If the autumn season is your favourite time of the year, read on to discover some of the best UK places to see autumn colour in October.
We’re very lucky in the UK to have a great variety of deciduous trees, and our autumns can be spectacular with shades of red, yellow and orange.
Deciduous trees are those that lose their leaves in the winter (unlike evergreens which keep theirs all year round). As the temperatures drop, they start to shut down the photosynthesis process to retain their natural chemicals over the winter.
The manufacture of chlorophyll slows down in cold weather, and as that dominant green colour is no longer on the scene the other chemicals that were being hidden start to show. These include carotenoids (orange), anthocyanins (reddish purple) and flavonols (yellow). Each species has varying amounts of each chemical, which defines how red/yellow/orange the leaves go in autumn.
10 Best UK Places to See Autumn Colour
We’ve put together a list of 10 of the best UK places to see autumn colour in October.
Home to 2,500 different species from the far corners of the globe and 5 national tree collections, Westonbirt is a delight to visit at any time of the year, but is perhaps best known for its spectacular display of autumn colour. The diversity and vibrancy of leaf colours to be found at Westonbirt are unsurpassed in Britain creating a botanical experience like no other.
Covering an area of almost 630 hectares at the foot of the Mourne mountains, Tollymore Forest Park has panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and the sea at Newcastle. It’s open to the public all year, so take a trip here in autumn if you’re in the area.
With hills, water and classical architecture overlaid by a fabulous collection of trees and shrubs, Stourhead was described as ‘a living work of art’ when first opened in the 1740s. Meandering paths offer vistas through trees to classical temples and surprises at every turn. The fiery reds and shimmering yellows that frame the lake and classical buildings are an unmissable treat during autumn.
Nestling in a beautiful valley with a bubbling stream, Cardinham Woods covers 650 acres and is bursting with opportunities to explore. It’s an essential location to visit and one of our best UK places to see autumn colour.
When the leaves start turning, the National Park becomes cloaked in dramatic autumnal hues of red and yellow. It’s a fantastic time of year to get outside and explore the scenery. Whether you prefer wildlife watching, sticking to a well-trodden trail or pursuing your own path, there are plenty of opportunities for an autumn adventure.
With more than 200,000 acres of woodlands, which include more champion trees than anywhere else in the UK, Perthshire is Big Tree Country. Together these create Scotland’s most spectacular trees and woodlands, where there are lots of different experiences to discover and enjoy. Perthshire Big Tree Country is one of the best places in Scotland for colour this autumn.
Credit: Billy Stock / Shutterstock
Behind Cardiff Castle just a short walk from the city’s main high streets and civic centre, Bute Park is the green heart of the city. Explore a superb tree collection, natural play features, a visitor centre, three cafes, and a wealth of horticulture and wildlife.
Glenariff, the Queen of the Glens, is one of the nine Antrim Glens in Northern Ireland. Glenariff Forest Park covers over 1,000 hectares with planted woodland, lakes, outdoor recreation spaces and conservation areas.
Breath-taking views, stunning artwork and endless forest trails, come and discover all that Grizedale has to offer. Explore the forest on two wheels, foot or horse back and keep your eyes peeled along the way for unique sculptures which are dotted throughout the forest. Open every day, dawn to dusk.
In recent years, most homeowners have installed custom metal garages on their properties. One of the most common form of garage installed or built are steel garages. These garages have various advantages over old wood garages. For one, they can last a lifetime when cared for properly.
Furthermore, steel garages have traits that distinguish them from traditional wood garages. They’re cost-efficient, you can optimize energy consumption, they’re more environmentally friendly, can save you time, and are pest free. These unique characteristics make metal garages wise additions to any property. Additionally, when you buy a prefabricated steel building kit, your garage will be ready to be assembled the day it arrives.
People install metal garages for differing reasons – and often not just for storing a car in! Whether you’re looking to have a new garage, or spruce up your old, unused garage space, this article highlights nine ideas for designing and reviving the use of a metal garage.
1. In-House Gym
Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, people learned how fitness and health care are critical to improve their quality of life. If you own an unused metal garage in your home, you can customize it and convert it into a home gym. You don’t need to splurge on expensive equipment. You can start with the basics first like a few dumbbells or kettlebells and a weight bench.
Converting your garage into a home gym can also save you money you might spend on a gym membership. However, you’ll need a professional architect to help you design your home gym, especially if you’re changing the structural side of your garage.
2. Man Cave
A man cave is a safe space in your home where you can enjoy your free time or strategize plans to help improve your life. Your garage is the perfect potential man cave to find time out of your daily professional life, enjoy your leisure time, and follow your passion. A man cave is essential for men to meet, unwind, and share their experiences away from daily activities.
3. Workshop in a Metal Garage
Modern garage interior
If you require a dedicated space in your home to work on your car, your garage should provide enough space to establish a workshop. That’s why you probably built your garage. However, you can do more than just fix and upgrade your car in your garage. You can turn it into a workshop for all your woodworking, home improvement, or upcycling projects.
One advantage of metal garages is you won’t worry about bumps and nicks ruining your space. You can even bolt your tools and equipment to the walls to maximize your space. With a little creativity, you can customize and turn your metal garage into a fully functional workshop.
4. Home Office
Many businesses have adopted a work-from-home setup in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. That way, they reduce office interaction, cut a significant amount of rental and other expenses, and help stop the spread of the virus.
A well-customized metal garage is a perfect space for a dedicated workplace. Besides, if you want a storage space for your essential documents, you can get garage cabinets to store just about anything you need for your home office.
5. She Shed
A she shed is similar to a man cave. It’s a safe place where ladies go to spend their time away from the real world and re-energize. She sheds are perfect for finding comfort and leisure after a long workweek. They can use this space to organize get-togethers and spend their time together relaxing.
6. Additional Storage Space
When you want to declutter your house, you can always customize your garage to accommodate more of your household items by creating additional storage spaces. Whenever you want to find all the items you’ve stored, you can easily retrieve them from your garage, especially with customized storage compartments.
7. Kids’ Playroom
Installation of a new garage with metal elements in the garden
Kids like to play, and they need all the space they can get to run, jump, and just be kids. You can overcome this problem by converting your garage into a play area for your children. It gives your kids a safe space to unwind from school work and creates an ideal play area for them to enjoy and play under your surveillance. But make sure to child-proof your garage first!
8. Online Classroom
Digital learning is the way to go in this century. However, it requires learners to have complete concentration and focus on their studies. That might mean upgrading your current broadband plan or you or your child’s device. But in terms of space, you can convert your garage into an online classroom and equip it with learning materials. Make sure you also soundproof your garage as sound can pass through metal easily.
9. Home Cinema
If you’re a cinephile, converting your garage into a home cinema might be your next project. Watching your favourite films with all the creature comforts in your home is the next best thing to watching a movie in a cinema. Again, make sure you soundproof your metal garage properly though. You don’t want to disturb your neighbours or let your neighbours disturb your viewing experience.
Conclusion
These are some ways to customize your metal garage today so you don’t let this investment go to waste. Get started with your next customization project to utilize the extra space you have in your garage. If you’ve already got into it but are unsure of the design, you can work with experts for professional help.
BOO! Did I scare you? If not, this might give you a fright: it’s almost October, which means it’s almost time for Halloween! Now that’s truly terrifying. Halloween is one of the most fun holidays to decorate for, and there are so many ways you can celebrate. Whether you prefer creepy crawlies, or more glitz and glam, there’s no end to the DIY Halloween decorations you can make to adorn you home – inside and out! Here are a few of our favorites. Prepare to be spooked!
7. All you need to create this unnerving look is a little bit of construction paper and some double-sided tape, and you can give your existing images a fresh, soul-less look.
13. Modern wall art transforms into a geometric spider web, thanks to spray paint. Turns out you can create DIY Halloween decorations out of any old thing!
22. Make DIY Halloween decorations using things purchased at the Dollar Store, like this vase of skulls! There are lots of other affordable ideas on this page, too.
43. Cheesecloth sold by-the-yard at the fabric store is a great, low-budget method for creating ghostly draperies. Hang inside your windows, or from your stoop.
47. We love easy DIY Halloween decorations, and these hanging witch hats fit the bill. When night falls, they light up thanks to LED light sticks hidden inside each hat.
48. Birds are beautiful by nature, but a bunch of them together is just creepy. This blogger gathered sticks from her yard, and paired with some faux birds, a tasteful raven-themed porch was born.
A fire pit is a great way to put some of your outdoor space to use. It’s a cosy place to share a drink, tell a scary story, make s’mores, and grow friendship on warm summer nights and cool autumnal evenings. You can make family memories around your fire pit, unwind after a long week, and host the best parties of anyone in your social group.
Building a fire pit doesn’t have to be expensive or elaborate. A fire pit can be as simple as a ring of rocks in the backyard. But if you want to make your fire pit as inviting as any other part of your living space, you should put in the effort to make it look nice. Whether you’re using a portable fire pit or building one of your own, use these tips to make your outdoor fire pit area look as comfortable and cosy as any other part of your home.
Lay Some Flagstones
Image credit: Firepits UK
Whether your fire pit is a permanent structure or a portable one, a stone patio provides the perfect surroundings. With a flagstone patio surrounding your fire pit, you won’t have to worry about sparks and embers flying out and setting the grass on fire. You won’t have to worry about setting a root fire by lighting your fire directly on the ground, since there will be sand and flagstones under the fire pit to act as a fire block. You’ll also have a firm, smooth surface for chairs and benches. You can lay a flagstone patio under your fire pit yourself. For a more rustic look, you could opt for a gravel patio instead.
Get Creative with Seating
There’s no end to the fun you can have with seating around your fire pit. Go for upholstered outdoor chairs and benches with fun fabrics and colourful throw pillows. Mix and match different coloured chairs and even chairs in different styles. Pull up an air mattress made up with soft blankets and pillows for summertime sleepovers. Create a more relaxed, laid-back look with butterfly chairs, or a more rustic, campground look with log benches. Keep blankets handy for cool-weather hangouts in an outdoor storage ottoman.
Make Some Privacy
Image: Shutterstock
If there’s one thing you definitely need when you’re sitting around the fire with friends, it’s some privacy. You can put up a fence when you build your outdoor fire pit area, and decorate it however you want. You can hang potted flowers from the fence, or even train vines to climb it. A fence will keep the neighbours from peering at you, and it will also block gusts of wind from stirring up embers and sparks from the fire.
Tall hedges can also add privacy around the fire pit without the need to erect a fence. Simply plant some hedges around your fire pit area to gain all the benefits of a fence from a natural barrier. The foliage will protect your fire pit from gusts of wind, and block the view from prying eyes. Hedges are great for marking out a curved boundary and you can prune them into interesting shapes or decorate them with ornaments.
Erect a Gazebo or Pergola
Erecting an open-air shelter above or near your fire pit can make it feel more permanent and cozy. Parties will gravitate to the outdoor shelter, and with a roof over your fire pit, you’ll be able to celebrate even when it’s rainy. Pergolas and gazebos also provide a handy structure for vining plants or for hanging string lights.
Add Some Lighting
Credit: Von Haus
Sure, your fire pit will produce some amount of light, but that doesn’t mean you can’t spruce the fire pit area up with some well-chosen additional light sources. Hang some string lights from your privacy hedges or fence or from nearby trees and shrubs. String lights can make any spot look more magical, romantic, and rustic, no matter where you are.
String lights aren’t the only option for decorating around your outdoor fire pit and making sure everyone has enough light to see by. You can also use camping lanterns, tiki torches, tree spotlights, or solar lights around the fire pit.
An outdoor fire pit can be a great place for relaxing and socializing on nice evenings. With a little creativity, you can make your outdoor fire pit look every bit as inviting as your living room inside the house, so that friends and family members alike will look forward to spending time there.
The leaves are falling, the temperature’s dropping, and the weather is perfect for spending some time outdoors. If you’re like me, you want your porch to be as inviting as the weather around you. Here are some of my favorite fall porch decorations to help get you in the season.
1. This Boho Fall Porch is simple and not over the top orange.
2. I love the mixture of colors on these steps, including the fall lettuce plants. I have to admit I am kind of obsessed with fall lettuce plants.
3. If you don’t love fall colors then this “cool color” fall porch might be the inspiration you’re looking for.
4. This mixture of greenery and draping vines is a modern inspiration for your fall porch planters.
5. This porch is simple and rustic. It’s a good reminder that you don’t have to go over the top to be inviting.
6. If you have a wrap around porch with seating, the ladder with blankets is stylish and functional. Can’t you just see yourself “cozying” up in a blanket, drinking some cider, on a brisk fall night? Also: those window wreaths! Fantastic!
7. This is a bright modern take on a fall porch. I love the plant stand instead of a planter!
8. This porch proves that fall doesn’t have to be rustic. I love the potted magnolia trees.
9. If your porch doesn’t lead to the front door…no problem. Hang a large wreath on the exterior wall or window at the top of your steps.
10. This is seriously a fall porch dream. I would never go inside if I lived here.
Pin It: Fall Front Porch Inspiration
Ready to make your fall porch decor happen? Here’s a simple DIY Halloween doormat for your front porch decor.
Gutters are a vital system of any home so it’s important that gutter installation mistakes aren’t made when they’re put in. Gutters shield your property from water damage by collecting rainwater and redirecting it away from your home’s foundation. Since gutter installation isn’t a complicated construction project, homeowners may sometimes take the project themselves or hire an inexperienced gutter contractor. However, as with any home project, many mistakes are likely to occur during installation, some of which can make the whole gutter system useless. Here are some of the most common mistakes you should avoid during gutter installation.
1. Gutter installation mistakes: Choosing the wrong gutter type
Photo by Erik Karits, Pexels
When it comes to choosing the right gutter, one of the common gutter installation mistakes involves choosing the wrong one. Gutters come in many different sizes, shapes, and materials. However, most homeowners find it confusing and difficult to decide which type of gutter is best for their home. This poses the risk of choosing the wrong gutter type, which could render the installation and system futile. For instance, if your gutters are too small, the system can be overburdened when it rains heavily, leading to poor drainage.
Before making any purchase, carefully research the different types of gutters available and consider factors such as your roof pitch, home size, and the amount of rainfall your area generally receives. Use this Gutter Sizing Guide or consult your roof contractor or supplier to help determine your home’s most appropriate dimensions.
2. Using too many seams
Seams hold different gutter parts together, but they are the weakest point of any guttering system. Too many seam weldings can make your gutter prone to cracks or leakage, so installing gutters with as few seams possible is your best bet. It’s worth choosing seamless gutters to avoid this if you can afford it.
3. Gutter installation mistakes: Calculating the wrong roof pitch
Your gutters should have a fairly steep pitch to allow easy flow of rainwater to the downspouts. If your roof pitch is too steep, rainwater will travel too quickly into the downspouts and likely overflow, while water may pool in parts of the gutter if the angle is too low. Both of these gutter installation mistakes can cause damage to your gutter and other issues around your home’s exterior.
Generally, a quarter of an inch slope towards the downspouts is required for every 10 feet of your gutter. This way, no rainwater will spill to the side or collect within your gutters.
There is a common misconception that gutters should be placed at the roof edge, which is wrong. Gutters generally need to be installed a few inches below the roof edge to collect water that flows down its backside due to capillary action.
5. Wrong installation of downspouts
Downspouts direct water away from your home. However, if they aren’t correctly installed or are placed in the wrong location, rainwater may leak into the foundation or even damage your façade. Ideally, install your downspouts such that they divert water 8 to 10 feet away from your house foundation.
Endnote
Gutters are your roof’s first line of defence against rain, so any gutter installation mistake, including a DIY project, can leave your roof prone to moisture damage. If you are inexperienced with home improvements, consider hiring a professional to avoid all the hassle and get the most out of your money. A reliable gutter contractor will advise you on which type of gutter best suits your home and won’t make any of these mistakes.
