Heating outdoors

There is now a range of freestanding and table-top portable gas heaters that keep your guests warm and cosy outdoors.

Portable outdoor gas heaters give off radiant heat and they warm the guests instead of the air surrounding it.

Look for an outdoor heater with a safety function that automatically switches off the gas if the heater is accidentally tipped over.

Take care not to place outdoor heaters too close to potentially combustible materials such as awnings and shade sails.

Install outdoor blinds

If you already have a covered pergola, consider installing PVC bistro blinds to enclose the area during winter.

Outdoor blinds, most of which you can install yourself, protect guests from wind and rain and also reduce the potential for weather damage to the barbecue or to any outdoor furniture.

Choose transparent blinds for easy visibility or a colour tint for increased privacy.

Shade screens can also be suitable as blinds. They improve UV-protection during summer.

Lay the pavers

Large and modern concrete pavers are a design trend for contemporary homes and can link the inside and out by using similar colours and shapes.

Kathryn Patience, who's the architectural team leader at Boral, says Boral's range of landscaping products features tones of wheat, sandstone and mocha, all of which complement winter hues.

``These natural shades are often reflected indoors, maintaining the flow from the warm interior design through to the backyard,'' she said.

Choose large pavers around 300x300 and ensure they are low-maintenance and non-slip, particularly if they're near a swimming pool.

Boral has an Outdoor Design Guide, which you can order.

Comfortable furniture

Invest in outdoor furniture that's comfortable and that will resist all sorts of weather for the entire year.

Outdoor bean bags offer casual, comfortable seating and can be made from fade and stain-resistant materials.