At Discounted Patios, we’ve been helping customers in the greater Melbourne region to create outdoor areas that will improve their lifestyle and outdoor entertaining. We’re known for providing excellent outdoor entertainment area ideas in Australia that make the most of our Aussie outdoor living lifestyle.
Being the experts in outdoor living area ideas and transforming backyards and outdoor areas with stunning pergolas, verandahs and patios, we get many questions from our customers about our recommended outdoor living ideas and outdoor entertainment ideas for Australian homes.
We also get many questions about the best type of outdoor living structure for different homes, lifestyles, and goals. For example, we often get asked questions like “what’s the difference between a verandah and a pergola”, “what is the best solution to provide a cool space to entertain outdoors” or “what’s the best solution for my home”. To address these questions, and give some great outdoor living area ideas, we’ve created a handy quick-tips guide.
This guide is designed to help you determine the best outdoor living structure or extension for your home. We’ll also give a few quick tips to make the most of your outdoor area with outdoor entertaining and outdoor living design ideas.
But first, in order to determine the best outdoor living solutions for you, it’s important to break down the different options, what they are, and what their benefits are.
The types of outdoor living structures & their benefits
Verandahs, patios and pergolas all can extend your home living areas, provide a space to entertain and relax in and also add value and enjoyment to your home.
The biggest differences across the different options for outdoor living structure lie in their roof types and support types. Here’s a break down of the main options and their benefits:
Flat Roof verandahs and patios
A modern, simple design that is visually appealing, flat roof verandahs, patios and pergolas are erected via steel beams and provide protection against the harsh Australian sun.
Benefits of flat roof verandahs
- Visually appealing.
- Modern and simple.
- Suit a large range of home styles.
- Easy to access for cleaning and maintenance.
Great for:
- Those who want a simple option which is visually appealing and suits almost any home design.
- A great option for almost any verandah, patio or pergola.
Gable Roof Patios and Verandahs
This is a pitched roof design, held up by steel beam structures, that gives a classic Australian style with a modern twist. This gable roof shape creates an open feel.
Benefits of gable roof verandahs
- The open feeling of the pitched roof design makes this option perfect for entertaining spaces.
- The ‘classic Australian’ look with a modern twist.
- Due to the pitched roof, they make a space feel bigger.
Great for:
- Those who want a classic Australian look with a modern twist.
- Outdoor dining and entertaining spaces – due to the open feeling from the pitched roof design.
Insulated Roof Patios and Verandahs
A weather-proof cover providing excellent insulation and a low-maintenance ceiling. The insulated roof option provides an uninterrupted ceiling finish without the usual support beams which are visible in other options. Easily incorporated into any verandah or patio, these also allow for downlights and ceiling fans to be added.
Benefits of insulated roof verandahs and patios
- Excellent aesthetics with support beams removed from the equation.
- Allows for downlights and ceiling fans to be added.
- Excellent and keeping warmer during the colder months and cooler during the hot summer.
- Excellent weather protection.
- The same benefits of a home extension, without all the effort.
- Sustainable and durable.
Great for:
- All-year dining and entertainment areas – with great weather protection.
- Those who want to be able to install downlights or ceiling fans.
- Those who don’t want support beams – for a very open feel with a great aesthetic.
- Those who want a ‘home extension’ effect in an easier, more cost-effective way.
Louvre Roofing for Pergolas, Patios and Verandahs
Electronic louvres you can open and close to whatever position you want, complete with rain sensors which automatically close upon rain detection. These can be added to flat or gable roof structure designs.
Benefits of louvre roofing for pergolas, patios and verandahs
- Position open, closed or partially closed.
- Allow for shade cover and letting sunlight in.
- Have an excellent visual aesthetic, creating a resort-like feel.
- Versatile, with the ability to be added to either a flat gable or flat roof design.
- Electronic options allow easy open and closing at the press of a button.
- Sensor options can open and close the louvres automatically based on rainfall.
Great for:
- Flexibility – enjoy the sun when it’s shining and close it when you need to.
- Outdoor entertaining that’s optimised for any type of weather.
- Those that want something a little different – and a wow-factor to impress guests.
Additional Pergola Roofing Options
Pergolas can feature roofs and can be attached to the home, but also present an option for a freestanding structure or a no-roof option. Pergolas are often built with no roof, in order to support and feature climbing plants – using the foliage from these as shade cover instead.
Great for:
- A variety of open-feel no roof design options – using foliage as shade, shadecloth and more.
- Supporting your climbing plants while creating a ‘nature-focused’ design.
- A freestanding structure, anywhere in your backyard.
- Great as garden features and relaxation areas.
Pergolas, patios and verandahs extend your indoor living space by connecting indoor and outdoor spaces
Verandahs, patios, and pergolas effectively extend your living spaces by connecting your indoor and outdoor spaces. By adding the comfort, protection from the elements and visual appeal of an overhead outdoor structure, you effectively extend your indoor living areas into your outdoor space.
There’s a reason that outdoor living is so popular in Australia, as they create excellent spaces to entertain guests, relax, enjoy your outdoor spaces and soak it all in. They also extend your living areas, which can make your whole home feel more spacious and open.
Tips to make the most of your outdoor living design: outdoor living ideas Australia
Once you’ve selected the perfect first for your outdoor living solutions and your home’s outdoor space, you’ll of course want to maximise the enjoyment and use of your new outdoor entertaining area. Here are some outdoor entertainment area ideas for Australian outdoor entertaining.
- Add an outdoor kitchen to make your outdoor living design flow smoothly for outdoor entertaining.
- Add a fire pit, pizza oven or pressure cooker or backyard rotisserie for novelty outdoor entertaining and dining. An outdoor kitchen, barbecue, fire pit and other novelty outdoor entertaining area and cooking features can really make your outdoor entertaining area special.
- Add an outdoor bar, complete with an outdoor bar fridge and bar seating.
- Add comfortable backyard seating; like outdoor lounges, recliners and daybeds so you can make the most of your outdoor area.
- Position your pergola next to your pool house to create a resort-like outdoor poolside area and provide shelter from the summer sun for pool parties and days spent relaxing by the pool.
- Add plenty of greenery, whether it’s hanging and standing pot plants, a green wall, or an above-ground vegetable garden planter with your favourite herbs and vegetables – to add a personal touch to your outdoor dining.
- Complete the look with stunning timber decking, landscaping your yard and adding some backyard design features, and focus points so that you can experience the full enjoyment of your backyard spaces.
Still not sure which is the best for your outdoor entertaining area? Our experts can help
At Discounted Patios, we are passionate about helping our customers to find the outdoor living solution that perfectly matches their home, aesthetic and ideal lifestyle. With decades of experience in outdoor living structures – including their design, construction and installation – we can help you to find the perfect fit for your home.
Want more outdoor area ideas for Australian homes? We can assist
Our friendly team are also always happy to provide you with ideas to maximise the enjoyment of your new outdoor spaces, whether that’s outdoor entertainment area ideas in Australia, outdoor living area ideas, or tips and recommendations for your outdoor living design itself.
We would love to help you find your perfect fit and maximise your enjoyment of your new outdoor area, for outdoor entertaining, rest and relaxation, family time, and sitting back with a cuppa and soaking it all in.
We also offer custom solutions and can even come to you for an onsite measure, consult and same-day quote. Book your onsite measure or get in touch with us today and create the outdoor area you’ll love.
Get expert help and an outdoor entertaining area you’ll love.
