Designing a stylish and functional outdoor area all comes down to five key tips.

It’s how we turned a simple outdoor area into two hardworking and welcoming entertaining zones, featuring furniture from Koala’s Torakina Outdoor Furniture Range.

See the before and after shots above, then read on for how to create a beautiful and inviting outdoor entertaining area of your own!

Prioritise durability

Outdoor furniture cops a beating in the Australian climate, so it’s important to choose weather-resistant materials over finishes that can fade, stain, or crack over time.

Koala’s Outdoor Range of dining sets, coffee tables, and seating is made of triple-coated steel frames and durable teak finishes that will look great year after year.

The cushions are also weatherproof and stain resistant — ready to face both the Aussie weather and the chaos of family life.

Comfort is king

If you want guests to actually use your outdoor space, you need it to be comfortable.

All of Koala’s outdoor dining and lounge seats come with matching seat cushions to offer a cool and comfy seat at the table.

These cushions can be removed as desired and fold up for easy storage. And when it’s time to clean, just give them a quick hose down!

Adding some extra plush occasional cushions (like the ones we’ve selected from Bonnie and Neil) when using your outdoor area will really ramp up the comfort-factor, and make the space even more inviting. Your guests will thank you!

Play with colour

Australian gardens are often filled with colour this time of year, but in the cooler months — when leaves drop off the trees and the flowers are no longer in bloom — they can start to look a little flat.

Adding colourful furniture to your backyard is an easy way to make your garden feel vibrant year round.

Koala’s outdoor range is available in four colours: soothing green (Soft Moss), a classic cool grey (Silver Moon), warm pink (Outback Rose), and a delightful shade of yellow (Beach Walk).

Create different zones

If space permits, divide your outdoor furniture area into two zones: a dining zone, and a more informal lounging zone.

In this generous garden, we created a second, informal place to sit near flower beds on the lawn — adding interest to what would otherwise be an unused corner.

The simple arrangement and the lightweight furniture is easy to move around, creating access to full shade or a little sun with minimal fuss!

Follow the sun

To choose the best location for your outdoor seating, consider where the sunlight falls in your backyard, and at what times of day.

Dining and seating zones should have some shade or dappled protection to shield from strong sun, and if not possible, add an umbrella! We’ve gone with a sturdy option from Basil Bangs to finalise our dining setting.

Head to Koala to browse and shop their new Australian-designed Outdoor Furniture Range