With winter now in the rearview mirror and spring right on our doorstep, it is the perfect time to start thinking about those much-needed home improvements that you've been avoiding over the last few months. 

One of the most common ways that homeowners spruce up their properties is to improve their outdoor living areas, in particular, adding a deck. Why? Well, a deck offers great versatility in its use and adds an extra dimension to your garden that is constant for years to come. 

But before you build a deck in your garden, there are a few things that you'll need to consider. Not sure what they are? AlfrescoPlus are here to help! 

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Now that Halloween is over, that time of year is fast approaching. No, not the C-word, but bonfire night! One of the few nights of the year where fireworks brighten up the night sky with beautiful shapes and colours and where family and friends gather to create huge, blazing bonfires, but are they legal and are you allowed to have a bonfire in your garden? 

With a lot of rules and guidelines in place at the moment due to COVID-19, it can be quite difficult to follow exactly what you can and can't do in regards to having a bonfire in your garden. So, to make things a little clearer, we have outlined what you can do in this blog post. Read on to find out more!

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We're living through a pandemic that's creating a lot of new pressures - particularly when it comes to mental health. People aren't used to being so isolated, and it's causing a huge spike in feelings of depression and anxiety. Alongside the pandemic, we're seeing shorter days, bad weather and cold temperatures creeping in, all of which can negatively affect people's mental health. So what can you do if you're feeling low?

If you're feeling particularly down while you're stuck in isolation, there are things you can do. These small changes can help to improve your mood and mental health.

• Have a good routine in place
• Take time for self-care
• Set yourself small, achievable goals

As a company that specialises in home and garden renovations, we know the impact that an attractive, clean and functional space can have on mental health. One of the most attractive parts of our job is knowing that people are making a positive difference in their living space when they purchase our products. Today, we want to take a closer look at the effects of gardening on mental health to show you why it's important that you get outside in nature whenever you (safely) can.

The science behind seeing green

A particular study from Growing Health, a national scheme set up by the charity Garden Organic and the membership organisation Sustain, found that spending time in any natural green space, such as your garden, can help you to relax and reduce stress levels. 

We're sure you already know that regular exercise can help you maintain better mental health. Getting out in the garden to mow the lawn, pull up weeds or play with the dog can provide you with a burst of endorphins that will instantly improve your mood. 

Bringing the garden inside

If you're isolating at home or if you're experiencing a terrible bout of wet/cold weather, then you might want to consider bringing some plants and flowers inside. Creating a green space in a conservatory (or any room in the house) can instantly lift your mood and make you feel a little more in touch with nature. 

Succulents are a great choice if you want a low maintenance green space that won't take up a ton of your time! These are available in most garden centres and supermarkets and they make great gifts for people who are feeling a little down at the moment.

Low maintenance home and garden

A great way to improve your mental health is to limit the number of stressful tasks you have to do around your home. We all know that getting motivated to clean the house can be difficult at the best of times, but doing it when you're having a particularly bad day mental health-wise can be almost impossible. 

Here at AlfrescoPlus, we offer a selection of home improvement products such as composite decking and porcelain paving, which are designed to require a very small amount of maintenance. We pride ourselves on helping people create low-maintenance, stress-free homes so that they have more time for enjoyable activities. 

READ MORE: Create a Low-Maintenance Garden with AlfrescoPlus

World Mental Health Day

World mental health day is just around the corner (10th October 2020) and we feel like this year it's going to be more prominent than ever. We really wanted to offer some help and advice for people struggling with mental health at this time of year, and we hope that this blog has inspired you to reduce your stress and get outside! 

If you have any questions about our products, don't hesitate to get in touch -  0800 028 8756. We can advise you on the best low-maintenance products for your home.

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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