After so much effort poured into the design and renovations of our homes, it’s naturally to desire more time outside, especially when entertaining friends and family. Nothing really beats sharing food and laughter with our loved ones, under open skies and with no problems to worry about in the world.
Yet sometimes the logistics of outdoor entertaining feel overwhelming – running back and forth to the kitchen, worrying about weather, or struggling with inadequate lighting or heating in the colder months can turn a relaxing evening into unnecessary stress. If you feel like you need to prepare for two hours just to have people around, in any context, then that’s a bit of an issue.
As you’ll see in this post, sometimes simple changes to your space can make a huge difference in how easily you can host gatherings. Many homeowners find that once they’ve set up their exterior space thoughtfully, they naturally feel like spending more time outside. Even better, these improvements often increase how much you use your outdoor space even when you’re not entertaining.
Without further ado, let’s get started:
Consider How You Cook & Serve Food, Arranging The Space Accordingly
Most people know that the heart of entertaining often centers around food and drinks. Modern alfresco kitchens can be a wonderful way to provide you more cooking space, sheltered, than just an outside freestanding grill for barbecue, as even a modest setup with good counter space and storage can alter how you use your outdoor area.
On top of that, a simple prep area, a reliable grill, and some storage for plates and utensils might be all you need, especially if they’re sheltered with an awning or overhead shelter that makes maintenance easier. You could also add a small refrigerator or ice chest for drinks, giving you immediate comfort when you need it. The key is having what you need close at hand so you’re not constantly running inside.
Smart Seating Arrangements
Outdoor seating works best when it helps with your nice, natural conversation while staying flexible and not feeling too soft, too firm, and too annoying to maintain. So instead of pushing all the chairs against walls, try creating small groupings that people can easily adjust no matter where they are. A mix of seating heights, so for instance, some regular chairs, maybe a low couch, and even some footrests/ottomans that double as extra seating, can give your space more versatility, especially if you have kids around.
The main thing is making sure people can comfortably talk to each other without straining to hear or see across too much distance – but of course, if you have a central area like a fire pit, make sure you have enough distance from it to be safe (especially if you have kids around).
Creating Weather-Ready Areas
Weather doesn’t need to dictate your plans quite as much as you might originally assume. A retractable awning )you might have it for that kitchen anyway), or even a simple shade sail can protect from both sun and light rain, and more importantly, break the flow of wind. For that, you can add clear roll-down sides to the covered areas, which work wonderfully for blocking gusts of wind so plates and central spreads don’t fly across the table. Having these options ready means you can adapt quickly to whatever the issue is.
With this advice, we hope you can entertain outside with much more comfort.
