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There are very few things more delightful in life than sharing the fruits of your hard labour with close friends and family, and when you put your heart and soul into your garden, using it as a place for entertaining is a big reward for all those hours spent weeding and planting. The sort of relaxed socialising that your garden allows is much more informal than being packed around a dining table, after all. If you haven’t considered the role of your garden as a social space, it’s not too hard to make a few minor improvements in time for summer that will make it perfect for entertaining. These simple suggestions should take your space from personal haven to the ideal spot for a party in no time.

Enhance Your Outdoor Dining

As most gatherings revolve around food, think outside the box when it comes to providing for your guests. Rather than simply wheeling the barbecue out, what could you do that’s more inventive? Pizza ovens are gaining in popularity, and with such a wide range of models from moveable stainless steel ones that wouldn’t look out of place in a restaurant kitchen to clay and brick tabletop ovens that are less intrusive, your friends and family could soon be enjoying this tasty, customisable, easy to throw together treat.  If you use your garden for al fresco dining a lot, you could also consider an outdoor kitchen, with a full weatherproof setup, or a repurposed armoire to hold plates and cutlery.

Think About Surfaces

When creating a social space, there are lots of ways to add dimension. Adding in a multi-level patio can combine flexible seating with an inviting situation to sit and drink a glass of wine or two, while raised decking from a set of patio or bi-fold doors can help to bring the indoors outside and create a seamless transition between the inner and outer space of your home. Also, take the opportunity to make sure that your lawn is in tip-top condition. Using a professional maintenance firm such as ABC Home & Commercial Lawn Care makes sense if you have a large grassed area that needs maintaining or a yearly check to keep it in the best condition.

Revamp Your Seating

Where people sit is an essential element in how comfortable they will be, so pay attention to all the different kinds of seating you can add for different experiences. A rustic table under a beautiful pergola thick with climbers like wisteria, honeysuckle or passionflower is served well by long benches that don’t restrict the number of guests you can invite. A waterside deck may suit reclining wooden lawn chairs for relaxing in on a sunny day. A bistro set can be placed in a little suntrap area outside the back door where you can sit for coffee in the morning. If you want your guests to be truly comfortable shaded circular daybeds are all the range and provide ample opportunity for a leisurely chat.

From small additions to grand new designs, making your garden a truly hospitable place is as complex a task as you make it.