Garden Rooms, Balconies, Decks & Patios

Decorate a porch floor with paint
You can use today's paints to transform any feature in a home and today we look at how to paint a porch, whether it's concrete or wood. We show you how to use Plascon Floor Paint and Plascon Velvaglo to transform a drab and boring porch floor.
Paint a concrete slab or patio
There's no reason why you can't paint a design onto a concrete slab or patio, in fact, painting concrete is a quick and easy way to update a boring concrete slab. As long as the finish is in good condition, or only requires a few fix ups here and there, you can paint the slab any colour, and add any design you like.
Transform a garden shed, hut or wendy house
I have a garden shed, but it doesn't look anything like this one. My garden shed is packed to the brim with stuff that has nowhere else to go. But I love the idea of buying a ready-made garden shed and transforming it into a sanctuary for the garden. Buying a garden shed that's already assembled means you have more time to spend tweaking it here and there to make it perfect for your garden.
Design a comfortable patio area
It might be getting chilly outdoors but now is the perfect time to start planning for that patio you've always dreamed of. If you start on the project now - your new patio will be ready for action as soon as warm weather arrives.
Patio design for a small townhouse garden
When planning or designing a patio area for a small garden take into consideration that sometimes less is more. With the right materials and clever planting, even a small patio can feel more expansive.
Build a beautiful DIY deck
Building a deck is a project that can be tackled over a weekend - for a small one - or over a couple of weekends for a larger deck. Making your own deck can save you thousands of rands and is not as difficult as you may think. I have included a video at the bottom of this feature that shows just how easy it is to build your own DIY deck.
Simple and affordable ideas for table setting
With the holidays soon upon us, I thought it might be nice to have a feature on simple, yet elegant, table settings that can be laid indoors or outdoors, depending upon the weather. These table settings can easily be achieved with just a few items that you might already have, or can be purchased affordably.
Options for patio roof
Spring has sprung and summer is just around the corner. You've already realised that it's time to put a roof on the patio so that you can spend more time outdoors. But what roof options are there...?
Relax outdoors in a daybed
What could be more luxurious than having a daybed to relax on when it's sunny and hot. You can design and build your own daybed using a variety of materials. If you have welding experience, you can design a bed using square or round steel. While the average DIY-er will use timber to build a day bed - don't this you are limited in any way.
Build a basic deck
Not only gorgeous to look at, building your own freestanding deck allows you to set up an entertainment area wherever you like, without having to spend money on plans and waiting months for approval. A basic timber deck like the one in this project, won't cost a fortune but will add to the value of your property.
Great DIY patio ideas
As South Africans, we spend a lot of our time outdoors, so it makes sense to design an outdoor space - a patio - that provides everything we need for spending time in the garden relaxing or entertaining friends and family. In this feature we take a look at great DIY patio ideas and patio designs that are manageable for the DIY-er.
Creative with plywood
Having to host a large party at home, Roberto Gil decided to get creative rather than hire an expensive marquis for the event. He built an enclosure out of marine plywood and transparent plastic sheet.
Maintain a timber deck
When the rainy season is over, this is the perfect time to tackle maintenance and any repairs that need to be done, and while it is true that maintenance can be labour intensive, with the right equipment and the proper products on hand you can easily tackle this project over a free weekend.
Extend your summer living
As summer comes to an end it gives you time to think about how you can extend the time you spend outdoors. South Africans are lucky enough to have beautiful weather for most of the year, and it makes sense to use whatever space is available outdoors to not only take advantage of this, but also to extend living spaces.
Build a deck in a day
Here's how to build your own deck. My new deck took approximately two weeks from start to finish and came in at well under R10,000 for a complete entertainment area that is covered and decorated. With the exception of a few components, everything needed was bought at Builders Warehouse.
Paint a rug on a dated deck
Add some colour to your deck or patio and add a painted rug. you wanna spice up a dining area on your deck you might want to place a rug there. Although not many rugs can survive there for long. The best way is to paint a rug there. Here is what you’ll need for such project:
Design an affordable outdoor retreat
Creating a separate space in the garden gives you a great getaway for work, hobbies, or just some piece and quiet.
High style - low maintenance gardens
It's the time of the year when spending time outdoors is getting a bit on the chilly side, but it's a great time to think about the spring and summer months ahead. While the garden is dormant you have the time to plan for any changes that you want to make to increase your enjoyment of your own home for entertainment.
Decorate a balcony
For many townhouse and flat dwellers, spending time in the garden is a tiny shaded balcony that overlooks a neighbour's balcony or garden. There are ways to make the space feel more welcoming and private, and here are some ideas to help you:
Merge outdoors and indoors
Want to create a room that blends seamlessly with the garden beyond? Doing so will make your interior space feel bigger, brighter and contemporary - and it will draw attention to your garden beyond, too. Being able to entertain outdoors is something most people take for granted in our warm, sunny climate. Here's how to ...
Extend your living space
If your home does not have the luxury of large, open living spaces look to the garden to add on to your home. This is definitely a more affordable option than building extra rooms.
Minimalist garden with high style
The moment I saw this courtyard garden I fell in love! Designed by talented architects from Ong & Ong Singapore, this is a stunning, truly breathtaking property - with everything designed to perfection. What immediately caught my attention was the simple yet stunning design of the outside area.
Create a shady patio
Here's a fairly simple way to add a structure to create a patio for shade during the hottest times of the day.
Deck in need of some TLC?
Refinishing your deck regularly, usually every eight to twelve months, avoids cracking and splintering of the wood, keeping the surface of the deck attractive and safe. Check out Woodoc's guidelines for refinishing a deck.
Give your deck a makeover
Exposed to extreme climate, excess moisture and exposure to harsh UV sunlight, your deck can easily become worn and faded. But you can transform your deck in no time at all, by performing annual maintenance to keep it looking beautiful.
Faux stone patio
Concrete is a sturdy and durable floor for a patio, but it’s certainly not charming. Learn how to transform your concrete slab into a faux-stone living space.
 

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