Autumn inspirations

Autumn, the season of harvest and falling leaves. Even though we feel the days become shorter and begin to prepare for the colder months ahead, it is really a season of celebration and abundance.

Instead of focusing inward, lets celebrate the cooler weather by focusing on details to make our outdoor rooms more comfortable and enticing for this transitional season.

Plants

Autumnal veggie planting will vary depending on what region you are in. A cooler more temperate area will mean you start planting earlier than if you are in a more tropical or sub-tropical environment. Get chatting to your local nursery for tips on the best time for you to start planting your veggie garden. Brussel sprouts, cabbage, kale, carrots, turnips, potatoes and radishes can all be planted in Autumn for a winter harvest.

And what about peaches! Stone fruits require the cold period offered during winter months to set buds and produce fruit. Peaches will flower in spring and fruit in the summer so you might like to think about including them in your garden now for a summer time crop.

Materials

With Autumn in mind and all the sensory elements this season evokes, a nice choice of stone to use in your outdoor room is sandstone. This natural product can be used for floor tiles, wall cladding or even an outdoor tabletop. Sandstone is formed in layers so there are interesting colour variations available. This is something to keep in mind if you prefer uniformity in your cladding or flooring. If you are happy with the natural variation that occurs, the rough texture and random colour placement can make a nice statement—adding dimension to a flat surface.

Copper, Corten and anodised stainless steel have warm brown, red and ochre tones that age beautifully to show patinas and oxides. A surface that changes with weather can make an interesting feature wall, adding transience to an otherwise static surface.
These warm tones will also assist to make your outdoor room feel more cosy as the cooler temperatures creep in.

Furniture

Plump beanbags casually arranged in your outdoor room are a great way to entertain friends informally. They are also easy to move around if you want to change your outlook. Timber trays can be balanced as table tops for drinks and nibbles.

Soft Furnishings + Accessories

Have a couple of throws handy for when the evenings start to get a bit cool. No need to scurry indoors prematurely. Hot water bottles are also a good accessory to help keep chills at bay and extend the evenings spent outdoors in Autumn. The PATIO BY JAMIE DURIE range includes an FSC eucalyptus wooden storage box in white or natural—a great place to store soft furnishings when not in use.