Your Home Magazine – May 2013

This month sees us enjoy the longest day of the year. With all that extra sunshine, it’s the perfect excuse to spend as much time outdoors as we can. In this issue we’ve got lots of great ideas to help you enjoy life alfresco. On page 36 you’ll find our pick of this season’s most gorgeous garden furniture. No matter whether you have a big garden or a tiny balcony – you’re guaranteed to find something that’s the perfect fit for your outside space. With more of us using our garden as an extension to our home over summer, turn to page 114 to discover how to transform your garden into the perfect space to cook, dine and entertain. Paving is one of the most practical surfaces for a garden entertaining area and, in our new-look DIY pages, we show just how simple it is to lay an eye-catching patio yourself (p.66).
If you’re planning on a budget family holiday or if you’re hoping to go to one of the many festivals held throughout the summer, take a look at our buyer’s guide to the best camping essentials on page 56 to ensure your nights under canvas are as cosy and stylish as possible. While we’re talking about camping, make sure you read George Clarke’s column this month, where he tells us how he turned a 70s caravan from drab to fab and made it into the perfect holiday home for his family (p.111). For some of us the longer, warmer evenings mean we get an extra few precious hours to tackle some decorating jobs. If you’re in need of inspiration, check out our exciting schemes on page 20 inspired by South America. And for those of you thinking of revamping your bathroom over the coming months we’ve got three brilliant makeovers to inspire you (p.24), as well as four totally different, but equally gorgeous real reader homes. I particularly like Cosima’s home on page 92 where she has used her creativity to turn a one-bedroom apartment into a fun and practical home for her family.