• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

The Interiors Addict

Heart Your Home

@interiorsaddict on Instagram   @interiorsaddict on Facebook   @interiorsaddict on Pinterest  
Subscribe
  • Job Board
  • About
  • Before & Afters
  • RENO ADDICT
  • Kitchens
  • Bathrooms
  • Kids Rooms
  • Bedrooms
  • Living Room
  • Shopping
  • Expert Tips
  • Recipes
  • Parenting
  • Travel
Interiors Addict
  • Job Board
  • About
    • Our Story

      Australiaโ€™s largest interior design, styling and renovation blog for the everyday Aussie. By former journalist and magazine editor Jen Bishop, the original interiors addict!
      READ MORE

      Weโ€™re big on Instagram!
      @interiorsaddict

      • About
      • Contact Interiors Addict
      • Work with Interiors Addict
      • Advertise / Find a job in Interiors
      • Press
      • Get Your Free Ebook

        This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
    • bookcover-jens-reno
  • By Room
    • Browse by Room

      Where you can search for all our posts about a specific room. Only interested in kitchens and bathrooms? We got you!

      • Kitchens
      • Bathrooms
      • Kids Rooms
      • Bedrooms
      • Living Room
      • Home Office
      • Dining
      • Laundry
      • Outdoor & Exteriors
      • Renting
    • bookcover-jens-reno
  • Before & Afters
    • Before & Afters

      Who doesnโ€™t LOVE a good before & after? If you want to be inspired by the whole reno process, and not just the shiny photos at the end, this is the place for you!

      View Articles

      • Before & Afters
      • Jen’s reno
      • Real Renos
      • RENO ADDICT
    • 4A9A4190Outhouse makeover: from dated and purple to stylish studio
    • AFTER loungeBefore & after: Dated brick wall becomes star of 1980’s reno
  • Reno Addict
    • RENO ADDICT

      Looking for reno inspo? Find it all here, from other peopleโ€™s projects to the latest trends, tools and products, whether youโ€™re DIY-ing or employing trades.

      View articles

      • Reno Products
      • The Block
      • DIY
      • Reno Trends
      • Before & Afters
      • Real Renos
    • BarNew Business Chicks HQ dripping in colour and print
    • BathroomIntrim style series: Naomi Findlay’s new ‘Modern Country’ reno
  • Shopping
    • Shopping

      Want to know where to buy the latest furniture, homewares, rugs, art and more? Weโ€™re always sharing our latest finds and telling you where you can buy them.

      View Articles

      • Furniture
      • Homewares
      • Art
      • Smart Home
      • Appliances
      • Reno Products
    • Hali-Rugs-x-Jason-Grant-0374Recycled bottles feel so soft in new rugs by Hali & Jason Grant
    • Screen Shot 2022-04-22 at 3.17.55 pmHow to achieve a sophisticated yet relaxed interior
  • Inspiration
    • Inspiration

      While Jenโ€™s a legitimate interiors addict, sheโ€™s no design professional, so she calls on an army of the countryโ€™s best to share their expertise with you. Be inspired by their stories too!

      View Articles

      • Decorating 101
      • Interviews
      • Expert Tips
      • Before & Afters
      • House Tours
      • Designers
      • Styling
      • Renovating
      • Real Renos
      • Covet my coffee table
    • 5-dining1-mirrorimage-smacstudioDesigner creates showstopping duplex with New York hotel vibes
  • Lifestyle
    • Lifestyle

      Weโ€™re mostly about the home but Jen also likes to share other things she thinks youโ€™ll love, like food and travel.

      • Recipes
      • Travel
      • Parenting
    • Screen Shot 2022-03-15 at 3.52.02 pmFoodie Friday: Tamari stuffed pecan dates
    • Isla-MotelHip new motel renovation on NSW South Coast
  • Jobs
    • Advertise on our job board
    • Job Board FAQs for advertisers

Back yard makeover: where to spend and where to save

February 10, 2022 1 Comment

Facebook0Pin00Email0Tweet0

By Rod Shiefelbein

The beginning of a new year is the perfect time to focus on updating your back yard. You donโ€™t need to spend a lot of money to make an inviting outdoor oasis, but it does take a little planning. With some foresight, you can create a beautiful outdoor space to enjoy for many seasons to come.ย 

Here are my top tips for where to spend and where to save. 

Jen Bishop of Interiors Addict’s own Trex deck

Where to spend?

  1. Outdoor furnishings 

If you want to create a comfortable backyard that is going to last season after season, itโ€™s important that you invest in UV and waterproof, well made furnishings that are constructed of quality materials. This will ensure your outdoor furniture, cushions and umbrella will last between our hot and wet summers.  

  1. Native plants 

While some plants are trendy, they donโ€™t thrive in every environment. By choosing to spend on plants native to your area, you know theyโ€™ll flourish and be hardy against changing wet environments. For example, I recommend planting banksia, lilies and tree ferns for humid areas like Far North Queensland and banksia and eucalyptus trees in drier Western Australia. I also suggest investing in high quality grass, as it will be in your back yard for a long time.

  1. Decking 

By spending a little more on a deck colour that looks great with brighter colours, it ensures you can update your soft furnishings without needing a new stain. For instance, I love the look of the Trex composite decking in Tiki Torch, a neutral brown timber look that works well with greenery or fiery reds and oranges. Itโ€™s also important that you protect any new landscape builds from water rot with a joist and beam tape like Trex Protect butyl-based tape. 

HGTV Dream Home 2018 in Gig Harbor, Washington

Where to save?

  1. Soft furnishings 

You can save on malleable items such as outdoor placemats, rugs and seat cushions. To easily change the feel of your backyard each season, I recommend choosing soft furnishings that are cool blues and greens for summer and warm reds and oranges for winter. 

  1. Potted plants 

Inexpensive pots can be purchased from Bunnings or Kmart and painted with your favourite colours to completely change the style of the pot and easily add a pop of colour to your back yard.

  1. Dรฉcor 

Itโ€™s worth thinking about how youโ€™ll use the outdoor area that season and the feeling you want to have when outdoors. For example, if you want to feel cosy in winter, blankets or solar-powered lights can instantly make your back yard feel more welcoming. Alternatively for summer, a portable pizza over or lawn games are so much fun and create a relaxing vibe.    

-Rod Schiefelbein is the Australian market manager for the worldโ€™s number one decking brand and inventor of timber-alternative composite decking, Trex Company. Rod has been in the Australian retail, commercial and residential building industry for over three decades.ย 

Juliet Love and Charlie Alone
Juliet Love on her new role at Better Homes & Gardens and working with Charlie
A long-time friend of the blog, we caught up with stylist and interior designer Juliet Love recently when we heard she was joining Channel 7โ€™s Better Homes and Gardens as…

Facebook0Pin00Email0Tweet0

Primary Sidebar

Popular This Week

  • Australian kitchen dimensions: standard sizes for every last detail
  • Designer creates showstopping duplex with New York hotel vibes
  • Bathroom Intrim style series: Naomi Findlay’s new ‘Modern Country’ reno
  • Palette Cam 15 apps to help you build your dream home
  • Bathroom trends 2022: experts share what’s in and out

Follow us on Instagram

This slideshow is just a snapshot ๐Ÿ˜ฏ Today's ho This slideshow is just a snapshot ๐Ÿ˜ฏ

Today's home, a new build duplex in Sydney's Dover Heights, is nothing short of incredible. Bravo 28 year old interior designer Shona McElroy of @smac_studio 

See the rest, including the statement staircase, on the homepage now. Via link in bio.

#brasspendant #statementlighting
#colouredstone #featurestone #venetianplaster #powderroomdecor 

Pix by @smartanson | Styling @clairedelmar
Always dreamed of knocking down an old shack and b Always dreamed of knocking down an old shack and building two luxury town houses but held back by a lack of cash?

It's the reality for many but @emilyosmond
And her fiance Koden teamed up with their good friend Jake to do just that, pooling their finances.

Read how they did it and check out Emily and Koden's gorgeous home, which is currently up for sale (yes, they're going to do it all over again!), on the homepage now. Via link in bio.

#propertydevelopers
#propertydeveloping
#townhouseliving #townhousedesign #melbournetownhouse #knockdownrebuild
Fridays with Charlie ๐Ÿฅฐ Tap for where things ar Fridays with Charlie ๐Ÿฅฐ

Tap for where things are from
Floor to ceiling tiles are not the only option! I Floor to ceiling tiles are not the only option!

I'm actually a big fan of the contrast you can achieve by only tiling part way as @naomifindlayofficial has here in her Carrington House reno. And she topped them with an @intrimgroup chair rail to give a finished look.

Read more about how Naomi used timber mouldings to achieve a consistent look, feel and flow between the original cottage and the modern extension on the blog now. Via the homepage (link in bio).

#greentiles #featuretile #bathroomtilesideas #chairrails #timbermouldings
Our new podcast is launching soon๐Ÿ™Œ๐Ÿป The bas Our new podcast is launching soon๐Ÿ™Œ๐Ÿป

The basic premise is getting the experts to help with the interior challenges and questions faced by our readers. And on that note, I'd love to know what you struggle with when it comes to decorating or renovating? 

Please comment below and it could become a podcast episode!

#heartyourhomethepodcast #interiorsaddictheartyourhome
It's a great time to be an interior designer! Wou It's a great time to be an interior designer!

Would you agree?

The latest @houzzau industry report found that residential design and construction professionals are very optimistic about business prospects. Interior designers and decorators were the most optimistic about revenue growth in 2022 among those surveyed, followed by home builders and building designers. 

A third of businesses reported that they were looking to hire more staff this year which is great news for jobseekers. 

The only negative finding was around the rising cost of doing business. One of the most significant factors was the price volatility of productsand  materials.

All in all though, it's a great time to be in the design industry. If you are, do you agree? Please drop us a comment below๐Ÿ™

Photo: @carlacapdevilafotografia
Boys' wardrobe makeover for under $500๐Ÿค— Anyone Boys' wardrobe makeover for under $500๐Ÿค—

Anyone else have those basic as built ins in an older house with a hanging rail and nothing else?! Not exactly great use of space or ideal for kids' clothes! 

We replaced the doors on all our wardrobes years ago but the internals behind were still pretty lacking. I recently made much better use of space in here with 2 @flexistorage flatpacks from Bunnings. They fit perfectly with easy access and 4 drawers and 3 shelves each is more than enough for kids. We attached them to the inside of the wardrobe so they're safe and sturdy.

They're $209 each and then we cut down a  brass wardrobe rail to create 2 hanging rails in between. They can even reach the bottom one themselves. I labelled Seb's too so he knows where to find things quickly.

Before this we were using those hanging shoe racks. The worst!

TA-DAH! SO MUCH BETTER USE OF SPACE!

#interiorsaddictfamilyhomereno #wardrobemakeover #diywardrobe #builtinwardrobe #budgetwardrobe #gifted

We used the Flexi Storage White 3 Shelf 4 Drawer Built In Wardrobe Unit. Swipe for the before.

Handles from @gainsboroughhardware Doors from @sydney_doors Hanging rail from @hafelehome

Save this post if your built ins could do with a makeover!
It can be all too easy to leave our kitchen bencht It can be all too easy to leave our kitchen benchtops bare and a little sterile!

But a few styling tricks with everyday objects can take the space next level and add interest, warmth and personality.

Save this post and have a go this weekend! Would love to see what you create!

More tips on the homepage now from @ecologyhomewares 

#kitchenceramics #kitchenshelfie #kitchenvignette #kitchendecorideas
The winner is @foysfolly PLEASE DM us your details The winner is @foysfolly
PLEASE DM us your details! 

GIVEAWAY TIME!

With winter approaching, is there anything better than fresh new bed linen? There is actually: new linen bed sheets AND linen pyjamas, all for free!

One lucky follower will win a fitted and flat sheet set with pillowcases and a pair of gorgeous linen PJs from @carlottaandgee worth $600!

TO ENTER:

*Follow @carlottaandgee and @interiorsaddict

*Tag a friend below and tell us which colours you're loving on your bed this winter. 

You can enter as many times as you like, tagging one friend per entry. Entries close 15 May at 5pm AEST. Australian residents only. In no way affiliated with Instagram or any other pages.
Follow on Instagram
Visit Jen's profile on Pinterest.

Get Your Free Ebook

Ebook cover

Never miss the latest renovating and interiors products, news and inspo again! Sign up for our newsletter and we'll send you the best bits from the blog, direct to your inbox. Plus you'll get our latest eBook: What Made The Biggest Impact in Jen's Own Reno.
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Avatar

About Guest Poster

If you have high quality, original, relevant content to share, we might be interested in publishing your guest post on Interiors Addict. Please email [email protected] with your submissions.

More from DIY

My DIY polkadot wall in the boys’ bedroom

How to pick the right paint colour: expert tips

The most popular Facebook groups for interiors and reno addicts

Designer skirting boards: 2022’s popular profiles

Single mum achieves amazing home makeover on a budget

Adore Home magazine: Loni Parker’s fabulous new front yard

Transform your bedroom with stylist Lucy Glade-Wright’s design secrets

Can DIY measured and installed blinds actually look good? My verdict!

Benjamin Moore paint

Popular New York paint brand launches in Australia

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Avatarvalorant boost says

    February 11, 2022 at 11:05 am

    good advice

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Footer

Interiors Addict

Interiors Addict

  • About
  • Contact
  • Work with Jen
  • Press
  • Jobs
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclosure Policy

Browse

  • RENO ADDICT
  • Jen’s Reno
  • House Tours
  • Real Renos
  • Interviews
  • Styling
  • Designers
  • Bedrooms
  • Covet My Coffee Table
  • Expert Tips
  • The Block
  • Art
  • Furniture
  • Recipes

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RENO ADDICT

Copyright © 2011–2022 Addicted Media Pty Ltd
Website care by ClickWP ยท Log in

Share this ArticleLike this article? Email it to a friend!

Email sent!