STYLE YOUR STOEP

Design your outdoor space to make living easy — no matter the weather.

- SAADIQAH SCHROEDER

As locals, we flock to the beaches, pools and each other's yards for hours filled with liveliness, endless chatter and copious amounts of gees.

To accommodate all the celebrations, a well-planned and durable outdoor area is vital - even more so throughout the seasons.

LIGHT IT UP

If your outdoor area is 'indoors', such as an enclosed patio, a spacious garden room or entertainment area, then light is vital. "You would want to dine here all year round, so you need to take into consideration what could protect you from the elements throughout the year," says interior designer Chantal Maree. For an outdoor room, she suggests blinds or folding/stacking doors (with glass panels) to allow light to filter in during the day while also creating a seamless harmony between the indoors and outdoors.

Lighting sets the mood too; candles and fairy lights can create a warm and cosy environment, while a floor lamp is key to enhancing the ambience. "All these combined create a gorgeous space during the night-time. And then, of course, natural sunlight in the space warms it up - creating shadows and dapples that are forever changing throughout the day. It's a beautiful space to watch..." says Chantal. With light bulbs, she emphasises warm bulbs instead of cool tones to elevate the romance...

SWEATER WEATHER