Despite our famously unpredictable weather, Brits are keener than ever before to put their outdoor spaces to good use, often by introducing an alfresco dining area which can transform a previously unused space to one of the most popular areas of the home. In fact, a recent survey of 2000 people conducted by UK Estate Agents Strutt & Parker revealed that when it came to the most important factors for our dream gardens, ‘privacy’ and ‘space for entertaining’ came out on top.
This follows on from last week’s blog post, where we revealed a notable increase in sales of our Outdoor Living Pod at this month’s Grand Designs Live exhibition at Excel, London. In fact, sales for our ‘garden room with a twist’- the Outdoor Living Pod- were up by a staggering 30%, which highlights how the alfresco culture has never been so desirable with a rising number of consumers looking to make the most of their outdoor space, whatever the weather.
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This trend was also noted in a recent report by department store John Lewis, which unveiled Home Sales rose by 10.3% year-on-year this May, with Outdoor Living the star performer. In fact, Outdoor Living alone increased by an astonishing 110% compared to last year, as customers sought to make the most of being outside in the sun, with Home Accessories up by 27.8% and Furniture by a further 13.7%.
All in all this highlights a growing desire for consumers to relish the alfresco lifestyle whenever possible, and with stunning views, fresh air and sunsets to be enjoyed, outdoor dining offers a sense of time, place, and wonder that even the most intriguing of indoor spaces cannot. By bringing socialization outside and creating an attractive alfresco area with the likes of a stylish patio awning or a state-of-the-art louvered roof, charming outdoor spots can add value to any home along with plenty of kerb appeal.
