Get decked out with Zimbo’s Trading Co.

It’s summertime and the living is easy in South Africa.

Especially if you have a beautiful deck on which to relax or entertain family and friends.

Here, the team at Zimbo’s Trading, a leader in hardwood flooring solutions for interior and exterior spaces, share their top ideas for decorating your deck this summer.

Add ambient lighting

Nothing quite sets the mood like lighting. Apart from creating a festive atmosphere, it is crucial for outdoor entertaining, especially to ensure your guests have enough light to move around safely.

Drape your outside area with LED fairy lights (rechargeable solar lights are a great option for outside) or opt for hurricane lanterns with candles to create an ambience.

Create an extension of your living room, outside

Many people think that outside furniture and decor should be all about utility. And, yes, while outdoor items should be functional and durable, that does not mean that exterior spaces can’t be as comfy as interior ones.

Nowadays, you can choose between a huge range of outdoor carpets and fabrics for scatter cushions, pouffes and more to really max out on comfort outside.

Curate outdoor zones

Following “inside decorating” rules, you can also demarcate your deck area into different zones to keep it visually interesting. Think a bar area, seating area and eating space.

Add greenery

If you are not lucky enough to have a deck overlooking a large garden, greenify it by adding lots of potted plants for a softer, more natural look.

Create an outdoor cinema

An outdoor screening area is a great way to entertain this summer. All you need is a projector and screen (or a white bedsheet), and voila – your very own outdoor home-entertainment experience.