As much as we may yearn for an ‘Insta-worthy’ perfect home, with a place for everything and everything in its place - when you have a hustling, bustling home filled with kids, pets, friends coming over and all the wonderful craziness of family life, that’s not always realistic. Or to put it another way, our home needs to work a little harder and juggle a few uses to find our own version of ‘made for the grid’!
In this blog, we’ll look at how to take your Verde veranda (AKA pergola or glass room) from simply stylish, to a true extension of family life. We’re not talking about giving up on your dream of a chic alfresco retreat – instead, how to blend functionality and design for real living.
Create a child-friendly outdoor play zone
With some thought and careful planning, a pergola offers a safe, sheltered spot for play all year round. Add soft outdoor rugs, small climbing frames, craft tables and chalkboard walls, and decorate using easy-clean, durable materials and soft furnishings. Our Deponti aluminium verandas are low maintenance and durable – no splinters to worry about here – and you can choose to add heating at a high level to deter little hands!
Design a teen hangout space in your veranda
Your glass room can be adapted into a teen retreat — somewhere "cool" yet close to home (side note – garden rooms are also perfect for this!). Install comfy outdoor sofas, plenty of blankets, bluetooth speakers, fairy lights and mini snack stations to create an after-school spot they’ll be proud of.
Family dining and gathering spot
Bring your pergola to life with family meals and celebrations – whatever the weather. Centre your design around a generous dining table - add an outdoor kitchen or pizza oven, install a bar serving mocktails or hot chocolate – and you have yourself a fabulous year-round hub. For an extra sprinkle of magic, turn your veranda into an outdoor cinema – set up a projector and break out the popcorn to create unforgettable family movie nights.
And our favourite tip? Combine family zones!
With a smart layout and modular furniture, you can create a space for play, relaxation, and dining all under one roof. We’re thinking half kids' play zone, half adult lounge area. Add weatherproof storage boxes to tidy away children’s toys and transform the veranda into an adults’ retreat once they’ve gone to bed!
Alternatively, nifty use of screens or standalone shelving allow you to divide your glass room into zones, allowing each member of the family some privacy, and making the very most of the space.
In conclusion? A veranda can evolve with your family as it grows - and with some innovative tweaks you can make the space work extra hard! Need design ideas? Complete our short form to create your veranda, your way. We’ll visit you at home to provide a free consultation and survey and make sure you choose the perfect pergola for your beautifully unique family life.
