How To Design An Entertaining Garden This Summer
Outdoor living is one of the biggest garden design trends of the past few years, and it continues to rise in popularity the closer we get to summer. Outdoor living centres on creating an outdoor space that is just as comfortable and entertaining as any other room in the house.
To maximise the potential of your garden this summer and create an environment you want to spend time in, entertainment needs to be the primary focus. There are various ways you can create an entertaining garden and have a setting for every upcoming event.
As a leading garden design company, Gloucestershire Garden Design knows what it takes to create an attractive, entertaining garden. Using our expertise, we are sharing some of our best design tips and tricks so you can renovate your garden ahead of the summer season.
1) Choose Your Surface Wisely
The base of your garden design is going to be the foundation for your entertaining garden, so it needs to be considered carefully. A lot of entertaining gardens and outdoor hosting spaces feature multiple surfaces to give each area an individual zone.
For example, paved patios for seating and dining, fresh green turf for children’s play areas, and decking for relaxing in the sun. Whether you opt for one or multiple surfaces, you need to pay attention to the material and ensure it can meet your needs.
Some of the best solutions for an entertaining garden include:
- Porcelain Paving: Ideal for patios or completely paved gardens, porcelain paving tiles are sleek, hard-wearing and customisable with various colour and pattern options. They provide a clean, modern appearance to the garden and are ideal for outdoor dining areas or seating spaces.
- Composite Decking: While it can give the appearance of traditional timber, composite decking is a sustainable and low-maintenance option for decking. It can be raised to create a tiered appearance to the garden, and fitted with steel or glass balustrades for additional appeal. The sleek, weatherproof material does not need to be treated like wood and can be used in a range of weather conditions.
- Lush Lawns: Both artificial and real grass are an ideal addition to your entertaining garden, and can create separate zones for various activities. This is especially important if you have children who visit the garden regularly, as both artificial and real grass can provide a soft, safe landing for their games and imaginative play.
2) Add Shelter And Shade
To ensure your entertaining garden is safe in all weather conditions, shelter is needed. Shelter and shade are especially important across the main seating or hosting areas of the garden, as well as areas where children will primarily be.
With the unpredictable weather of Gloucestershire, having shelter from sun, wind, and rain ensures you can continue the fun no matter where the day goes. Structural installations such as pergolas, gazebos, and retractable awnings can be used over patios and decking to add shelter from the weather. Alternatively, invest in strong parasols for more flexibility, as these can be angled and moved based on the needs of the day.
For year-round use of your entertaining garden, invest in a garden bar or room. These professionally designed and constructed structures can be kitted out with all necessary mod cons and adorned with soft furnishings for a comfortable entertaining area on your doorstep. From casual after-work drinks to special occasions, your garden bar can be used for all events, no matter the weather.
3) Outdoor Furniture Ideas
An entertaining garden needs to be comfortable and accessible. Alongside the structural changes being made to your garden, invest in durable garden furniture such as seats, sun loungers, and dining tables.
Furniture made from hard-wearing materials such as aluminium, teak and synthetic rattan is ideal for all weather conditions, and can complement a variety of garden designs. It is important that you take care of your garden furniture and have a secure storage space available for the autumn and winter months.
Based on the main entertaining areas within your garden, the amount and kind of furniture you need can vary greatly. Contemporary gardens can benefit from sleek, metallic tables and chairs, whereas traditional or quaint gardens should rely on timber benches, small bistro tables and colourful cushions.
4) Set The Mood With Lighting
Garden lighting is both a functional and aesthetic addition to your entertaining garden, and it can be customised to complement your unique design. With the right lighting choices, you can keep the party going well into the evening. Lighting is also an amazing tool for ambience, allowing you to set the tone for any occasion based on the kind of fixtures used and the placement.
Some of the best lighting designs for your entertaining garden include:
- Spotlights On Stairs And Decking: Keep raised areas visible with small spotlights, installed into the panels or stairs leading up to seating areas. Clear, white lights will direct people to the main areas of your entertaining garden and ensure you can continue your conversation, meal or drinks even when the sun goes down.
- Pathway Lighting: LED and solar-powered lights, such as spike lights, lanterns or spotlights, can be used to keep your garden accessible and maintain the flow of design. Placed along the borders of pathways or on fences along the garden, lights will guide guests throughout the garden and prevent them from stepping where they shouldn’t
- Warm, Intimate Lighting: Lanterns and candles can be used on dining tables or across the patio to create an inviting, intimate setting for date nights, relaxing under the stars or spending quality time with loved ones. Choose warm colours bulbs and fire-effect LEDs for maximum comfort and appeal.
- Colourful Fairy Lights or Decoration: Whether you’re designing an entertaining garden for children or just want to appeal to your inner child, fun placement of fairy lights can highlight the unique features of your garden and create a magical atmosphere. Alternatively, choose colourful lanterns and twinkle lights to brighten up your night events.
5) Cooking And Heating Outdoors
From fully kitted outdoor kitchens to simple barbecue setups, there are various ways you can make food a highlight in your entertaining garden. If you are a passionate cook or enjoy sharing a meal with loved ones, a bespoke outdoor kitchen can be designed and installed to align with your needs.
Fitted with all the latest mon-cons and cooking equipment, such as pizza ovens or flame grills, an outdoor kitchen can make every meal feel like a celebration. Complete with a paved patio dining area, you can enjoy a variety of dishes in your back garden and feel like you’re on holiday whenever there’s a sunny day.
Ensure you have protective fencing or screening around cooking equipment, to prevent smoke interfering with neighbours or your own seating zones.
As well as cooking, fire pits and heating can be useful in the seating areas of your entertaining garden. Keep your guests comfortable and prolong your summer days with heating across the deck and patio, so you can be warm and safe at all hours of the day.
Conclusion
An entertaining garden is an incredible asset to have, especially as we get closer to summer. Whether you want to create a space for al fresco dining, children ‘s entertainment, or simply spending time with loved ones, there are various options out there.
In this post, we have shared some of the best ways you can create an entertaining garden from scratch and the considerations to make ahead of the summer.
Create Your Entertaining Garden Today With Gloucestershire Garden Design
At Gloucestershire Garden Design, we specialise in crafting bespoke outdoor spaces to align with all needs. As the weather is warming up, more people are considering the ways they can improve their gardens for a summer spent outdoors.
Entertaining garden design centres on creating an engaging environment that allows you to host events and guests whenever you desire. With our landscaping services and professional skills, we can create a custom plan for your entertaining garden. We work with all requirements and can meet your needs in terms of budget and planning permission, so give us a call today.
