Entertaining Garden Design For A Fun Summer Season
Your garden could be an incredible centre of entertainment with the right design and features. Many homeowners rely on their outdoor spaces as an extension of their properties, giving them more room for hosting, entertainment, or simply relaxing with loved ones.
Now that summer is here, you may want to join the hordes of other people enjoying their gardens. Creating an entertaining outdoor space requires imagination, smart design features, and quality materials. As a leading landscaping company, Heath Landscapes & Garden Design is here to be your partner through the process.
In this guide, we are sharing the various ways you can implement entertaining garden design this season and how you can create a stylish, functional outdoor space for every occasion. Get ready to have an amazing season outdoors and celebrate every occasion in style with entertaining garden design.
How To Design An Entertaining Garden
To create a new outdoor space, you first need to assess what you have. The initial stages of any garden project involve a complete site assessment, where factors such as size, layout and condition are measured.
You need to first understand what you’re working with before you can begin to implement effective redesign strategies. When it comes to entertaining garden design, you also need to consider what kind of space you want to create and the purpose of this new project.
Do you want to create a hosting haven, where you can invite guests over throughout the year to enjoy meals and drinks on the patio, or are you dreaming of something simpler, such as a calming retreat for you to unwind with those closest to you? The kind of entertainment you desire is just as important as the measurements of your garden, as it also impacts all future design decisions.
Ahead of renovating your garden and implementing entertaining garden design, consider the following factors:
- How Big Is My Space? This involves accurate measurements and dimensions, which can be used to create scale drawings of the landscape layout
- What Are The Soil Conditions Like? If you struggle with a sloping landscape or soil erosion, these need to be noted early on, as they can influence construction. For example, retaining walls may be required to prevent erosion, which could potentially limit the usable space you have left.
- How Much Sun Does The Garden Get? To be able to take full advantage of the amazing summer weather, you want to pay attention to where sunlight hits your garden and which areas are mostly left in shade.
- What Kind Of Entertainment Do I Want? The purpose of your entertaining garden design will influence the layout and all future installations, and therefore needs to be carefully considered during the planning stage
As part of our garden design service, we provide an extensive consultation phase where we can plan these areas and get the most accurate readings for your space. All projects begin with these assessments, allowing us to personalise our services to suit you.
Entertaining Garden Design Ideas
Once you have assessed your landscape, it is time to plan your new entertaining garden design. The layout of your garden will determine how easy and effective entertainment is in your outdoor space, and there are various solutions to suit all kinds of gardens, such as:
Create Entertainment Zones
One of the most effective ways to implement entertaining garden design is through zoning. Creating separate zones for each entertainment area of your garden allows you to maximise your available space, ensure cohesive design and encourage flow throughout the garden.
Zoning is typically constructed using hardscaping and then adorned with furniture, lighting and focal points, for example:
- Dining Areas: Set on top of decking or patios, dining areas are a staple of outdoor entertainment spaces. Use porcelain paving and composite decking for a contemporary appeal or natural stone, gravel and traditional timber edging for cottage-style landscapes. Pergolas can provide additional structure and shade, allowing you to dine outdoors in all weather conditions.
- Lounge Areas: Another great use for your patios or decking, lounge areas provide a calm zone for you to unwind and enjoy the summer weather. They can be a great use for existing surfaces, or a way to make use of awkward areas with built-in benches and corner seating. Firepits and heaters are ideal adornments to create a cosy atmosphere, as well as soft furnishings and comfortable outdoor sofas.
- Cooking Zones: Cooking zones and outdoor kitchens should be set on paved surfaces, and in a close enough proximity to dining areas for a smooth transition of dishes.
Accommodate All Weather Conditions
A key feature within your entertainment garden design needs to be weather accommodations. While you want to take advantage of the warm summer days, the Great British weather is unpredictable, and therefore, you need to be prepared for everything.
Shelter and shade features, such as pergolas, awnings, or even garden rooms, are great ways to ensure your outdoor space can be used at all times. You want to ensure that seating areas, whether dining or relaxing, are protected from both the sun and rain so you can continue the occasion no matter what the skies bring.
Prioritise sheltering a specific zone or area within the garden, as this can become the main entertainment zone during the seasons. As well as using shelters, consider investing in heaters or fire pits to use alongside seating. This means you do not have to cut the party short and can instead maintain a comfortable atmosphere well into the evening.
Use Lighting For Ambience
Garden lighting is not just a practical tool within entertainment garden design, but an aesthetic one too. Lighting is one of the easiest and quickest ways to set the tone of any space within your garden, which is why it is a staple in entertainment spaces.
Use warm-toned lights, such as LED lanterns, candles, or twinkle lights, to create a cosy atmosphere around seating areas and relaxation zones. Alternatively, consider bright or colourful lighting along the lawn or patio to create more of a party vibe to the garden after dark.
Spotlights, stake lights, and pathway lighting can keep your garden accessible in the evening while also highlighting key features of your entertaining garden design. Lighting allows you to accommodate the atmosphere of each occasion and effectively redesign your garden for the evening.
Style With Soft Landscaping
Add points of interest to each entertainment zone using soft landscaping features, like plants and flowers. Blur the lines between indoor and outdoor living by using a combination of soft furnishings, such as outdoor rugs and cushions, lighting for ambience, and potted plants.
Potted plants are flexible and low-maintenance, which is why they are such a good option for entertainment garden design. Used to adorn decking, patios and terraces, you can have a variety of grasses or flowers in each entertainment zone. For a more contemporary appearance, rely on structural plants and ornamental grasses, or be bold with colour by relying on flower beds, hanging baskets and seasonal blooms throughout.
Planting is not just a visual adornment in entertaining garden design, as it can also be used to evoke other senses. Fragrant plants such as lavender and jasmine, as well as herbs such as mint, sage and rosemary, can create soothing aromas throughout the landscape to accommodate each event. Combine various textures and heights of ornamental grasses for detailed planting displays, or use climbing plants to add height to small and enclosed zones.
Conclusion
Entertaining garden design can set the stage for a summer spent outdoors and is an amazing way to make better use of your garden. With these design techniques, you can create a landscape that is ready for entertainment features.
Whether you choose to finish the landscape with an outdoor kitchen, comfortable seating, an elaborate music system, or a combination of various elements, your garden can become a main entertainment zone. You can increase your living space and ensure you never have to miss an occasion again simply by designing your landscape in a new way.
To ensure your renovation goes smoothly, work with professional landscapers such as Heath Landscape & Garden Design. Our expert designers will deliver a bespoke plan for your new landscape, and can handle all the construction, planting and maintenance required to make this a reality.
Contact Us Today
Are you ready to transform your garden? Contact the team today to learn more about our services or to request a quote.
FAQs
What’s the best surface for a garden dining area?
A smooth, durable surface such as porcelain, granite or block paving patio is an ideal solution for your outdoor dining area. Ensure it is easy to clean and weather-resistant to get the most use out of this space.
How can I make my garden usable in colder months?
Add features such as patio heaters, fire pits or enclosed pergolas to take advantage of your entertaining garden design all year round.
Do I need a large garden to make an entertaining space?
Not at all – with strategic garden design and careful planning, you can create an entertaining garden in even the smallest spaces. Focus on key areas, durable hardscaping and versatile features such as seating and movable shelters to maximise your space.
