Here at Everleigh, in the heart of Greenbank, the summer season is when our subtropical climate really stars. Families find themselves spending more time outside - entertaining, eating, and drinking in the comfort of their own backyards.

With many planning on taking a ‘staycation’ at home this festive season, we put together a few ideas to help add sparkle and staying power to your holiday haven.

Sort out your seating

With so many seating options out there, you need to ask yourself how you intend to use your outdoor space. If you’re a big fan of alfresco dining, you may opt for a more formal table and chairs.

Or if you’re all about simply relaxing outside with a good book or a drink (or both!), a seating style that allows for lounging will suit you best. Think of a daybed, outdoor couch, or a luxe sun lounger for your furnishing needs.

And if you have room to fit both a dining area and lounging area outside, go for it!

Have fun in the … shade

As much as we love enjoying the Queensland sunshine, it’s also important to be sun safe. No outdoor area is complete without some form of shade to escape the rays.

Shade solutions like a patio will likely be included in your home build. But if your backyard could use some additional shade structures, there are plenty of solutions that will do the trick (while looking slick).

Outdoor umbrellas offer a stylish and flexible shade solution, providing relief from the sun and the ability to move where needed. A retractable awning can also be mounted to a wall, ceiling or fascia to offer shade that can be rolled out as needed.

Let loose with lighting

Nothing quite sets a mood like lighting. Similarly to shade, you can include outdoor lighting in your home build with exterior wall, step and garden lights a great way to light up the night.

Additional lighting, like solar-powered string lights or outdoor festoon globes, can add a real element of magic and romance to any space.

While for more intimate settings, get crafty by creating a candle centrepiece using jars, lanterns, or hurricane holders to add some wow factor.

Get out your green thumb

We may be stating the obvious here, but the role of greenery in creating an outdoor oasis can’t be overstated. In addition to adding colour and texture to your outdoor space, plants have been shown to improve air quality, affect mood, and boost immune systems.

Assess your space to see if a garden or portable plants would work best in your area. There are pros and cons to both. Gardens in the ground have more room to move, meaning less fertiliser and water is needed.

Potted plants, on the other hand, are portable and can be moved around the area as needed to find more sunlight or change up your styling mood. Choose from hanging, wall-mounted or grow bags - you can even add castors to large pots for ease-of-use.

WARNING: an obsession with plant collecting may follow!

Show off your style

Now comes the fun part - styling your outdoor area to match your taste. Add colour and texture to your outdoor area using a hard-wearing rug, cushions, and table linen. Don’t forget to reference your interior style through materials and tones when choosing your items, to give a sense of consistency throughout your home.

Think about how your family likes to use outdoor space and cater to that - quirks and all. Active families might choose to have a bocce set on hand, entertainers would relish a decked out drinks cart, while those with a pool could adopt a giant inflatable swan to nail their outdoor style.

Get plenty of inspiration and ideas for your outdoor area from Queensland’s best builders at the Everleigh Display Village. Visit our Display Village page to view the opening days and times of each builder, or to have a virtual browse.