When a lot of people think about having a bigger veranda they think of extending it out into the garden. This is a viable choice but it does take up a lot of garden space and you might not be willing to give up such a big part of your lawn.

But is there any other alternative?

Fortunately there is, and it can really enhance your home beautifully as well. The other method is to extend your veranda so that it runs along the whole of the rear of your house. In fact it can be over six metres in length if you wish. It can also extend around the side of your home, perhaps incorporating a carport for extra versatility if you don’t have a garage in which to keep your car.

There is nothing quite like the look of a long veranda in this style. The middle section can be curved if you wish to make it appear even roomier and more inviting, and yet it will still keep the sun and the rain off as you relax underneath it.

An extended veranda will also be very appealing whenever you invite friends and family over for a barbecue. Instead of having everyone huddling under one single area of roof, the feeling of space offered by an extra long roof allows everyone to relax and spread out. It also works well if you have a small back garden and you don’t want your veranda to impose too much on it.

It is also more practical when you are gardening. You can keep the entertaining area at one end of the veranda, while practical tasks can be done elsewhere. If you normally have to stop gardening and putting plants in pots when it is raining, you won’t have to do that once you have a veranda like this attached to your home.

As you can see the possibilities of having a full length veranda are endless. And you can have an extension added to part of the length if you wish as well. This means you could allocate one specific area for dining and relaxing in, which would only extend part of the way into your garden.

It is certainly important to sketch out some ideas on how the extended veranda would work best for you. Some people even extend it round the side of their house, but this does obviously depend on how much room you have to do so. If you have a side door it can be a real benefit though.

So think carefully before you decide on what you want. The extra time you take will be worth it.

The trick is to design what you would ideally have and then confirm whether it is possible with whoever is going to build it for you. Sometimes there may be limits on length or size that need to be borne in mind with verandahs, so adjustments may need to be made.

Before you get to that stage though, it’s good to think about your needs and what you think you will use the veranda for. Do you often use your garden for entertaining and you would like to enhance it in some way to make it even more practical? While we would all like to have a garden which constantly has the sun on it, it can be a disadvantage too if you have no shade at all to make use of during the summer months.

Think about shape too. Your veranda doesn’t have to be a boring square shape! Do you have the room to run it the whole length of the back of your house? Perhaps going for this idea, along with adding an extra large section in one particular area for entertaining, would work well in your garden? Sketch out some ideas and give yourself – and your family, if appropriate – some time to decide what would work best for you.

You should also think about the size of your garden as a whole. How much of that garden are you willing to give up to building a veranda? This is more relevant if you have a small garden, since a big one will be able to take a larger section of veranda jutting out into it if that is what you want.

And of course you shouldn’t forget style. A simple flat roof might be just what you are after – something understated and simple, and yet elegant at the same time. But if you still want the choice of getting some sun and air through to your veranda, you could choose a sunroof instead which lets you open the roof up whenever you wish. This model also closes whenever it starts to rain, so you don’t need to worry about staying nearby if the clouds start to roll in!

But of course if you fancy a more elaborate design you may decide to opt for a gable end roof that adds more style to your home. It’s entirely up to you but certain designs do tend to look better on verandas of a certain size.

The moral here is to think about what you want and then take the practical advice of a professional as well. That should enable you to end up with the perfect design that you have always wanted.

But you don’t have to follow this pattern if you plan for the winter with a little more thought. There’s no doubt that you won’t want to be outside on a particularly wet and windy day, but you can use your outdoor pergola or whatever space you have more often than you might think.

For example, you might find you can still enjoy some time sitting outside with a good book when the weather allows it, even if it is still quite cold. Plan your time outdoors to coincide with the better breaks in the weather and stay wrapped up to get a good blast of revitalising fresh air.

And even when you don’t go outside you can make sure your verandah still looks stunning by adding a number of winter plants to the area. Find out what plants and shrubs will flourish under these conditions and plant them at just the right time to get the best effect.

We tend to think of bright flowers and colourful borders as being something that is unique to the summer, but it is quite possible to have a colourful garden all year round once you know what plants to use.

You can also enjoy your verandah in other ways as well. For example, why stick to having dull plant pots everywhere? You could use outdoor paint to give them a fresh lease of life. A good mix of colours will allow them to add interest even when there aren’t too many flowers blooming. Basically, if the plant is green and has no flowers, balance out the look by putting it in an eye catching pot instead!

And don’t forget the possibility of buying a patio heater as well. These are relatively inexpensive and if you like spending as much time outside as you can, then it will definitely be worth the investment. You may still find there is less time to spend outside during the winter months, but you can certainly make the most of the time you do have.

Another option is to set up a chair next to the window or doors that lead out onto your veranda, and spend some time thinking about how you will revitalise it when the weather gets warmer again. Research those summer plants and plan a timetable so you can get outside and start planting out some new shrubs as soon as the weather allows for it. Even this activity is surprisingly enjoyable and you can do it even if it is raining all day!

So you see you can still have great fun with your outdoor space even when the weather doesn’t allow it. You might just need to change your perspective a bit, that’s all. But it’s certainly worth the effort!

If you have decided you want to add some flowers and plants to your garden, the best way to start is by visiting your local garden centre. There will always be helpful staff on hand to give you the assistance you need, so don’t be afraid to ask for help. Just let them know you are a beginner and you want something that is easy to maintain.

It is no secret that a veranda or other outdoor space can look sensational when various different plants are added to it. They certainly soften the overall look beautifully. Don’t aim for too much to begin with though; start with just two or three plants and see how you get on.

The best plants to try will vary depending on several things, including where you live, the type of soil you have in your garden and what type of weather you generally get. You also need to bear in mind which direction your garden is facing in, since this will affect how much sun it gets during the day in the summer months.

A good idea is to write down the answers to all these points and take them along with you when you go to buy some plants. That way the staff at the garden centre will know what to recommend.

Alternatively, you may want to liven up your patio with a number of pots instead of trying to fill an entire bed with plants. This is probably the easiest way for the beginner to get started. You can always move the pot if you need to in order to give your fledgling plant a better chance of finding the spot it really likes in your garden. In this case you can buy the type of soil your particular plant will like the most, instead of relying on what your garden can give you.

Think about choosing perennials if you can, because they will last longer and be more fulfilling for you initially. A good perennial may be a part of your garden for three years or more, whereas an annual will only be there for a few months. Perennials will give you the chance to tend to them and nurture them, improving your gardening skills and making your fingers a little greener than they would be otherwise!

Any garden is a learning experience, and you shouldn’t be too hard on yourself if your first few plants wither away and never really come to anything. Avoid going for the hardest tasks first and don’t try and grow anything from seed; there will be plenty of time later on for that!

We’ve all been out shopping and spotted something for the garden that we really like, and so we buy it on the spot. Unfortunately we haven’t taken the time to measure it or really think about where it will fit in! The best way to make sure this doesn’t happen to you is to plan your furniture carefully before you buy it.

The first consideration is how big your garden is. Do you have more than one area that you could use to place furniture in? Some people like to save their bigger pieces of furniture to use on their veranda or patio, as well as keeping another area of their garden free for something a little more intimate and peaceful.

In this case you might find that instead of going out and buying a brand new large garden table and chairs, what you actually need is a small bistro set for the bottom of the garden. By considering what your needs are you will find it much easier to organise your furniture in a way that will ensure it is used much more often.

The main rule is not to buy anything else until you know exactly what you have at the moment. If it helps, bring every single piece of outdoor furniture you have into the middle of your lawn – you might be surprised by how much you really do have! This is particularly the case if some items are kept in storage during the winter, or for most of the year. It isn’t uncommon to forget about some items altogether.

This exercise can also help you to see how various items fit in with the layout of your garden. For example, if you have fences all around the edges of your plot and you have stained them all green it might look a little odd if you have another shade of green furniture that clashes with it. Consider placing it elsewhere or re-staining the furniture if you can.

Don’t forget about other items of garden furniture as well, such as statues or bird tables. These all count towards the final look of your garden and you might find that the little oasis you are planning with that bistro set at the foot of your garden looks even better with a bird table placed nearby as well.

You should always consider all your options before arranging or buying new furniture for your garden, even if that means putting it in different places to see how it looks before making your final decision. This will take some time to do but the end results are well worth it, because you will end up with a garden that you love to be in.

But if you are fairly new to the idea of dining outside, how do you really make sure it goes with a swing?

Let’s assume first of all that you will be accepting your guests during the early evening. That means it may be light when they arrive, but dark by the time the meal is finished. Lighting is therefore a top concern, as you don’t want to be caught out running around trying to find some candles while the sun is going down!

Choose some elegant candles of a colour that matches any table linen you are using; white or cream always looks good if you are unsure. It also pays to choose ones that have a long burning life. Cheaper candles don’t tend to last as long and you don’t want to be up and down replacing them the whole evening.

If there are children present make sure the candles are well out of reach. The same applies with any patio heaters you might decide to use if it has a tendency to get a bit chilly as the evening wears on.

When it comes to the cutlery and crockery, some people have a separate set that they only use for outdoors. If you see this as a good excuse to treat yourself to a new set, then a simple white china design will always be a classic as far as style is concerned.

You also need to think about protecting any food from flies or midges, or any other flying insects that are about. If you are bringing the food to the table make sure you use covered dishes; glass lids are ideal so people can still see what’s inside. This will apply to both hot and cold food, and using a food warmer or hot plate to keep the hot food nice and warm during the meal is a great idea.

Obviously the best setting for a spot of outdoor dining is on a veranda or patio close to the house, since you will be able to bring food outside without having to walk too far to do so. Plan the practicalities of the meal in plenty of time so you can buy anything you need and set the table accordingly. There is nothing worse that having to rush round at the last minute trying to find what you need.

And of course once the table is laid and the guests have arrived, all that remains is to enjoy the good food you will be cooking. Make sure you plan your menu ahead of time and make anything that can be cooked and kept the day before if possible. It will give you less work to do on the day, and more time to enjoy the event itself.

If ever there was a better reason to have a carport installed at your home, we’ve yet to find it. Just imagine being able to drive home in the pouring rain and pull into your driveway and under the shelter of your own carport. You could take your time in getting the shopping out of the car and into your home without having to worry about what the weather is doing – or how wet your shopping is getting in the process.

There are certainly plenty of advantages to having a carport, and this is just one of them. If you normally park your car in your driveway or even in the road outside your house, you will find a carport to be more practical for your needs.

It is also better than having a garage as it is far more versatile. Everyone knows that garages are a haven for everything you cannot store anywhere else, and the last thing you will find in many of them is a car! While the intention of a garage is to provide shelter for your car you will often find you don’t have room to park it in there at all.

A carport can also be fitted into areas where a garage wouldn’t be practical. Because the walls of a garage have to be a certain thickness and the width of the door also needs to be taken into consideration, a carport is often a much easier choice to go for. It can also be put up in a much quicker time than a garage.

It’s a wonderful way of protecting your car against the elements as well, and yet it can still provide easy access from the front of your home to the rear if you have children who are constantly going in and out.

And it can have other uses too. If the car isn’t parked there it can provide a shelter from the sun during the summer, if the back garden is too hot to sit out in. What’s more, it can provide much needed extra outdoor space if you are having a party and the house is heaving with people! With tables and chairs set out underneath the shelter of the carport you can really make the best of the space you have.

There is no doubt that carports have a real attraction that garages just don’t have. The light and airy feel of them keeps the side of your house free from having a solid structure attached to it, and yet your car can still be protected and kept out of the sun and rain.

So why not consider having one added to your home today? It’s a decision you won’t regret.

There is no doubting the advantages of having a large outdoor area that is designed for people to relax and enjoy themselves in. And you can of course combine a veranda with a patio if you want to cut down on the size of the lawn you want to mow!

There is no reason why a big veranda and patio layout should overwhelm your garden if you plan it right. A home patio area extending out from your veranda – or perhaps even in a different area of your garden altogether – can look stunning, especially when you soften the look of it with some clever planting.

People also tend to assume that a patio has to be right next to the house, but that isn’t necessarily the case. A verandah is certainly better off in this position. Some of them can be freestanding but other designs do need to be supported by being attached to another building.

So why not have your verandah extending away from your house and feeding onto a path that leads to a patio area elsewhere in your garden? This idea is becoming more and more popular and allows the garden to become more pro-active. After all, how many of us never venture too far away from the house itself?

If you build a big patio area at the opposite end of your garden you will be amazed at how much you will want to use it! If you can make sure that the placement is in a shady or cosy area that is partially sheltered by trees, then you will really notice how lovely it feels to sit there.

Remember though that big outdoor areas like this demand more outdoor furniture. Don’t assume you will be happy to pick up that heavy sun lounger and cart it to the foot of the garden every time! If you are investing in more practical areas in your garden, make sure you invest in the right items to enjoy them to the full as well.

When you are thinking big in this way, it’s a great idea to get the rest of the family involved as well. How would everyone else be likely to use the garden? If you have children you may want a specific area elsewhere that is uniquely theirs to play in. Alternatively having a much bigger veranda may be a better option because it will mean they are playing much closer to the house.

As you can see there is a lot to think about whatever size veranda you want to go for. In the end, even if you have a relatively small garden you can have a larger veranda or patio area to bring out that cosy feel and to turn it into somewhere you will want to spend a lot of time in.

It’s true to say that you may be limited in some way depending on the size of your property and the way it is designed, but for the most part you will have plenty of choice in the final structure and how it looks.

Most people assume that they can only have one structure and they need to decide between them, but this isn’t necessarily the case. For example the Heritage design can equally well be used for a carport as it can for a covered entertaining area outside. So if you have the room, why not get a carport added to the side of your home and a separate verandah added to the rear?

This can give you an extremely versatile space to use. While the carport will obviously be used to park your car (or cars, depending on the size) in for most of the time, if you decide to hold a party or celebration of some kind you can park your vehicle on the street and then use the carport for part of the celebration as well.

A home pergola is another great example of how to utilise one area of your home in a more cosy and private way. Let’s suppose you have room at the side of your house as well as at the rear. You could have a small pergola added to the side to give you a private area for relaxing in on your own – perhaps potting some plants, reading a book, or simply laying back on a sun lounger and enjoying a few stolen moments of peace and quiet.

With this taken care of you can then add a much larger structure to the rear of your house which can be used by the whole family. This type of verandah or patio area would provide an area to socialise and to relax and perhaps have parties too – so you will always be able to use it in a number of ways.

And then when everyone else has gone home and you have your house back to yourself again, you can sneak round to your beloved pergola and sit back and enjoy a nightcap in privacy. What better way to make good use of the exterior of your home?

So you can see, combining designs when you are thinking of adding structures like this to your house can be an excellent idea. Not only can it give you the option of creating more than one area to enjoy for different reasons, it can also provide you with extra outdoors space that you probably wouldn’t use as much otherwise. Just think of that small space down the side of your house. Would you use that more often if you turned it into a small pergola? Of course you would.

So think about your space carefully when you are deciding which structure to add. It might be a lot more versatile than you think.

There is a lot to be said for enjoying more time outdoors. For starters it can relax and calm you like nothing else can, and even if you have only a small garden the addition of a patio area for seating will encourage you to use it and make the most of it. The peaceful sounds of a garden with the breeze rustling through the trees and birds calling to each other can give you an oasis of calm to enjoy at any time of the day.

But of course you can get great exercise in the outdoors as well. Simply working on your garden from time to time to get it looking just how you want it to look is a wonderful idea, giving you plenty of fresh air and exercise that will lead to a great night’s sleep at the end of a good day.

When you are thinking about how you could enjoy your garden, think about whether a house veranda might improve the versatility of your space. Some gardens get the sun all day, but in very hot weather it can make them unbearable to sit in. If this is the case in your garden, a veranda could make it much more usable because you are assured of some shade whenever you need it.

Outdoor living in this sense is also more sociable. If you have a nice garden with a cosy patio area you are much more likely to invite people round to have a small barbecue or a drinks party. You may be looking at your garden now and thinking that you could never get it looking nice enough to become the ideal outdoor space, but with some thought and time you can discover how best to use whatever space you have to make it inviting and relaxing – in short, a real haven right outside your back door.

If you have a stressful daily routine then making the time to add a patio or a veranda to your property would really give you somewhere to relax at the end of every day. You might think you couldn’t do it in winter, but with the addition of a patio heater or perhaps a fire pit you could still enjoy some fresh air and wind down time on the majority of days. With a nice covered veranda you would still be able to smell the cool fresh aroma of the rain as it comes down – without getting wet in the process!

As you can see there are plenty of benefits to incorporating some outdoor living into your life, and no matter how large or small your own outdoor space is, there are plenty of things you can do with it to make it look and feel sensational every day of the year.