5 ways to create the perfect outdoor entertaining space for summer

With spring well underway and summer on the horizon, entertaining season is just around the corner. Characterised by long days and longer nights, Australian summers offer the perfect opportunity for al fresco entertaining. Despite La Niña sticking around for yet another season, soirees, parties and gatherings are still best held in the great outdoors, albeit with a few adjustments.

Whether you’re working with an expansive suburban backyard, a compact inner-city courtyard, or even a balcony, these decorating tips will help you make your outdoor space the ideal summer destination for your friends and family.

To create an impactful entertaining space, approach your outdoor area the way you would a room. The best outdoor entertaining areas bring the comfort and style of indoor spaces into nature, making use of chic yet durable outdoor furniture.

Consider the primary purpose of your entertaining space. If you’re big on cooking, you may want to consider designing an outdoor kitchen in your entertaining space. For others, incorporating a pizza oven or barbeque will suffice. Alternatively, if you’ll be doing the bulk of your cooking indoors, centre your outdoor entertaining space around a large dining table to promote communion and conversation.

Read more: 7 spaces that promote a seamless indoor-outdoor flow

While some people love to cook for their friends and family, you needn’t stay in the kitchen all day to be considered a successful host. Summertime is the perfect opportunity to curate cold spreads brimming with cheese and charcuterie, fresh salads, crudités and dips, and antipasti. This allows you to spend more time with your guests while serving up a delicious feast.

Along with a good playlist, carefully considered lighting is essential to set the right tone for your get-togethers. An essential for nighttime gatherings, lighting should be soft and ambient yet adequate; nobody wants to have to guess what it is they’re eating. For undercover areas, take cues from indoor dining rooms and opt for overhead pendant lights, which will work to add a sense of glamour to your space. Solar-powered garden lights make for an energy-efficient way to show off your landscaping once night falls, while fairy lights are always a fun option for those with outdoor power sources.

Read more: Expert lighting tips with Design Show Australia speaker Alex Fitzpatrick

Investing in a good shade structure, such as an opening roof, sun louvre system, or shade sail will allow you to entertain outdoors rain or shine. A retractable outdoor roof, such as this iteration by Louvretec Australia, allows you to enjoy good weather to its fullest and provides shelter when the clouds begin to form – a La Niña essential!

An outdoor rug aids in making your outdoor entertaining space feel more elevated and ‘finished’. In sprawling backyards, an outdoor rug can also aid in delineating zones, separating the dining area from the rest of the garden.

Find the right builder or landscaper to help you enhance your outdoor entertaining space in time for summer on ArchiPro.