Would you like to create a unique or stylish design using our porcelain paving? We'll talk you through a few stunning designs that will look great in any indoor or outdoor space. 

Checkerboard 

Using square porcelain tiles you can create a traditional checkerboard design that will look really intriguing in any indoor or outdoor space. Start by choosing two shades of square paving that take your fancy. Colours and textures that complement each other offer a subtle checkerboard finish, while highly contrasting shades offer a bolder look. 

To create the look, lay one paver of colour A next to one paver of colour B in the pattern A, B, A, B. For the second row, start with colour B in the pattern B, A, B, A - and repeat! The checkerboard pattern will appear after only a few alternating rows are laid. Keep doing the same process of alternating colours and rows until you have covered your entire patio area.

Herringbone

To create a herringbone pattern you need to use tiles that fit a 2:1 ratio eg, the tiles are twice as long as they are wide. Here at AlfrescoPlus, we offer three different sizes of tile that satisfy this ratio:

• 45cm x 90cm tiles
• 60cm x 120cm tiles
• 40cm x 80cm tiles

The herringbone design is eyecatching and can really elevate a space without making it look too busy! You've probably seen herringbone paths and patios a million times over - they are a really popular paving pattern option. Herringbone paving can be laid at a 45° or a 90° angle, with 90° offering a more striking finished patio. Unlike checkerboard paving, herringbone patterns can be quite tricky to create, but the end results are so so worth it!

Random Stretcher Bond

If you want your paving to ooze quirkiness this is a great paving pattern design option. Using paving in an assortment of different sizes, you can really make this pattern your own. Choose varying colours and textures for the ultimate eclectic look, or choose tiles of the same shade to really tone this paving pattern down.

You could choose any size of porcelain paving from our range to create this wonderfully random pattern, just make sure that all the tiles in a single row are a similar width, otherwise, you might find awkward gaps or holes in the finished design. 

These are just a few paving pattern ideas, but the options are almost endless. You can create designs within the patio like a striking patio border or a more sophisticated design like a diamond, star or cross! Whatever pattern you choose, it will look great and last for years when you choose porcelain paving. Shop Now!

Composite decking boards are made using a combination (or 'composite') of real wood and synthetic materials. This manufacturing process results in a highly durable outdoor flooring material that looks just as good as wood, yet requires virtually zero maintenance.

Demand for this product has exploded in the UK recently, with more and more British homeowners deciding that composite decking - also known as WPC decking - is the right choice for them. If you're looking to add a composite deck to your outdoor space, you'll quickly discover that there's an awful lot of choice out there.

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To help you make your decision, here are 4 of the best composite decking products currently available from the AlfrescoPlus website:

TimberTech EasyClean Terrain+ Silver Maple

TimberTech is one of the world's best-known manufacturers of composite decking, and these stunning Silver Maple boards are among their best-selling products. The deck boards are put through the manufacturing process twice, which is what gives them that gorgeous two-tone colour

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DeckPlus WeatherDek Charcoal Decking

With its gorgeous weathered design and dark, stormy colour, this rather arresting product from DeckPlus is sure to make a bold statement in any outdoor living space.

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TimberTech EasyClean Edge Dark Teak

If you want to give your deck a slightly more traditional look, these 'Dark Teak' boards from TimberTech's EasyClean Edge range offer fantastic value for money. The boards are capped with a protective polymer sleeve, so they're highly moisture-resistant.

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EvoDek Grey Decking

If you're on a tight budget, these modern grey deck boards may be the perfect product for you. The hollow boards come with a 5-year warranty as standard, and their brushed texture gives them a great look and feel.

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If none of these products appeal to you, don't worry - there are lots of other composite decking options available here at AlfrescoPlus!

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With December 25th rapidly approaching, it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas once again across the UK.

From flashing fairy lights and tacky tinsel to inflatable snowmen and ornate LED reindeer, people across the nation are showing off their Christmas spirit by decorating their homes with all the trimmings.

If you’re thinking of sprucing up your outside space this year, why leave your decking out in the cold? Get your deck in on the action by incorporating a little colour this festive season.

To help you transform your decking area into your very own winter wonderland, here are a few Christmas colour combinations to get you started.

Brown Deck

Perhaps the most popular decking colour in the UK, the natural browns of traditional wood-look decking lend themselves extremely well to a variety of Christmas colours.

In fact, three of the most festive colours that are synonymous with the Christmas period are green, red and gold – all of which work perfectly with natural woody browns.

If you have opted for a traditional brown-coloured deck, a combining two or more of these three colours is a sure-fire way to inject some Christmas spirit into your decking area.

Meanwhile, for a more sophisticated vibe, the combination of green with rustic copper tones blend well with the browns of the deck to provide a natural, autumnal finish.

For a more unusual combination, white and brown can also work surprisingly well, providing your space with a unique and memorable festive design.

Grey Deck

An increasingly common colour scheme in UK gardens, grey-coloured decking is a popular option for those seeking a contemporary solution to their outdoor design.

As luck would have it, this colour decking works extremely well with a wide variety of cool and unusual festive colours to provide you with an outdoor décor that truly stands out from the crowd over the Christmas period.

To ensure your decking decoration leaves a lasting impression on your friends, family and neighbours, why not adorn your grey deck with complimenting shades of purple? To take that colourful experimentation a step further, bright pinks also work surprisingly well.

For a more traditional look, reds and silvers work well together to give your deck a more conventional festive feel, while adorning your decking area with gold is also a great ay to bring classic Christmas appeal to your outside space.

White Deck

Much like the grey option, the illuminating brightness of white decking works particularly well with festive reds; however, it also lends itself to a whole host of other colours as well.

To create a colder, more wintry ambience, why not decorate your white decking area with a blue colour scheme to bring an icy theme to your outside space.

For a more colourful décor, why not meet in the middle of red and blue and light up your white decking with a touch of purple?

Meanwhile, if you’re looking to take a classier approach, white and gold never fail to work cohesively. Alternatively, for a stylish monochrome finish, black is the perfect yin to your deck surface’s yang.

For the ultimate decadent décor, why not combine the two for a bewitching black and gold garnish that’s guaranteed to leave a lasting impression.

For more advice on decorative decking for Christmas and the festive period, why not drop us a line today? Call now on 0800 028 8756 or get in touch online by clicking the button below.

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When the calendar turns to winter and the British summertime retreats to its holiday home in the southern hemisphere, Brits naturally follow suit and retreat from their gardens to spend considerably more time indoors.

However, limiting the usage of your outdoor space to the summer months is not only doing your garden a serious disservice, but it also deprives you of a substantial amount of outdoor enjoyment at the same time.

With a garden room from AlfrescoPlus, you can enjoy the outdoors all year round - including the wintertime - allowing you to experience the peaceful, natural serenity of your outdoor space, whatever the weather.

Garden Rooms in the Winter

While they may be commonly referred to as “sunrooms”, garden rooms aren’t strictly reserved for summertime enjoyment and warm, sunny days.

British weather normally takes a chilly turn post-September, growing increasingly chilly from there on out. As a result, gardens become an afterthought and remain largely vacant for months to come.

However, with an AlfrescoPlus garden room, such a thermal curfew isn’t required. In fact, inside the confines of these sheltered sanctuaries, you set your own curfew and are free to enjoy the wintry ambience at your leisure.

Sheltered from the elements, our garden rooms allow you to soak up the winter scenery in the comfort of the indoors, providing the perfect blend of the best of both worlds.

Are Garden Rooms Warm in Winter?

Naturally, the winter weather typically brings with it chilly temperatures and a frosty climate that can put your outdoor plans on ice in an instant. As such, knowing that your garden room is up to the task is a common concern of many considering a garden room purchase.

Unlike a traditional veranda, garden rooms are fully enclosed to shield you from the elements, providing considerably more insulation than the open design of a veranda. However, we also offer a range of additional heating options for you to keep your garden room warm and toasty regardless of how active Jack Frost may be outside.

Heating Your Garden Room

We currently have three distinctly different remote-controlled 2kW heating options for garden rooms, including a heating and speaker combo with Bluetooth technology. With one of these, you can enjoy the festive scenery with an equally festive soundtrack in pure indoor comfort.

Meanwhile, we also offer additional draught seals for the ultimate protection against the cold, turning your winter garden room into a cosy homely hideaway. A combination of both can make your garden room the perfect venue for a truly memorable winter and magical Christmas period.

For more information on any of the variety of heating and draught protection options available or to discuss our garden rooms in more detail, why not drop us a line today? Call now on 0800 028 8756 or get in touch online by clicking the button below.

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Visit our sister site www.sunspaces.co.uk to browse our full range of garden rooms!

Bonfire night for kids can be a truly memorable time of year. The combination of thunderous sounds and spectacular sights is a veritable all-you-can-eat buffet for the senses, providing treasured childhood memories that can last a lifetime.

However, you don’t have to go to your local firework display to enjoy bonfire night in style. In fact, bonfire night at home can be just as memorable for the whole family and we’ve got plenty of bonfire night ideas to make that happen.

Bonfire Night Activities for Kids

You don’t have to create your own fireworks display in your back garden to enjoy bonfire night at home. Here are a few easy ways to bring the fun and excitement of Guy Fawkes night to your home this November.

Sparklers

When it comes to getting your kids involved in the firework festivities, few domestic activities provide the interactive awesomeness of the tried and tested sparkler.

Sparklers put the fiery fun firmly in the hands of your children, providing unforgettable childhood experiences that will last long into adulthood. However, be sure to take the appropriate precautions (more on that later).

A true staple of bonfire night, sparklers can be purchased from most corner shops, supermarkets and local garages in the run-up to November 5^th, so be sure to keep an eye out and stock up.

S’mores

While somewhat of an American delicacy, s’mores have made their way across the Atlantic in recent years, provided the UK with an autumnal helping of sugary awesomeness that cannot be denied.

Essentially, s’mores are a campfire treat that sees melted marshmallow and chocolate sandwiched between two biscuits. With bonfire night being the prime setting for controlled open flames, it’s the perfect occasion to introduce your youngster to the humble s’more.

In the US, Graham Crackers are the typical biscuit of choice; however, they are notoriously hard to find on UK shores. While you may get lucky in the “world food” aisle at your local supermarket, digestive biscuits make for a fine British substitute.

It’s worth noting that, while it can be all too easy to overindulge in this sweet treat, s’mores can also be incredibly sickly, so try to limit the binging if your kids find themselves going back for seconds or thirds.

Glow Bubbles

If you have kids that are under five-years-old, sparklers are likely to be off the menu due to the dangers involved. However, that’s not to say your younger children have to miss out on the fun.

A unique alternative to sparklers, glow bubbles can help fill the void and keep your younger family members from feeling left out. Best of all, they’re extremely easy to make!

All you need to do is get a standard bottle of blowing bubble mix that you can find in any supermarket or card shop and add the contents of a glow stick. It’s that simple!

Providing the awesome aesthetic of a glow in the dark visual with the interactive unpredictability of bubble making, glow bubbles make for the perfect safe substitute for sparklers.

Kids love bubbles; kids also love things that glow in the dark. Blending the two is a guaranteed hit!

Bonfire Cupcakes

Another great way to get the kids involved in the bonfire night festivities is to make bonfire cupcakes. Most children love to bake and putting the bonfire slant on the baking task is a great way to incorporate it into your November 5^th plans.

For this, nothing too outlandish is needed. The premise is simply to create a cupcake that’s decorated to resemble a burning bonfire.

To create the flaming wood effect, all you need to do is top your cupcakes with orange frosting and add Matchmakers sticks or a Cadbury’s Flake to resemble the burning wood.

Bonfire Night Safety Tips

Needless to say, while bonfire night can be a whole heap of fun, it can also present a variety of dangers and hazards along the way.

Sparklers in particular can be extremely dangerous if they aren’t handled with care. In fact, three sparklers lit together can burn at the same heat as a blowtorch… so, needless to say, sparklers use needs to supervised attentively.

If your children are going to be handling sparklers, always ensure they do so at arms’ length and while wearing gloves. Only light one sparkler at a time and place the used stick in a bucket of water once it has been extinguished.

Finally, don’t forget to wrap up warm this bonfire night. Remember, the November weather can be bitterly cold in the evening and standing around in the dark for prolonged periods of time can be particularly chilly, especially for kids.

For additional bonfire night safety tips, check out bonfire-night-safety.co.uk for a comprehensive list of precautionary tips. Meanwhile, for anything else related to outdoor living products, contact AlfrescoPlus by clicking the button below.

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