Refurbishment: outdoor rooms

Flick through any lifestyle magazine or switch on the TV and you can't fail to see evidence of the current consumer obsession with the newly termed 'outdoor room' - formerly known as the garden!

The public are turning their attention to the outdoors as a means to extend their living space and, with the media constantly tempting us with examples of 'designer living', they are keen to make sure their outdoors echoes the commitment to stylish design of any of their interior rooms. Add to this the constant plugging of the need to adopt a healthier lifestyle and the importance of dragging the kids away from the TV set or computer console and suddenly 'garden living' has become the buzz-phrase of the noughties.

But what relevance does this have to pubs?

A revival of the pub garden is an obvious solution to the smoking ban due next summer, and far from being merely a seasonal offering to bolster trade during the summer months, various heating and shelter innovations mean the public can now have year-round access to it.

And let's not forget the importance of the family trade. For many parents, a meal out at the pub with the children is a regular leisure pursuit - but young children and confined spaces don't generally mix! Pubs boasting an attractive outdoor space which offers a safe environment for children can capitalise on this family trade. This also has a wonderful PR knock-on effect, with the parent grapevine spinning into action as mums and dads happily recommend a venue which provides the all too often lacking welcome to parents with youngsters in tow.

Finally, consider the benefits of having additional trading space simply by exploiting the exterior as well as the interior of your premises. Combine this with the aesthetic appeal of an attractive garden that enhances your business's style credentials and communicates a genuine sense of being in tune with current consumer lifestyle trends, and investing in your outdoor space starts to make a lot of sense.

So what can be done to transform a dingy backyard into an inviting outdoor room? Let's be clear: it is possible to spend a lot of money creating a fantastic garden, but if you don't have a huge amount of space, nor a particularly huge amount of money to spend, don't worry - you can still achieve dramatic results.

Clever design can work wonders if you have the relevant experience and creative flair on hand. Remember, landscapers are not necessarily designers, so make sure you have a specific design for them to work to as well as the skills to achieve a quality build. Always seek out a company accredited by the British Association of Landscape Industries and make sure it is fully insured.

Plan ahead​

The best garden design and construction companies will have a bulging forward orders book, so make sure you give your contractor plenty of notice as to when you want to have the work completed by.

Get inspired by the myriad of magazines and makeover programmes focusing on home enhancement and have a strong opinion as to the type of look you are hoping to achieve.

A reputable designer will want to talk to you about the priorities for your outdoor space and, of course, the budget available. From these discussions and a site visit, they are able to draw up a concept sketch with recommendations on planting, materials, accessories and so on.

Once the design concept is approved, you should be presented with a personalised, detailed estimate and comprehensive terms and conditions. Make sure you have agreed the timings and all costs before you give the go-ahead for work to start.

Low maintenance​

Your priority is running a profitable business and it's unlikely you are going to want to have to spend endless amounts of time maintaining the garden. Make this quite clear to your garden design team at the briefing stage. Vast areas of neatly manicured lawns and flower beds may look amazing, but don't be fooled into thinking they will stay that way without a significant amount of regular work.

Grassed areas should be kept to a minimum, not only because of the mowing, but also if you want to achieve a room that is accessible all year round. A paved patio or courtyard not only looks stunning, it can make a limited amount of space look larger and you can use it 12 months of the year.

If you want to feature planted areas, consider putting down a bark chipping mulch to minimize weed growth and opt for quick-growing, low-maintenance plants.

Create rooms​

If you are looking to use the outdoor room predominantly to offer committed smokers a place to indulge in their habit, think carefully about how you are going to to make this work if, at the same time, you also want to attract the family market.

No parent is going to feel happy watching their children play in an area where people are smoking.

Hedges, trees and even willow screens can be used to divide the garden area into 'rooms' so you could create defined areas for play, eating and smoking. Ideally, you should position any children's play area as far away from smokers as possible.

Keep it hot, hot, hot​

There are a variety of innovative ways to inject some warmth into an outdoor space. To heat up a small area during the cooler months, say around tables on the patio, think about investing in a patio heater.

Alternatively, for a more dramatic heat source, a firepit or brazier is the ultimate in contemporary chic. It is equally at home at a traditional country pub or ultra-modern city bar and it doubles up as a barbecue.

Let there be light​

What you'll also need to transform your garden into an outdoor room from January through to December is lighting. Just as we vary the lighting in different rooms in a house, so lighting effects outdoors can create a distinct ambience for each section of the garden.

There will be specific areas where you need more light for practical safety reasons, for example paths, steps, doors and any water features. You may also want to consider security lighting as a deterrent to opportunist burglars.

Clever, creative lighting can be used to encourage the desired atmosphere. It can subtly enhance planting, garden features and architecture to inject a real sense of drama into your outside room.

Judy Behl is managing director of award-winning landscape design company Scenic Blue​ - www.scenicblue.co.uk​