Ah, those summer nights! All hail the season of golden hour, drinks on the terrace, lazy picnics and cosy fire pits.
As warm summer days become cool summer evenings, it’s a great idea to have something warm and soft to reach for and keep off the chill. By adding outdoor summer blankets to your garden seating area, you can stay outside longer and spend more time laughing and making memories!
The best garden ideas are those that think beyond the summer months, and make your outdoor space somewhere that can be used all year round. Read on and we’ll guide you through some options.
Cosy garden seating areas can feel like an extension of your living space, an outdoor room you can use all year round
Image: Seasons in Colour
No more soggy bottoms with a waterproof picnic blanket
Extend your picnics whatever the British weather throws at you and invest in a waterproof picnic blanket. If it’s been raining a little or the grass is damp with dew, a picnic rug with a waterproof back will protect you from the dreaded soggy bottoms!
The British Blanket Company has gorgeous luxury picnic rugs with a soft wool blanket upper, practical waterproof backing and leather carry straps. They’re designed to be reversable so, the evening gets chillier, flip your picnic blanket over and wrap up with the wool blanket against your skin. Whether you’re gathered round the fire pit or lying back to stargaze, roll yourself in blanket burrito and stay snug all night long.
Add outdoor blankets to garden seating areas, patios and terraces
Outdoor seating areas make time in the garden a real pleasure and recently, many more of us have invested in creating one. Gone are the days of basic fold-up patio sets and plastic chairs – the vibe you want is comfortable and luxurious. Treat your terrace like a garden room with comfortable padded sofas, soft lighting and warm outdoor blankets.
The trick is to style your garden seating area just as you would an indoor dining room or living space, but tweak your accessories to make them more practical for outdoors. These are a few luxury essentials for an outdoor seating area:
- Solar fairy lights or festoon lights to twinkle as the sun sets.
- Wool knee blankets (one for each guest) so they don’t get chilly.
- An outdoor rug with a bold summer pattern.
- Candles, lanterns or a fire pit to give that magical warm glow.
- Night-scented plants like jasmine and phlox to infuse the senses.
Soft cushions, outdoor rugs and a basket of blankets make this monochrome garden seating comfy and stylish
Image: Jade Doutch
The small armchair throws from The British Blanket Company are perfect summer blankets for garden seating areas. We designed the smaller size to go around the shoulders or over the knees, so you can keep snug as the summer temperature drops. Made in Britain from colourful pure wool, style them folded over the back of outdoor chairs so each guest has one to hand when the feel the chill.
Complete summer outfits with a warm and light wool wrap
I was lucky enough to spend a week in Greece earlier this summer and was so glad I took my Sunrise merino wool oversized blanket scarf with me to wear in the evenings. After sunset when the temperature dropped, it was the perfect warm but lightweight layer around my shoulders while we had one last cocktail by the pool.
An oversized blanket scarf can be worn simply like a pashmina or shawl around your shoulders. Or get creative with different styles – try these ideas for how to wear a blanket scarf. Merino wool is ideal for summer as it’s soft and warm, but also light and breathable, keeping you at just the right temperature.
