“Nothing says Mediterranean garden like whitewashed walls to reflect all that sunlight, and plenty of greenery of course, but blue - like the rooftops of a Grecian village - is the perfect addition,” she says.

“Terracotta is also a quintessentially Mediterranean design feature. From slabs underfoot to rooftops overhead and all manner of pots and bowls in-between, a little terracotta is a must.”

Introducing pattern is also a great way to elevate any outdoor area and make it feel like a destination. Think of the colourful, patterned tiles of Spain and Portugal, influenced by Moroccan geometric repeats. If repaving the patio feels like too much, why not stencil patterns onto your existing tiles or put up filigree screens with cut out patterns?

Or if lots of pattern and colour doesn’t appeal, then Zoe says playing with scale is the way to go. “Even a modest back yard can be made to feel like a fabulous patio with oversized, giant plant pots,” she adds. “If you can fill them with olive, orange or lemon trees too then even better.”

When even winter temperatures in Mediterranean countries rarely dip below 20C, eating your evening meal outdoors is only natural. Which means BBQs are common in - especially for family occasions.

Gianpiero Mugnano, chef at Pasta Loco and founder of Peng Pasta, explains: “For a special family get-together or celebration, we make a big fire pit called a falo, it’s huge, maybe 2m. Every neighbourhood will have a challenge: who can have the biggest one? The BBQ happens in the late afternoon, about 5pm.”

For your springtime BBQ, make sure you have plenty of sausages and slow cooked lamb, marinated with Mediterranean herbs like rosemary and fennel pollen, not to mention extra virgin olive oil. Fresh bread - from garlic-infused crostini to warm Greek flatbreads - are also a must.

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