With summer right around the corner, and the fact that many of us are having to spend more time at home due to the coronavirus lockdown, it is the perfect opportunity to transform and make the best of our outdoor spaces. In order to make this process as easy and as effective as possible, the world-renowned, French Interior Designer Stéphanie Coutas, has kindly provided some ways in which you can maximize your outdoor living spaces to create a spacious and tranquil environment.
‘’When designing outdoor spaces I always choose between enhancing the view or accentuating the beautiful landscape. For example, in Saint Tropez, the choice of the main outdoor seating area was chosen because of the spectacular view of the sea and the village. At night it’s wonderful because, when the lights of the village start to appear, the effect creates a brand new scene. The other terrace is situated by the pool house and was designed to be a cosy area surrounded by a ‘jungle-like’ atmosphere. A selection of trees and bamboo plants give the impression that they have been there forever – I also created an outdoor shower, but just for the fun of it!”
“For more sophisticated terrace areas, I will always think of the outdoor space as a continuation from the interior. Lighting is key here because these spaces are typically used during different times of the day, and so good lighting ensures that these spaces look inviting no matter what time it is! Where I can, I also try to always include some form of sun shade to allow for outdoor living during hot weather.”
“I like to give a particular use for each space where I can. For example, I like to allocate one space for a breakfast area, and another special corner for chilling at sunset.”
“Sofas must be comfortable yet easy to move, and fabric choices are extremely important. I personally like to mix pieces to add charm – combining vintage and contemporary pieces is always a good idea! Whilst sofas and coffee tables are obvious, accessories are a must! Try and select cheerful and natural accessories where you can. My three ‘essential purchases’ would probably be, a pair of beautiful chairs, a fun piece (like a ceramic coloured stool for example), and a nice outdoor lamp!’’
