How to create a stylish and functional terrace for the summer?

- Categories : Inspiration

Nateo CONCEPT

Our advice for arranging your outdoor space

With the arrival of warmer weather, it's more than time to prepare a lovely terrace to enjoy the sunshine! Depending on the space you have and the type of environment you want to create, you'll have a choice between several possibilities to create the designer terrace of your dreams. Discover all our tips to make your terrace a little paradise perfect for enjoying the beautiful season!

Identify the spaces to create

The first step in creating a designer terrace is to identify the type of space you want to create. Indeed, there are several possibilities available to you! You can particularly opt for:

An outdoor living room area, which will be perfect for relaxing, reading or having aperitifs with friends. We'll opt for garden furniture to sit comfortably.
An outdoor dining area, with a table and chairs, and why not a barbecue or a plancha if your environment allows it.
A relaxation area, with sun loungers and perhaps even a small pool for sunbathing while the children play.

Of course, if space allows, you can certainly consider installing these three areas within your terrace. It's up to you to create the environment that suits your habits and desires!

Define the desired style

Next, we can focus on the style of terrace we want to create. The bohemian terrace decor for example is very trendy. It relies on the use of natural materials such as wood, cotton, linen and others, and creates a chic and relaxed atmosphere. If you decide to opt for wooden furniture, it's best to choose eco-friendly wooden furniture. Whether it's an outdoor wooden table or a wooden garden furniture, whatever it may be, we will prioritise FSC certified furniture. This label means that the wood used for making your designer terrace comes from eco-managed forests.

You can also choose a more pop and colourful style by opting for painted outdoor furniture in wood, plastic or metal for example. A colourful designer outdoor sofa can make all the difference and give a real touch of style to this space.

In any case, we recommend prioritising French-made furniture to opt for local and quality creations.

Choose smart furniture

For a small designer terrace, we recommend opting for smart outdoor furniture such as a folding terrace table for example. You can also choose an easy-to-store wooden lounger to protect it during winter. It's important to choose furniture that is suitable for its use and the available space to avoid cluttering the environment.

If, on the other hand, you have a large space, you can indulge in more imposing elements or increase the number of seating options if you're used to hosting guests.

Don't forget to create shade

Depending on your environment, it may be important to add elements to create shade. Indeed, late mornings and summer afternoons can be dangerous, especially if you have children. We will therefore ensure that we can shade our designer terrace so that everyone can be protected from the heat. For this, several solutions are available, such as using a parasol of course, but you can also opt for a roller blind, a canvas to hang on trees, or even a pergola. It all depends on your budget and the level of exposure of your designer terrace.

Add plants

Plants are an excellent way to decorate a designer terrace and make it even more pleasant. Depending on the space you have and your desires, you have the possibility to truly green the space, even without necessarily having a green thumb.

First, you can install beautiful potted plants. If you choose them large enough, you'll be able to create shade, but also protect yourself from prying eyes. We recommend opting for plants that will thrive on the terrace in all seasons, otherwise you'll have to bring them inside in winter.

You can also green a wall by opting for a trellis and a climbing plant. You can also opt for small pots and planters to hang on a railing if possible. This can be a great opportunity to create a small vegetable garden with plants that don't take up too much space or aromatic herbs for example.

With plants, your designer terrace will immediately be much more welcoming and pleasant!

Lighting your terrace

To enjoy this space, even after nightfall, don't forget to add lighting to your designer terrace. We opt for wall sconces, but also other luminous decorations such as lanterns or fairy lights for example. If you don't have suitable electrical access on your terrace, there are now many solar devices that are completely independent and also allow you to make a more eco-responsible choice.

Refine with textiles

Finally, you can refine your designer terrace by making it even more comfortable with textile elements. We're mainly talking about cushions that will make the seating even more comfortable, but you can also add rugs. Indeed, there are outdoor rugs that are perfect for giving even more style to a terrace or balcony. Lastly, don't forget a nice tablecloth for your outdoor table!