outdoor

outdoor hacks for temporary renters

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The Rentovators

before and after shots of a house with steps leading up to the front door

Build a portable deck

When used properly, a deck can function as an extra room in your home. It’s a place to unwind, get back to nature, connect with your friends and housemates, and of course, throw a cracking party.

Cracked Wall

Outdoor Room

outdoor hack: add furniture to create an outdoor room

Make the space feel inviting by adding some practical pieces of furniture. For a deck that functions as an outdoor room, you’ll want some places to sit, a table to pop a drink on, and some cosy cushions for lounging. “There’s a great range of furniture and decor available now that’s designed for both indoor and outdoor spaces,” says Dan. “Synthetic rugs, weather-resistant coffee tables and waterproof cushions in neutral colours are a great place to start.

Sources Of Heat

Fire Pit Area

outdoor hack: add a little sizzle

A portable open fire pit makes a great centrepiece for a deck, recommends Dan. The shallow fire pit used to decorate the deck in the transformation video above can function as both a source of heat and light, but by adding a grill plate on top, could also become a barbecue, too. “The idea is that you could use it all year ’round,” says Dan. “A fire pit is great for entertaining in the colder months, and even better for bringing everyone together for a summer barbecue.”

Gardening is one of life’s greatest joys; it’s an opportunity to work with your hands and get back to nature, which is great for your physical and mental health. Gardening isn’t just a luxury to homeowners, though; renters can certainly go green and invest in pot plants, which can move homes with you. “Look at potted trees like olive and citrus varieties,” recommends Dan. Pot Plants

Pot Plants

outdoor hack: add greenery

Gardening is one of life’s greatest joys; it’s an opportunity to work with your hands and get back to nature, which is great for your physical and mental health. Gardening isn’t just a luxury to homeowners, though; renters can certainly go green and invest in pot plants, which can move homes with you. “Look at potted trees like olive and citrus varieties,” recommends Dan.

a wooden deck with white furniture and plants

outdoor hack: build a deck

You can actually build a temporary deck that can be packed down as easily as it went up (check out the video above to see how it’s done). “Everyone knows about modular furniture, but modular decking is taking over in a huge way. It comes flat-packed in one-square-metre frames and is super easy to erect with concrete pavers and some adjustable legs,” Dan says. “In this home, we opted for a three-tiered deck to make the most of the views from every angle of the sloped backyard.”

a small outdoor kitchen with potted plants and a mirror on the wall above it

outdoor hack: make the most of existing eyesores

Whether it’s a water tank stand or heating unit, almost every courtyard will include an unsightly structural element you simply won’t be able to move. The solution here, Dan says, is to find a nifty way to cover the eyesore right up. “When rentovating, the number one rule is if you can’t change it, cover it up.” The duo created a concrete bench from leftover cement to place on top of the stand. Now, next to the barbecue, the slab acts as an awesome bench for food prep and drinks storage.”

a wooden bench sitting next to a potted plant

Outdoor Seating Area Diy

Deck Bench Seating

Easy Deck

Outdoor Bench Seating

Diy Outdoor Seating

Outdoor Benches

Outdoor Screens

outdoor hack: create benches with besser blocks

Besser blocks have many uses, and creating a set of outdoor benches is just one way you could use them in a courtyard or al fresco area. And at around $3 a piece, they’re a super cheap building block. Kind of like LEGO for grown ups! The Rentovators created two stacks of besser blocks as the bench base before slotting in a few merbau planks of wood for the bench seat.

two wooden benches sitting next to each other on a patio

outdoor hack: cover up with outdoor screens

The best way to cover up unsightly walls and fences is with large-scale outdoor screens, says Dan. “We chose these decorative breeze brick-look screens which instantly created Palm Springs vibes in this tired courtyard.” “If you have a larger space to work with, you could also anchor the screens at the base with besser blocks and use them to separate the outdoor area and create different zones for reading, dining and more,” says Dan.

there is a white chair and table on the patio next to some potted plants

outdoor hack: lay down a vinyl rug

When you’re working to makeover an indoor space, the first thing any interior designer will tell you to do is to zone your space with a rug. Dan says the same thought process should be applied to an outdoor courtyard. “There are some beautiful synthetic outdoor rugs on the market, but the cheapest way to transform this courtyard was to lay down a vinyl rug,” says Dan. The Rentovators opted for a light shade, which instantly brightened up the space and made it feel more inviting.

there is a plant in the pot on the ground next to some bricks and plants

Rental Garden

Barbecue Area

Concrete Pots

outdoor hack: add greenery with large pots

Courtyards don’t always come with a soil bed for plants, and if this is the case for you, then the single best way to bring new life into your space is by popping in a few large potted plants. Our Rentovators know large pots can come at a cost, which is why they’ve come up with a solution you can easily replicate at home, and for the low price of around $10 per pot, too.