Late summer on your Spanish terrace: how your outdoor space can last for weeks (and get better with time)

In England (just like in the Netherlands, actually), August is often the time when you quietly start saying goodbye to summer. The days grow shorter, the evenings cooler, and before you know it, you’re back in the garden wearing a coat. Here, things are different. In Spain, late summer on your terrace can last for weeks — sometimes well into October. All you need to do is give it a little help.

My terrace is at its best in August: the warmth is still very much there, but the heat is less relentless than in July. The olive tree casts a soft, dappled light, and the bougainvillea in their pots bloom as if they’re trying to stretch the season just a little longer. And honestly? I’m in no rush to swap any of it for blankets and indoor candles.

Your terrace lasts longer when you make it late-summer ready

Late summer on your terrace in Spain calls for a different mindset. This isn’t the time to pack everything away or drag the furniture inside. It’s the time to optimise your space for even more evenings outdoors.

A few new cushion covers in weather-resistant fabric, an extra lantern or two, and a few well-placed potted plants can make all the difference. Think lavender for its scent, rosemary you can also use in the kitchen, or oleander for a splash of colour.

Lighting brings magic

There’s something magical about late summer evenings as the light gently fades. Invest in lighting that enhances that feeling — not in some over-the-top designer lamp that looks like it belongs in a sci-fi film, but in simple touches: solar lights along the edge, a few candles on the table, or even an old-fashioned oil lamp.

It’s not about brightness — it’s about atmosphere. Just enough to find your glass of wine, but not so much that the mosquitoes think you’ve opened an all-you-can-eat buffet.

Comfort without switching to winter mode

A common mistake: as soon as summer is officially over, people put their terrace into ‘winter mode’. Chairs stacked, cushions in plastic, plants hauled inside. Such a shame.

Instead, you can adapt your terrace without shutting it down completely. A throw blanket for the cooler evenings, a windbreak if your space is open, and maybe a small patio heater for those nights when the temperature dips just a bit too much.

In Spain, late summer on your terrace isn’t just a luxury — it’s almost a duty. Why shut yourself indoors when outside is still so inviting? Summer here isn’t a sprint; it’s a long-distance run. And if you play it right, you won’t need to head inside until Christmas.