Create comfortable outdoor spaces

Besides relaxation, outdoor spaces are best for entertainment of all kinds, from night cocktail parties to low-key weekday dinners. A daybed repurposed as a chaise, a banquette strewn with colourful pillows and cushions, a lounge suspended from the ceiling: These inviting displays are more than just sitting options— they create intimacy, make clever use of space, and are conversation starters in their own right.
Here are some of the outdoor seating ideas you can have in your outdoor space.

Pergola
This is a trend that is catching up in Uganda, most home owners today are including this feature because of its cost-effectiveness and easy installation.
A pergola is an archway commonly found in gardens, parks, and yards. It consists of a framework of vertical posts or pillars made of wood or steel that support crossbeams and an open lattice ceiling.
Sometimes pergolas are related with patios. But patios are typically smaller and simpler in structure. They are generally used for dinning and recreation. On the other hand, pergolas are larger, open in structure, flat, and often attached to homes or buildings.

Patio
“A patio is an outdoor area either attached or detached from the house and is used for recreation or dining. It typically has a roof; which roof can be open or solid. Patios unlike decks are usually level with the ground,” says Josephine Nassiwa, a landscaper, shared in a Daily Monitor article
Many houses today in Uganda do not have enough space to cater for additional features but a patio is relatively smaller depending on the home owners needs even those with smaller spaces.

How much money one is willing to spend on Patio installation determines the choice of material.
“While Stone offers a natural look, it is the most expensive option. Other less expensive materials include concrete, concrete pavers, tiles and bricks. Cost can also depend on the size of the patio,” says Namono.

Gazebo
A gazebo is a freestanding, open garden structure, sometimes hexagonal or octagonal in shape, with a roof. Most gazebos are constructed of wood or metal and have built-in seating inside the sheltered area.
To add a sense of enclosure and privacy, latticework or outdoor curtains or drapes are sometimes used. In a garden setting, a gazebo can serve as a focal point—something to be viewed and appreciated—or situated in a location on a property (like a hill) that offers views while providing shelter from the sun.
The price of a gazebo ranges from Shs 400,000 to Shs10m though an average gazebo that can seat up 12 people goes for Shs 2.8m
“The difference comes with the materials and design,” says Seerah Terry Nagudi, a homes gardener specialist with Danube.

Trellis
A trellis is a simple framework of vertical supports and horizontal crosspieces that is flat and can train plants—like shrubs, small or young trees, or vines—to grow up and against an object. It can be used as an accent piece in a garden or, when it fills in, as a privacy screen. Typically, a trellis is made of open framework, like lattice, so that plants can be supported or woven through.
Nagudi says that‘Do-it-yourselfers’ will find trellises easy to make with lightweight wood that may be already lying around, in a supply shed, garage, or side yard. Whether bought or made, a trellis needs to be strong enough to support the weight of plants as they grow and mature, and durable enough to withstand wind, rain, and other weather changes.

Garden shelf
This has some resemble to the trellis but for its case, it is used to hold planters and flower pots. The advantage with a garden shelf is it is mobile. It can be moved a from one corner of the garden to the other.
Nagudi says, “the garden shelf is portable and allows you to make changes in the garden.” It can also be used indoors, she says.
A garden shelf costs up to Shs 200,000.

Garden umbrellas
Together with the deck chair, the beach umbrella is the image of lazy sunny day! From the beach to the garden, by the pool or on the terrace, the umbrella offers some protection from sunrays especially during the hottest hours of the day.
An umbrella costs between Shs 300,000 to Shs 5m but an average umbrella the can house an outdoor six-seater sofa set goes for Shs3m.
“To really bring out the beauty of this outdoor feature, one has to use cushions that have brighter colors like orange, lemon green sky blue among others,” notes Nagudi, a garden designer with Danube Uganda.

Swings
These bring out the playful nature of human beings of all ages. “They come in different designs and can be the difference to a quiet day and a where one can sit, relax and thing about what’s going on in their lives,” says Nagudi.
A basic swing costs Shs500,000 and above.

Arbour
The words pergola and arbour are often used interchangeably to describe two similar outdoor structures. Both are built with posts that support an open roof of beams or lattice. And both usually support vines or climbing plants. However, in residential applications, an arbour, is considered a freestanding structure that serves as an entrance to a part of a yard or garden. It can also act as a small shelter for a bench or seating area, often with plants climbing or vining up and overhead.

Culled from the internet
Additional information by Daily Monitor reporter