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.

 

winter garden rooms, garden rooms in the winter

 

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.

 

winter garden rooms, garden rooms in the winter

 

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, bonfire night ideas, sparklers

 

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 5th, 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 5th 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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Do you lie awake at night longing for a flawless floor that’s free of gaps and spaces? Does the thought of a seamless surface leave you salivating like a hungry dog in a butcher’s window?

Well, wipe up that drool and dream no more! Those aspirations can become a reality with the perfect porcelain finish of rectified tiles.

 

rectified tiles

 

What are Rectified Tiles?

In a nutshell, rectified tiles are essentially machine-finished tiles that have been refined to achieve faultless edges for a perfectly precise right-angle (also known as a “sharp edge” finish).

While regular tiles may have edges that are somewhat irregular and ununiformed, rectified tiles are specifically designed to feature a near identical finish in terms of dimensions.

 

Benefits of Rectified Tiles

The primary advantage of rectified tiles over standard tiles is that they offer a virtually seamless aesthetic appearance once laid.

The consistent design and exact proportions of each tile allow them to be laid tightly together with as little as 1.5mm grout width.

The result is an unwavering design that appears virtually uninterrupted from tile to tile, providing an overall pattern consistency that’s second to none.

 

Laying Rectified Tiles

While the uninterrupted design of the wafer-thin joins boasts a truly stunning finish, there are a few things that are worth bearing in mind to achieve the best results.

Perhaps most importantly of all, rectified tiles will still need to be laid upon a smooth and level substrate in order to offer that elusive “perfect finish”.

Placement of rectified tiles on an undulating surface that’s anything but level can result in an uneven lay and cause varying gaps as a result.

What’s more, laying rectified tiles on an uneven surface can cause lips and drops between tiles, effectively negating the “shoulder-to-shoulder” aspect of rectified tiling.

When laying rectified tiles externally, our Easy-Frame system and Pedestal Supports are ideal for providing a level surface outside with minimal effort and an option that’s well worth exploring.

 

Why Choose Rectified Tiles?

All of the tiles and pavers available at AlfrescoPlus are not only rectified but also vitrified for unparalleled durability, unrivalled water resistance and unfathomable design consistency.

With a showroom finish that’s impossibly uniform, backed by a material that’s strong enough to last, the range of hard-wearing rectified tiles at AlfrescoPlus is sure to tick all the boxes.

 

For more information on the rectified tiles available at AlfrescoPlus, why not get in touch today? Call our customer service team today on 0800 028 8756 or drop us a line via email using the button below.

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When it comes to time-saving solutions to your outdoor flooring needs, few can compare to the awesome efficiency-boosting properties of the Easy-Frame.

Providing your flooring with a supportive sub-frame, the Easy-Frame is the supreme structural shortcut you’ve been waiting for, designed to ensure your best-laid plans achieve the best-laid results.

 

easy frame

 

What is Easy-Frame?

Made from galvanised steel, Easy-Frame is a strong and reliable underfloor support that won’t let you down.

Designed to support a variety of surfaces, the versatile structure allows you to lay your decking or porcelain paving with ease, achieving a level finish without a spirit level in sight.

Featuring a unique modular system for layout customisation, the supportive frames simply lock together for a solid base that makes outdoor flooring jobs a doddle.

 

Benefits of Easy-Frame

A truly innovative addition to outdoor flooring application, Easy-Frame boasts a laundry list of benefits that go far beyond what you would expect from a simple framework.

 

Durability

The steel composition of the frame provides the highest weight-to-strength ratio of any building product on the market. Unlike traditional timber decking frames, Easy-Frame can support the load effortlessly without risk of cracks, bows or bends.

Better yet, every inch of steel is zinc-coated, providing fully-enhanced elemental protection. Not only does this make it immune to temperature changes, but also leaves it unaffected by moisture and capable of withstanding the effects of the frost thaw cycle.

 

Versatility

Whether you opt for composite decking or porcelain paving, Easy-Frame is uniquely equipped to adapt to either flooring option.

In terms of positioning and design, the frame can be installed flush against your property, should you wish to create a seamless transition between your indoor and outdoor spaces.

Meanwhile, it can just as easily be installed as a free-standing structure elsewhere in your garden if you’re looking to create a featured presentation, like a hot tub area or outdoor lounge.

 

Exclusive

Bespoke and made-to-order, each Easy-Frame is meticulously assembled off-site to fit the exact requirements of your space, ensuring your Easy-Frame is the perfect fit.

Despite being extremely sturdy and hard-wearing, each frame is surprisingly manoeuvrable allowing them to be easily transported in their assembled form right to your property.

 

Appearance

From an aesthetic perspective, the “made-to-measure” aspect of the frame provides dimensional accuracy that allows it to fit perfectly in your outdoor space, achieving a clean, level finish with minimal impact to the ground below.

Best of all, the framework can also be used to hide unsightly housing necessities like electrical wiring and plumbing pipes.

 

Accessibility

On the subject of pipes and wiring, another perk of the Easy-Frame is that it can be installed without disturbing utilities. All electric and plumbing requirements can be safely housed within the framework.

Meanwhile, the suspended nature of the platform allows such requirements to still be easily accessible, while also providing access to any on-site maintenance features, such as manholes and drains.

 

All Easy-Frame systems are bespoke and made-to-order based on the dimensions of your chosen space. If you’re interested in installing your flooring using the Easy-Frame option, get in touch today on 0800 028 8756 or click the button below to send us an enquiry online.

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