Clever decorating PATIO STYLE IDEAS

Elevate your garden seating, dining and activity areas with these low-key projects

- VANESSA RICHMOND, NICKY PHILLIPS

DIY a garden canopy

Create a full-coverage shade for a seating or dining area with landscaping poles (try a timber yard or Total Poles). Fit each one into a parasol base and screw in a hook near the top to support horizontal dowels, over which you can drape a length of fabric.

Give it a twist… Swap light white voile for a weatherproof fabric.

Make a candlelight centrepiece

Any deep planter or bowl can do double duty as a candle holder. Simply fill it with play sand and poke in beeswax tapers, ready to light when dusk falls. If you dislike the look of sand, cover it with florist’s moss.