One of the most desired home trends of our time, Australians’ love affair with Hamptons style continued throughout 2022. The style is not limited to interior design and also encompasses manicured green lawns, paved patios, and beach-styled outdoor settings. Taking its name from affluent American coastal towns, Hamptons style combines serenity and tranquillity with simple luxury.

Local design expert Nadine Neilson from Journey Home Interiors shares with CW her top styling tips to turn your outdoor space into a Hamptons haven.

Outdoor furniture

Depending on the amount of space in your backyard, Nadine recommends styling with iron or solid teak furniture with upholstery incorporating fabulous fabrics including navy and white stripes, pink and white, or black and white. A classic Hamptons look also includes blue and white chinoiserie pots, big white lanterns, and large, comfortable dining chairs around an outdoor table with upholstery you can melt into. If your outdoor dining space is undercover, Nadine says rattan furniture would do the trick, as more earthy or black pieces work the best for a Hamptons style.

Landscaping

A typical Hamptons garden features lush green lawns bordered by neatly trimmed hedges and featuring topiaries for ultimate privacy, says Nadine. Traditional flowers would be the quintessential hydrangea, which she says is very ‘Nantucket East-Coast style,’ and the classic gardenia. According to Nadine, Canberra ultimately lends itself to Hamptons landscaping due to the similar weather, so plants that grow well here tend to suit the style. For a 1930s Hampton look, throw in some palm trees.

Paving

Nadine recommends styling your pathways with French pattern pavers incorporating a blue stone effect. For Canberrans with heritage homes, you can still tie in the French pavers with a red brick, just ensure the pavers are a darker blue or grey colour, not a bright white. Additionally, ensure you have a tiled deck, rather than timber.

Driveway

For a Hamptons style driveway, Nadine says to match it to your paving if you can. If that’s not an option, a good alternative is bitumen with nice red brick surrounds. Otherwise, she recommends adding a gravel driveway, which is slightly more French, but she says Hamptons style can tend to borrow elements from France.

Pools

A Hamptons home is complete with a large rectangular pool glistening in the sun, says Nadine. When styling your pool, the classic Hamptons landscaping design is to have lush green grass scaling the edge of the pool alongside a tall garden wall with scattered plantings. And don’t forget the li-los!

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