The interiors edit: How to create a gorgeous ‘garden room’ that looks luxurious without breaking the bank

It’s standard to have a patio set — table and chairs, perhaps a lounger — but we are increasingly looking for stylish options that offset our patio furniture and will make our gardens a ‘room’ not unlike those we enjoy indoors. Somewhere we can languish with a coffee and a book, or dinner and drinks with friends; somewhere to steal a few hours away from the bustle of family life, perhaps.

It helps to think of a garden in terms of a room, says Denise O’Connor of Optimise Design. “Homeowners are embracing them as additional rooms rather than mere outdoor spaces, but the key is creating a unified space. Using the same floor tiles inside and out, for example, makes your garden and home feel more expansive and connected.”

The good news is that many interior brands have outdoor ranges too, so you can maintain a cohesive look inside and out.

Then consider how to best make use of that space: do you want to dine outside or have a small corner to enjoy a coffee? Do you like to entertain? Do you have teenage kids who might like their own space in the garden?

When and where does your space get the sun? Positioning seating in a west-facing spot means you can enjoy an afternoon or evening drink, and a bench or lounger in an east-facing spot is ideal for a morning coffee.

Taking the time to evaluate those details can make all the difference when it comes to designing a space you can really enjoy. And stylish need not mean expensive: retailers are currently well stocked with colourful throws, cushions, rugs, tableware and outdoor furniture that is reasonably priced.

There has also been a huge leap between practicality and aesthetics, with lots of lovely outdoor fabrics to choose from. So you are no longer limited purely by functionality, and the array of outdoor furniture has moved from clunky metal or plastic weatherproof options to ones that are both durable and stylish, and that tie in with the more natural elements of the outdoors, such as teak and rattan.

Lighting, too, has evolved considerably, with plenty of well-designed solar lights that charge up during the day and come on in all their twinkly glory in the evening. Woodie’s new range of garden table lamps from their Trend Edit collection bring a little indoor style to the outdoors, as do their new outdoor cushions in colourful stripes that have a certain South of France glam.

If space is limited, consider an outdoor stool that doubles as a side table. H&M has a green metal stool/table that feels simple yet stylish, or, if you’re after a more natural look, Sostrene Grene’s rattan stool can be used indoors and out, and both are priced under €100.

Every year, Ikea is crammed with inexpensive garden gear: you’ll find everything from wooden drinks trolleys to outdoor rugs that will no doubt fit with any garden scheme.

Jysk is another Scandinavian retailer that does garden accessories well and that won’t break the bank, including a huge range of concrete, metal, wood and rattan planters to add some life to your seating area outdoors.

Pimp up your outdoor table with a colourful tablecloth creation from The Designed Table, and tableware that can be used indoor and out from The White Company.

Dining outdoors doesn’t have to mean eating off plastic — Oriana B’s Riviera hand-painted tableware collection feels summery enough for outdoors yet hardy, but if you’d prefer a more robust option, they also stock colourful melamine sets.

Nothing ties an outdoor space together like a pop of colour from a bright umbrella (H&M Home) — which, let’s face it, is more likely to protect you from unexpected drizzle than sunshine in this country — a textured rug that instantly grounds a space and delivers a look of indoors (Ikea, Rugvista, The Range) and a cosy fire pit (Outdoor Living, Harvey Norman).

All of these are easy add-ons that guarantee a hit of luxury without the luxury price tag.