It doesn’t really matter whether the summer sun is in full force or the chill of winter is in the air, chances are you’ll be looking to your outdoor spaces when you want to entertain. A covered deck, terrace or pergola attached to the back of your house might be all you need, or you might prefer a well-appointed, fully-equipped outdoor room with a built-in kitchen and separate zones for cooking, dining and lounging.

You might also want a swimming pool — great for keeping the kids entertained and a boon when hosting summer soirees. But you mustn’t forget about the landscaping. An alfresco entertaining area that looks out over nothing more than a sea of patchy lawn or a bland expanse of paving is a very sad sight indeed. And a pool area devoid of greenery is downright unappealing.

Early planning is the key to ensuring your outdoor entertaining area is in the right place, of the right size and flows effortlessly from your interior living space. If you’re going down the custom-build route, the configuration and placement of your alfresco spaces will be determined by your architect or building designer, in consultation with you, of course. You will have input on everything from the type of paving and decking used to the inclusion of special features such as a purpose-built outdoor kitchen or in-built planters. Some custom builders also do landscaping and pools, so you may be able to cover all of your outdoor bases with the one company.

If your home will be built by a volume home builder, you will still have a degree of customisation available, depending on the company and the particular design you choose. Pretty much all project home designs now include at least a basic alfresco living/entertaining space. Some spaces have a solid roof, some have an open-roofed pergola but they usually flow directly from the main interior living zone. The key is to choose an initial design that you think will meet your needs and then ask your builder about upgrades or possible customisation if you feel it needs a few tweaks to make it absolutely perfect. Most volume home builders don’t offer landscaping services or get involved in pool building, but you need to plan for these along with the home.

So when assessing home designs, what should someone look for in an alfresco living space? “This is highly dependent on how you see yourself using this space,” says Janelle Miles, Porter Davis’ World of Style Queensland Lead Interior Designer. “Many of our designs feature the alfresco positioned in the middle between a rear master and family space, allowing you to open up sliding doors and truly invite the indoors in. Others feature an alfresco that runs along the rear of the home, with the kitchen backing onto it allowing you to add a buffet off the kitchen window.”

“The outdoor living areas for most of our home designs have an option to upgrade to a Grand Outdoor Living area, usually doubling the size of the original and making room for both an outdoor dining and separate lounge area,” says Sandra Setian, Interior Designer — Display Homes, MOJO Homes. “Our Enigma Grand Outdoor Living has probably been our most popular design, with potential to add bi-fold doors across the rear of the internal kitchen and dining area.”

When making your decision, you need to carefully consider your lifestyle needs and how many people will be using the space. Do you want to cook and eat in your outdoor living area or will you cook indoors? Do you also need space for a lounge area? How many people will the area need to accommodate? If you have young children or teenagers, how will they use the space? Do you need storage?

“Multipurpose outdoor rooms are really on trend,” says Sandra. “As our lives become more diverse and kids grow into teens with their own needs and tastes, having an outdoor space that can function as a party zone, dining area, sitting area with TV — think outdoor pizza movie night or watching the game on a Saturday arvo — are all ways to make the most of the outdoors. Versatility with weatherproofing and cooling/heating options means the room can be used all year round.”

“Outdoor kitchens are a trend that we have seen resonate strongly within our clientele,” adds Janelle. “We choose to include outdoor kitchens in many of our display homes as it integrates so well with the Australian lifestyle — popping a snag on the barbecue and kicking back by the pool. Outdoor speaker systems are another popular trend that we’re seeing.”

But the list of popular — and possible — inclusions doesn’t end there. Some form of heating is usually desired. This could be a gas log-effect fireplace integrated into a feature wall, ceiling- or wall-mounted electric outdoor heaters, moveable patio heaters or a sculptural fire pit. Also, ceiling fans are now almost de rigueur, helping you to keep your cool on sultry summer days. And don’t forget the decor and soft furnishings — pots, artwork, outdoor rugs, cushions and decorative light fittings.

For many, a pool is a must, especially for those who like to entertain or have water-loving offspring. “Ideally, the pool should be designed as part of the house planning process for new builds. Then the house can be sited on the block so that a pool can be incorporated in the best possible way,” says Sandra.

Often we have clients pouring concrete for the pool prior to the home being built. This is to make easier access for earth moving equipment. We do not offer an in-house pool building service, however we have reputable pool companies we use for our display homes that we can refer customers to.”

The size, style and location of the pool will vary but, says Sandra, “Lap pools are still a popular option and work well for narrow and long yards. Another trend is smaller plunge pools, something that does not take up the whole yard but can easily fit the family in for a cool-down on hot summer days. Fully-tiled pools are definitely the way to go and with the amount of mosaic tiles available, there are so many options for customising the look of your pool.”

Some other trends include pools with integrated spas or underwater ledges and benches; negative edges; and water features that act as focal points. The use of frameless glass pool fencing is also very popular.

You’ll also need to consider your landscaping needs — for around the pool, around your outdoor living area and for your rear and front gardens. These all need to be properly planned. In fact, a landscape plan is often a requirement.

“A landscape plan is usually part of the DA process for new homes and council needs to see at least a basic landscaping plan that shows the location of pools or other structures and indicates the area set aside for private outdoor space,” says Sandra. “The best approach is to have an idea of how you would like to use the house and outdoor spaces from the start and incorporate these ideas into a basic landscape concept, which can be refined as the build progresses.”

Adds Janelle, “If you are building in a new estate, the builder will require a full landscaping plan in order to obtain covenant approval. All landscaping is then able to be executed after handover.”

“There are several current landscaping trends,” says Sandra. “Creating separate zones for different uses, the creative use of plants and paving and decorative screening are all in right now.” If you want the best end result, a landscaping professional can help you create the perfect design for your site and lifestyle needs, coming up with ideas and space-enhancing solutions you might never think of. Even better, professional landscaping increases the value of your home. ■