A Guide To Outdoor Accessories

We’ve been enjoying the sunshine lately, but we’ve also had the realisation that our gardens need a little prep to get them more habitable during the warmer days. By using outdoor lighting and garden accessories, we can transform our outdoor spaces. Invest in some garden furniture and garden accessories to create a welcoming environment that offers practicality and style in abundance.

Read on for the Black By Design guide on how to get your garden ready for summer, with some takeaway exterior design inspiration that you can recreate in your own garden!

Creating a tranquil outdoor space to relax

Grabbing the last bit of sun after a busy day can be the most tranquil experience to be had during the summer season, and any way that we can boost this relaxing time should be explored. Firstly, we believe that a comfortable yet attractive outdoor seating option should be invested in to help you get the most out of your time outdoors. The Harting sofa with cushions from Garden Trading offers a comfy place to enjoy a book and a glass of wine before dusk with it’s generous 3-seater size, classic rattan finish and contemporary charcoal grey cushions. This outdoor sofa can be positioned in a sun trap on a patio or opposite an outdoor table for optimum sunbathing, eating and drinking combination.

Add to the magical atmosphere of the sun going down by opting for subtle yet effective outdoor lighting that can keep your garden looking welcoming long after the night begins. Our outdoor lighting range features some wonderful outdoor lanterns, wall mounted exterior lights and candle holders to help create some outdoor ambience. Not only can outdoor lighting be practical, their dutiful presence can mean you can entertain in your garden for much longer!

For a wonderful outdoor table centerpiece addition, we recommend a storm lantern from LSA International. The simplicity of their design works wonders, and with their conical shape and contours and stable wide base, an LSA International flared storm lantern will look stunning in both traditional and modern settings. The LSA International Lotta Lantern with ash base takes us back to its organic roots with it’s elegant natural wood finish and simple design.

Lighting up various areas of your garden can maximise the illusion of space during an evening of outdoor entertainment, not to mention how pretty soft lighting dotted around the edge of a garden can look. An outdoor lantern with convenient LED wax candle from Sirius can provide such a beautiful night time look. Place on ledges, outdoor shelves, or just place several lanterns alongside a flower bed for a soft flickering light from a Nordic inspired designer lantern. The Sirius Aske lantern is suitable for both outdoor and indoor, and features 20 LED bulb battery operated fairy lights. With such a contemporary design, this Sirius lantern can be placed anywhere to reap the benefits of it’s delicate lighting, without worrying about blowing out a candle!

Picnic treat with the kids

After a warm day at school, why not treat the kids to dinner in the garden? With our range of wonderful picnic rugs from heritage brand Tweedmill, you can ensure their comfort whilst they enjoy their sandwiches and picnic snacks. Not only do Tweedmill picnic blankets and picnic rugs look fabulous in their various designs, they’re practically made with waterproof backing and convenient webbing straps and carry handles for easy storage! Pick your favourite picnic blanket pattern, from classic tartan to stylish herringbone in a range of colour combinations to get their picnic off to a great start.

Preparing the garden for entertaining

If you’re a master of the barbecue and can’t wait to show off your grilling skills, or you’re looking forward to inviting a friend round to share a bottle of wine after a long, sunshine-filled week, there are plenty of stylish garden furniture that can improve these encounters for you.

A great garden table should be able to fit in with your aesthetic, be weather resistant and reliable, but most importantly, it should be able to house your favourite tipple! Here at Black By Design we love the St Mawes Round Drinks/Planter Table from Garden Trading in reclaimed teak wood which has a brilliant metal ice bowl in it’s centre – perfect for storing cool drinks. Built to last, this garden table is stylish and impressive with it’s ability to transform any outdoor patio area.

Pair your garden table with a few Driffield chairs, also from Garden Trading, which are extremely hardwearing with their rattan and showerproof cushion materials. Store away when not in use and bring them out at the first sight of sun this summer. Perfect for outdoor dining, these garden chairs are comfortable and practical, making them a welcome addition to your garden this summer season.

Barbeques are such a great way to bring family and friends together to enjoy the good weather. Fingers crossed that this year there will be plenty of sunny days to lure us out into the garden. Instead of dusting off an old barbecue, why not treat yourself to a brand new, state of the art charcoal grill from Eva Solo? We stock a selection of the Eva Solo barbeques that are a simple yet versatile way to enhance your outdoor entertaining experience. The Eva Solo barbecues are sleek in presentation and perfectly compact. Made from stainless steel, the coal bucket sits below the cooking grid and after use it can be simply lifted by the handle for emptying. Spare charcoal can even be stored underneath it!

After dark, what better way to while away the time with a loved one or friends than to sit around a fire pit? The Garden Trading Kadai Fire Pit & Barbecue with detachable stand is a garden essential. On this excellent wrought cast iron fire pit you’re able to build a feast on the barbeque for your guests, then transform it into a warming fire pit to keep everyone warm when the sun goes down. Extra points if you provide skewers and marshmallows for a tasty after dinner treat.

So whether you’re planning a summer season of barbeques with friends, or some lazy afternoons in the sun with a good book and a G&T, here at Black By Design we have everything you need to create the perfect garden. From garden furniture to outdoor lighting, there are so many ways you can get your garden summer ready!