disposal.

With high-end options including such variants as rotating rattan huts and cube-shaped sanctuaries, it’s worth saving a little extra before pulling the trigger to truly get the most of the experience.

Day Bed in Your SunSpace

While outdoor daybeds can be fantastic for reclining and unwinding in the sun, British weather doesn’t always play ball when it comes to outdoor plans. Luckily, with the help of SunSpaces, you can enjoy your outdoor recliner whenever you see fit.

Whether you already have a SunSpace or are considering adding a SunSpace to your property, incorporating a combination of the two can be the ultimate cocktail of comfort.

What better way to unwind in the open air under an awning, enjoy the breeze in your veranda or stare into the stars in your garden room than in supine calm of a garden daybed?

Don’t take our word for it – explore the possibilities today! Call now on 01727 845 788 or drop us a line using the button below and complete your garden lounge.

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