How to Get More From Your Verandah

Done well, verandahs can be havens for activities as diverse as getting together with friends to stretches of quiet reflection in glorious solitude. Too often, though, they become neglected, little-used areas gathering dust and cobwebs, and the odd bike, or are only traversed on your way to the street or backyard.

Here are some ideas to help you raise your verandah to great heights.

Double its uses
Make the most of your verandah by making it work as both a dining and lounging area if you can. Comfort is key in both the dining chairs you choose and any armchairs or couches you can squeeze into the remaining space.


Create casual dining
You don’t need to splash out on expensive dining furniture to make your verandah loveable. A trestle table and an assortment of chairs can be enough to lure you outside for a barbecue, or a newspaper and your morning coffee.


Maintain its good looks
One of the best things about Queenslanders is their verandahs. Designed to catch the breeze and entice us outside, they can be simply irresistible. Without regular maintenance, however, any weatherboard home will start to look tired and lose its appeal. Mix sugar soap with water and wipe down the verandah area every month or so, and give boards and the trim a fresh lick of paint as soon as you notice it needs it.


Add lovely lighting
Gathering for lunch at this table setting is all the more enticing because of the lantern lighting that anchors the space. Imagine the area without the lights – still beautiful, but not quite as special.


Make it comfortable
Perching on a hard seat or bench is not going to make you linger for long, no matter how beautiful the weather. Mix and match patterns and colours on soft furnishings and armchairs for an eclectic and supremely relaxing escape.


Think beyond the seating
A cosy spot to sit is important, but to really make the most of your space, consider providing another element. This rustic console table adds a lovely touch, adorned as it is with orchids and items of interest. No need to put too much thought into what to display there; just choose objects and plants you love and you can’t go wrong – it’s all about the feeling it creates when you see it.


Keep it simple sometimes
With a view as good as this one, armchairs for two are all you need. The shape of these chairs adds so much magic that putting anything else on the verandah may well be too much.


Don’t be afraid to fill it
This cosy verandah is at capacity with couches, ottomans, coffee table and pot plants, but still manages to feel spacious. Sticking to two or three colours will unite the space and prevent your verandah from feeling too crowded, no matter how limited the space.


Follow the sun
It’s easy to limit your verandah vision to the front or back of the house but sometimes focusing on a corner position is the best way to make the most of the light. A corner setting can take advantage of both the morning and afternoon sun, or provide shelter from too-hot rays just when you need it most.


Enjoy every bit of it
Even the smallest of verandahs can become a sanctuary for you and those you care about. If it’s a sunny spot, or just a great location to watch the sun go down, add some simple seating and enjoy.

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