With ANZ, Homes to Love is exploring the ways we live under the theme of ‘Small Homes’ – and how this trend allows us to live and build today

Owning a home with small living areas can be hard, especially with a growing family. If this is you, your courtyard could be your savior. Treating your courtyard or outdoor area like it’s an ‘outdoor entertainment room’ creates an extra living space. Decorate your courtyard in the same style as the rest of the house, in particular your living area and you’ll have a home that feels bigger than it really is.
Make sure to take soft furnishings that are similar to your inside decor all the way through to your courtyard. Go for warm earthy tones in any fabrics you choose and keep the wood dark. Those extra accessories should be classic pieces of pottery or candle holders.
BUY: Portsea deck chair here; charcoal piped cushion here; barrel planter here; folding table here; grey hurricane candle holder here; mini bucket here and throw here.
Pick one colour that you’ve used through the house and use it as the base colour for your outdoor furniture. Then you can accessorise with cushions, pots and other simple pieces in accenting colours.
BUY: Stripe cushion here; chair and ottoman here; light grey cushion here; table and chairs here; white pot here; little house lantern here
If you have a nautical or rustic/beachy style inside your home it’s easy to find outdoor pieces to match. Go for a tall table to really extend your indoor living, it’s perfect for entertaining guests. Then pick a few themed accessories to hang on your exterior walls and for decorating tables.
BUY: Small rope lantern here; 5-piece bar set here; Portsea Director’s chair here; Beach Life doormat here; anchor stripe flag here and oar here
These pieces should blend in with the outdoors, in natural beige, brown and green tones. Baskets, feature planters or screens are great for adding texture, while throws in earthy tones add a softness to the area.
BUY: Set of baskets here; Costa lounge chair here; planter screen here; citronella candle here; Mandala floor rug here and Seydou beach towel here.
Swinging chairs and hanging pots create a dreamy garden getaway feel in your courtyard. Use soft furnishings like pastel-coloured throws and floral cushions to bring the inside out for that indoor-outdoor flow. Finishing touches of a slightly rustic bird cage or outdoor artwork for the exterior wall will complete the look.
BUY: Aviary cloche here; light pink throw here; hanging chair here; ivy moss ball here; floral cushion here; rabbit wall art here.
If you’re thinking about building, buying or renovating use the ANZ home loan calculator to work out how you can achieve it. Visit anz.co.nz/homeloans for more information.