Setting Up Your Garden or Terrace for Summer: What to Buy

Once the first warm days arrive, the balcony or garden stops being a space you just walk through and becomes the place where you actually live. Breakfast outside, dinners with friends, a book read in the shade in the early afternoon. A few well-chosen purchases are enough to turn a bare outdoor space into somewhere you'll want to spend the whole summer.

Here's what to add to your list before you start.

Seating and a table: the foundation

Before decorations, you need somewhere comfortable to sit and eat.

• An outdoor table, foldable if space is tight
• Stackable chairs or armchairs
• A small sofa or a swing seat, if space allows
• Cushions and padded seating that hold up against humidity
• A furniture cover, to protect everything during summer storms

Shade and sun protection

During the hottest part of the day, a bit of shade makes the difference between a space you'll actually use and one you'll avoid.

• A garden or balcony umbrella
• A sail shade, if the space is an odd shape
• A pergola or gazebo, for those with more room to work with
• Climbing plants, as a natural, gradual solution

Plants and greenery

Even a small terrace gains a lot from a few well-chosen plants.

• Heat-tolerant plants (oleander, lavender, rosemary)
• Large pots with saucers, to avoid standing water
• Potting soil and fertiliser suited to outdoor plants
• An automatic watering system, useful for anyone heading away on holiday

Lighting for the evenings

Summer dinners tend to run late, and the right lighting completely changes the atmosphere.

• LED string lights
• Outdoor lanterns or candles
• Citronella torches
• A solar table lamp, no power outlet needed

Against heat and insects

• Mosquito repellent, spray or plug-in
• Screens for doors and windows, if the space connects to the indoors
• A small outdoor fan or a misting spray
• Natural repellent plants, like citronella or geranium

For outdoor dinners and drinks

• A set of shatterproof outdoor tableware
• Tablecloths and runners that are easy to wash
• A portable barbecue or camping stove, for anyone who wants to cook right there
• A small portable fridge or cool bag, to keep drinks within reach

One last detail: somewhere to store it all

Once autumn arrives, cushions and accessories need protecting from damp. A small outdoor storage box or a weatherproof chest saves you from having to carry everything indoors every night, and it makes the season's purchases last longer.

Organise everything with Spesary

Build your list on Spesary and organise it by phase: basic furniture first, then lighting and plants, then the extras for evenings outside. Handy if your purchases are spread across several weeks, or if you're waiting for summer sales to complete the setup.

Because the real point of summer is spending more time outside, not spending it hunting for what's still missing.