The summer vacation this year falls flat? Then simply bring the Mediterranean flair into your home and transform your garden into a Mediterranean feel-good paradise. We have the best tips for you on how to upgrade your garden with simple tips and enjoy relaxing hours in the countryside.

Tip 1: Create an oasis of well-being with a cosy seating area

What is more reminiscent of a holiday than relaxing on a lounger by the pool? But even if you don’t have a pool to cool off in the garden, you can create a cosy place to relax. For example, create a beautiful sitting area with a garden table from Kees Smit, where you can enjoy a Mediterranean dinner together with your family. Comfortable and high-quality outdoor chairs ensure that you can spend many hours in the garden – and if you wish, you can even move your workplace outside.

A covered seating area is also suitable for the summer days. A pergola, overgrown with a real vine plant, provides pleasant shade and conjures up sweet grapes in autumn. Pavilions also fit perfectly into the Mediterranean style, providing shade and – depending on size and structure – even protection from moisture and cold.

Tip: Add the finishing touch to your cosy seating area with Mediterranean flair by adding colourful cushions and blankets in warm earth tones and playful patterns – this will create a welcoming atmosphere, invite you to linger and get you in the holiday mood in no time.

Tip 2: The best plants for southern flair

In addition to the culture and way of life of southern countries, flora and fauna are among the most important aspects of a Mediterranean lifestyle, which is why this is also reflected in the design of the gardens. Mediterranean plants are usually true sun worshippers and therefore need a lot of light and soil that is as permeable as possible and poor in nutrients. Unfortunately, many of the sun plants in our latitudes do not survive outdoors all year round, despite good care, which is why you can fall back on container plants in this case.

These ten plants should not be missing in a Mediterranean garden:

• Shrub roses: With their eye-catching flowers, roses underline the elegant charm of the southern garden and at the same time exude a delicious scent that directly reminds you of the Mediterranean.
• Cypress: The columnar growth transports you to Tuscany and provides a special Mediterranean flair.
• Citrus trees: Fruit trees look good in any garden – in the Mediterranean region, citrus trees such as lemon or orange are predominant. Due to the climate, however, these should only be cultivated as container plants and overwintered indoors.
• Daylilies: With their yellow-orange flowers, daylilies are a real ray of sunshine in the garden. The edible flowers are also considered a real insider tip in the kitchen.
• Oleander: The flowering shrub is one of the most popular ornamental plants in the south and is also popular as a container plant in this country. The eye-catching flowers make the pretty plant a real eye-catcher.
• Olive tree: Hardly any other plant is as typical of the Mediterranean region as the olive tree. Unfortunately, the beautiful tree is only hardy to a limited extent, which is why it shines in this country mainly as a container plant in the typical terracotta pot.
• Basil: What would a holiday on the Mediterranean be without fragrant herbs? Every friend of the Mediterranean lifestyle should plant basil in their garden – the aromatic and easy-care herb not only goes perfectly with pasta, but is also a hit for meat dishes and salads.
• Lavender: The intense scent and the unmistakable color immediately awaken the desire for a trip to Provence. In Germany , too, lavender blooms in the garden and even survives harsh winters without any problems.

Tip 3: Romantic garden lighting

To create an inviting and cosy holiday atmosphere in your garden, a sophisticated lighting concept with solar-powered fairy lights and lanterns is a good idea. So you can enjoy your green oasis many balmy summer evenings and take a break from everyday life. Outdoor fairy lights are particularly suitable, as they are weatherproof and can be stretched over terraces or garden plots to save space.

It is also creative to hang fairy lights or LED lights in flower pots or container plants to create soft lighting and a romantic mood. Solar lights placed in the ground provide subtle and indirect lighting along paths or steps. They make plants and decorative objects shine elegantly and skilfully set the scene for your garden at night. An additional advantage is that the use of solar-powered outdoor lights does not involve any electricity consumption and thus protects the environment.

Tip: You can conveniently illuminate your outdoor area at the desired times with the help of a motion detector or timer to create a coherent and well thought-out lighting concept.

Tip 4: Mediterranean color palette for garden decoration

When designing a Mediterranean garden, it is a good idea to use an appropriate colour palette as a guide for garden decoration. You can give your outdoor space an authentic Mediterranean flair by focusing mainly on warm earth tones such as terracotta, brown, yellow and ochre. These colors are reminiscent of the sun-drenched landscapes of the Mediterranean and fit perfectly with the Mediterranean aesthetic.

By using these shades in different elements of your garden decoration, such as plant pots, cushions, textiles or wall paints, you can achieve a uniform and appealing look. Vases or sculptures in appropriate colours also have an aesthetically pleasing effect. You will notice how these warm colors create a pleasant and relaxed mood in your garden and put you directly in the Mediterranean holiday mood.

Tip 5: General garden design

In the Mediterranean garden, not only the right plants are important, but also the arrangement of the beds and the choice of suitable materials play a major role. Typically, Mediterranean gardens are characterized by a symmetrical arrangement and clear geometric shapes. The central element is often water, which is accentuated by water features, fountains or ponds in the garden. Natural stones and weathered metal are particularly attractive materials – for the terrace and small paths in your Mediterranean garden, it is advisable to use natural stones or terracotta tiles or to cover the substrate with gravel.

In recent years, Tiny Houses have become increasingly popular. The mini houses are characterized by their excellent use of the little space and enable a sustainable and minimalist life. However, when building a tiny house, future homeowners often face a special challenge when it comes to choosing doors and windows.

In order to make optimal use of the limited space and create a pleasant living atmosphere with plenty of light, it is important to have the right windows and doors. Aspects such as energy efficiency and interior design should also be taken into account when making your decision. Sliding systems can be a great way to make the best use of the available space. They are often optimally thermally insulated and allow an incomparable panoramic view.

Space-saving doors and windows for tiny houses

In a tiny house, you have to plan every square centimetre precisely in order to be able to use the new domicile later without challenges. In addition to cosiness, you should also make sure that both the arrangement of windows and doors and the interior design harmonize with each other. The placement of windows and doors is particularly important, as they allow good ventilation and provide natural light.

If you are looking for space-saving solutions for doors and windows in tiny houses, you can use sliding systems , for example. They can also be used to create large glass surfaces that offer a breathtaking view of the surrounding landscape. This creates a natural connection between indoor and outdoor areas, allowing plenty of natural light into the house. Since sliding systems do not open inwards or outwards, but slide sideways along a rail, they also save valuable space.

In addition, modern sliding systems are extremely durable and resistant to weather influences and often offer very good thermal insulation. In this way, they help to operate the Tiny House in an energy-efficient way, as they reduce heat loss in winter and help to maintain a pleasant coolness in summer. This contributes to the energy efficiency of the Tiny House, as they reduce heat loss in winter and maintain a pleasant coolness in summer.

Energy-efficient doors and windows for tiny houses

If you are building a tiny house, you should definitely deal with the topic of energy efficiency . Renewable energy sources are often used and in order for them to be used optimally, the house should consume as little energy as possible. Therefore, you should choose the doors and windows you want to install carefully, as they have a significant influence on the insulation and can help to keep heat loss as low as possible. You are welcome to seek advice from experts to choose the right doors and windows for your Tiny House.

With heat-insulating doors and windows, you are therefore in the right place when building a tiny house. These special doors and windows are equipped with a high-quality insulation material that helps to regulate the flow of heat optimally. In addition, they help to significantly reduce the energy requirement for heating and cooling and to keep the ecological footprint of the Tiny House low.

In addition, the thermal insulation also provides good noise protection. The insulating properties of the doors and windows help to reduce noise from the outside, so you can sleep soundly if you set up your house next to a busy road.

To sum up, thermal insulation doors, windows and sliding systems for tiny houses are an excellent solution for saving energy, improving noise control and increasing living comfort. Thanks to large glass surfaces and optimal incidence of light, life in the Tiny House can be enjoyed to the fullest.

In the digital age, it has become a necessity for many people to stay connected on the go. Whether you’re a professional or an avid traveler, the ability to access the internet from your home or office seems essential. While public Wi-Fi is widely available and offers a convenient solution, it also raises concerns about data security. This article explores whether you should trust public Wi-Fi when traveling.

The risks involved

Unfortunately, using public Wi-Fi networks can pose a security risk, as they are often not properly encrypted and can be easily abused by cybercriminals. Hackers can intercept your data, monitor your activity, and even redirect you to fake websites to steal sensitive information. In more serious cases, this can lead to identity theft or financial losses.

A popular example: online casinos

The rise of the online gambling and betting industry has created a whole new level of concern for those accessing the internet through public networks. Online casinos and sports betting sites often require personal and financial information to be entered, making them a prime target for cybercriminals.

A well-known example of good security is LeoVegas, an online gambling site that has become synonymous with safe gaming. It provides a valuable example of how such websites protect their users from potential threats on public Wi-Fi networks.

In comparison, using a secure platform over a secure home network is far less risky than accessing similar websites over a public Wi-Fi. Many platforms place a high priority on user security, employing industry-standard encryption methods and strict privacy measures. In contrast, most public Wi-Fi networks are not adequately protected, which increases the likelihood of sensitive information being intercepted by hackers.

Statistics don’t lie: Be careful when connecting

According to Statista, 17.7 million people in Germany were victims of some form of cybercrime in 2021. This alarming statistic proves the dangers posed by connecting to public Wi-Fi networks. In addition, research conducted by the AARP (American Association of Retired Persons) found that more than 70% of Wi-Fi users in the United States do not use a VPN (Virtual Private Network) when accessing public networks, leaving their data vulnerable to cyber threats.

Protect Yourself: Safer Alternatives and Precautions

Understanding the risks associated with public Wi-Fi can help you make informed decisions about how and when to use these networks. Here are some precautions you can take to protect your data:

1. Use a VPN: A VPN encrypts your data so that it becomes unreadable to hackers and helps protect your sensitive information from cyberattacks over Wi-Fi networks.
2. Enable HTTPS: Make sure the websites you visit are encrypted, which adds an extra layer of security. Look for the lock icon in the address bar and make sure the web address starts with “https://”.
3. Be selective: Avoid using public Wi-Fi for certain tasks (such as online banking or shopping) that require entering personal or financial information.
4. Turn off sharing: Turn off file sharing options on your devices to prevent unauthorized access.
5. Keep your software up to date: Regularly update your device’s operating system, antivirus software, and applications to increase security.

In summary, while the convenience of public Wi-Fi is undeniable, the potential risks should not be underestimated. It’s important to be careful when connecting to these networks and take all the necessary precautions to protect your data from potential cyber threats . Always prioritize your online security and choose your connections wisely.