When the sun is shining and the weather is warm, there’s nothing better than a good old garden party. Whether you’re planning an al fresco meal with friends and family, hosting a BBQ for the neighbours, or you’ve invited everyone you know round for a celebration, an outdoor event gives you space, style and a fantastic setting. If you’re planning an open-air soiree this summer, here are a few tips on creating the perfect garden for entertaining.
Indoor/outdoor connection
Even though your party, or al fresco meal, will be taking place outside, guests will still need to access the house in order to refresh their drinks and use the loo. You’ll probably also find you have to go in and out a lot when you’re fetching food and making sure everyone has everything they need. This makes a good connection between your interior and exterior a real bonus when it comes to entertaining. If you and your guests can move in and out easily, it will help the evening to flow. What’s more, if the weather takes a turn for the worse, you can quickly and easily move your guests inside, out of the cold.
The best way to create a smooth connection between your home and garden is to install folding and sliding doors in your kitchen, living room, or dining room. Alternatively, if that’s not an option, you could look into adding a conservatory, or orangery to your home and creating a unique indoor/outdoor entertainment space.
Lighting
To ensure your get together can continue long after the sun goes down, you need to install some lighting in your garden. As @houzz says, “The best barbecues and garden parties go on right into the evening. String up some fairy lights and have candles in hurricane lamps or tea-light holders at the ready, to light when day turns to dusk.” Solar lights are perfect for outdoor entertaining as they can be placed anywhere in the garden and will come on automatically when night falls. Invest in waterproof lights so you can leave your outdoor illumination up all summer.
Seating
Though you want your guests to stand up and mingle during the evening, it’s important to provide some seating for tired legs. Try to create a few different seating areas to encourage guests to circulate. A table and chairs is ideal for guests who want to sit, drink and snack while hammocks, sofas and beanbags are perfect for those who want to relax and enjoy the sunshine.
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