How to Set Up an Outdoor Living Space for Entertaining and Gatherings

Have a garden or patio that you don’t use much? Why not transform it into a source of enjoyment and refuge – make it a place where you can escape to when you want to unwind, relax and have fun? If your backyard is cluttered with children’s toys, garden tools, and many pieces of patio furniture, this explains why you’ve been trying to avoid it.

Don’t worry, no matter how cluttered or ordinary your outdoor space may look currently, you can quickly transform it into an inviting oasis. How? By adding a few simple, decorative touches! Use the following decorating tips to take your outdoor space from blah to beautiful and inviting in no time.

First Things First: Clear the Clutter

The first step to changing the look and feel of your outdoor space is clearing out the clutter. Get rid of broken furniture and accessories or things that don’t belong in the backyard. Consider investing in a garden shed so you can store your garden tools or other things that don’t have a place. You will also want to prune overgrown trees and hedges and relocate play equipment. If your children are too old for slides and swings, donate them. Starting with a clean outdoor space is key to creating a space you want to get away to.

Choose Comfortable Seating

Seating is one thing, but comfortable seating that allows you to stretch out and relax is another thing. When you choose comfortable seating like stylish and elegant garden wooden chairs that are strong and durable as well you’re more likely to kick back and spend some time outside rather than, let’s say, at a patio dining table.

Rathan chairs are among the hottest trends in the world of outdoor decor and design right now. Another factor that makes them appealing is that unlike solid wood designs, rattan chairs are supportive without being too rigid. Some come with seat pad cushions and deep back cushions for extra comfort while also offering extra advantages such as being rainproof in case you’re caught out by rain. Plus, if you do spill a drink on your cushions, the covers are removable and machine washable.

Another great reason to invest in these garden wooden chairs is that they add a wow factor to your outdoor area within a luxury budget. Their lightweight makes them vulnerable to swap the place whenever you need a change in your decorative ideas. They can be easily carried and relocated according to your needs. As they don’t require regular dusting and cleaning, you can use them for a longer period without having to spend extra money on their maintenance.

Because rattan is a flexible material, it can be weaved into a variety of shapes which gives you numerous options when it comes to furnishing your outdoor space. Chairs made from rattan can be round, square, cubed or any other shape you may find practical. Rattan can also be shaped into daybeds and even entire dining and lounge sets.

If you want to add a touch of colour to your outdoor space, know that you can buy cushions for the furniture in basically any colour you can think of. This allows you to go with the colour scheme you want while still enjoying the versatility of rattan garden chairs and table sets. As you can see, with rattan furniture you are offered practically endless design options.

Add Outdoor Lighting

Adding outdoor lighting to your outdoor space will allow you to enjoy your backyard even after the sun has set. You can start by adding lights to your porch to achieve ambient lighting. For the grill area, consider adding good task lighting. For conversation and dining areas, dimmable electric lamps and candles would be great additions.

Surround the Area With Potted Plants

Plants have the power to change the whole mood of a place. Greenery is a must especially in the outdoors. So, make sure there are different types of potted plants in this area – around the set of garden wooden chairs and table, as well as the lounge. For low maintenance, yet stunning plants, try succulents. Portable and versatile, they will provide enough ambience to your outdoor space.

Whichever plant you choose, you need to make sure it adapts well to the environment in which you live. Choose trees, shrubs, vines and perennials that are adapted to the climate where you live – usually something that can be found at your local nursery or botanical garden shop. If you don’t have much time to dedicate to plants, you may want to consider planting them in a white self watering pot.

You may have heard about these pots. They’ve become quite popular due to the effectiveness and convenience they offer to those who are often away from home working a hectic schedule without the possibility to commit to watering their plants consistently. Depending on the size of the plant and the pot you choose, you may be able to go a week or two between watering, turning what can be a daily chore into a weekly task.

In addition to being beneficial for you, a self watering pot can be beneficial for your plants too. When planted in a traditional container, the excess water drains out of the hole at the bottom, washing away the nutrients in the soil also. These nutrients then need to be added with a feed for a plant to thrive.

The closed system of self-watering planters keeps the nutrients within the actual container itself, allowing for consistent watering without the danger of water stagnation or root rotting. In other words, a plant grown in a self-watering pot gets a constant supply of moisture allowing the plant to grow continuously.

Make Sure There is Shade

An umbrella can be all you need to get some shade in your backyard – especially over the outdoor chairs and lounges. Aside from providing shade, a beautiful umbrella can also create the feeling of being on a vacation at a resort next to a pool. But you don’t necessarily need to use an umbrella. You can also create shade using pergolas, gazebos, and awnings.

Incorporate an Outdoor Firepit

A firepit allows you to add instant warmth to your yard. This can be a great thing during the cooler months or in the evening. Imagine how relaxing it can be talking with friends next to a fire or cuddling with a partner as you gaze at the flames. The range of portable fire pits available on the market today at reasonable prices makes it easier to create a sitting area around a pit. Make sure you don’t place your firepit near any structure, under a roof or on top of a wooden deck for example.